BAPTIST GROWTH AMONG INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN GUATEMALA
By Eron Henry
Jose Angel Samol is the first person of indigenous ancestry to be president of the Convention of Baptist Churches in
Guatemala (CBCG). Elected in 2008, Samol is symbolic of the extent to which evangelical Christianity has taken root
within the indigenous community.
More than half of the 400 churches and 200 missions that are part of the CBCG are predominantly indigenous. Its largest
churches are indigenous. There are approximately 25,000 Kekchi Baptists, roughly half of the entire convention of 50,000
members. Ketchi Baptists are currently constructing a church that will seat 6,000 people, making it one of the largest churches
in the country. Twelve Baptist churches were established by the Quiche, and about 6,000 Tzutuhiles, the president’s own
people group, are Baptists.
Yet, Amerindians in Guatemala face severe social problems, not the least of which is discrimination. “There is discrimination
against indigenous groups in Guatemala,” Samol explained, “even in the church.”
But poverty is the most serious social problem. The convention is reaching out to some of the 23 ethnic minorities in the
nation, most of which are marginalized and poor, manifested by high illiteracy rates, poor healthcare, and lack of potable
water. It established a preschool for children who live in a major dump in Guatemala City, the country’s capital. Churches are
encouraged to make an impact in health and education, and to establish programs to meet the needs of their communities. The
convention developed a disaster response unit after Hurricane Mitch hit the country in 1998 so as to respond meaningfully
and urgently when disasters strike in many areas that are degraded and are prone to flooding.
Pastors of churches are not immune to poverty. “Last year, we had to take up offerings to help five pastors who got sick,”
one of whom eventually died, Samol reported. The CBCG is seeking to address what has been a long standing problem
– there are no programs in place to assist local pastors. No pension, no healthcare provisions. There is urgent need “to take
care of pastors’ wellbeing,” he said.
Despite these problems, Baptist presence in the country has witnessed a surge over the past decade, with membership
growing by an average of eight percent per year. The convention is aiming for even more growth. The plan, Samol said, is
to double the size of the convention over the next five years to 800 churches and 400 missions.
The aim is to emphasize proclamation, or the preaching of the Gospel; strengthen the leadership of the convention and
its churches through training by establishing extensions of the seminary into other areas; expand mission outreach; and make
greater use of media, doing even more than is currently being done through the convention’s radio and television ministries,
and to make greater use of its website.
This is a far cry from 1946 when seven independent churches, some of which were not Baptist, came together to form
the CBCG. Since then, Guatemalan Baptists have established a seminary, a music school, an academy of arts for females,
and a bookstore.
Prospects are that Guatemala, like other countries in Latin America, will continue to be at the forefront of expansion
and growth by Baptists worldwide.
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