The Nazarene Church in Cobán, Alto Verapaz, Guatemala has been bringing food to the city’s security workers and hospital staff while the country is on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mauricio Coc, a pastor and chaplain on the Verapaz del Norte District, contacted the national police to receive permission for himself and his wife to provide pastoral care across the city, so long as they wear their chaplaincy garments.

“As a couple, we took the initiative because we realized there was no place for these agents to find food at night,” Coc said. “We also realized that they left their families and homes to serve and protect the people, but who is ministering and caring for them? We looked into our pantry and we were moved to share some of what God has given to us.”

Coc's wife cooks for nearly 75 agents that work on the night shift across four separate checkpoints guarding the city of Cobán. He helps serve food from 10 to 11 p.m. and 2 to 4 a.m. for the multitude of security forces. Recently, Coc’s wife prepared an additional 72 meals for the local hospital personnel while he and a colleague went to deliver them.

They have even been able to lead prayer sessions at the local police station. The security forces have been thankful for them to help encourage them and feed them.

“As we have been doing our rounds, we’ve observed some of the agents listening to Christian music,” Coc said. "We’ve been approached by them to tell us the Church of the Nazarene Verapaz del Norte District is doing a great job in the region.”

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica