The El Jardín Nazareno El Cruze, received the Diploma of Honor from the Argentine Senate in recognition of its work and commitment to education. The ministry and kindergarten school belongs to El Cruze Church of the Nazarene in Pilar, Buenos Aires. The award was presented during a ceremony held in the Blue Room of the National Congress, as part of Evangelical Schools Day.
The ceremony brought together representatives from more than 110 evangelical educational institutions from different parts of Argentina, along with national and legislative authorities recognizing the contribution that these institutions make in the formation of new generations and in service to their communities.
For the El Jardín El Cruze, being included among this group of honored institutions is a particularly significant recognition. In addition to the project’s national scope, it is a relatively young educational endeavor, born from the vision and commitment of a local church to its community.
The story of the kindergarten began as a dream of the Church of the Nazarene El Cruze, which has served the Pilar community for 25 years. Around 2010, faced with the need for more educational spaces for children in the area, the church, led by pastors Hernán and Gabriela Massacesi, began praying and working towards the development of an educational institution that would integrate academic training, Christian values, and service.
The project took a significant step forward in 2019 with the creation of the Nazareno El Cruze Foundation. After completing the necessary procedures with the educational authorities of the Province of Buenos Aires, the Nazareno El Cruze kindergarten officially opened its doors on March 1, 2023, and began its first academic year.
Currently, it is the only formal educational institution of the Church of the Nazarene in Argentina. Its history began with 14 founding families, and since its opening, 92 families have attended the institution.
Approximately 70% of these families arrived without knowing the Lord or after having drifted away from the Christian faith, while the remaining 30% are Christian families from the local congregation and other denominations. This strengthened El Jardín’s vision of understanding education not only as an academic endeavor but also as an opportunity to walk with young families, instill values, and express the love of Christ through daily service.
The recognition received in the Senate also comes at a time of growth for the project. Currently, the educational community is working to move forward with opening the primary level. This next step would allow El Jardín to accompany the children and their families longer.
The Diploma of Honor was received with joy and gratitude by the entire community of the Nazareno El Cruze Kindergarten, who understand this distinction as a recognition of the work of those who dreamed of the project, those who contributed to making it a reality, its teachers and teams, the families who trust in the institution and, especially, the children who are part of it.
