Since the end of May, a missionary team of four young people from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador has been serving on the Isaiah 6:8 Project in Pedernales, Dominican Republic—a community with significant potential for growth but a limited Christian presence.
On May 31, Wellington (DR), Cecia (Guatemala), Keren (Nicaragua), and Axel (El Salvador) arrived in the southern district of the Dominican Republic to begin a cross-cultural missionary experience as part of the project. They were joyfully welcomed and transported to Pedernales, their home and place of service for the next three months.
Pedernales is a growing city that still lacks a Nazarene presence. Through love, faith, and dedication, these young people have begun to become an active part of the community.
The Isaiah 6:8 project, an initiative of the Mesoamerica Central Field, offers three months of cross-cultural service opportunities to Spanish-speaking young people between the ages of 18 and 30. The goal: to serve in places where the Church of the Nazarene has little or no presence.
Pedernales was chosen for its rapid urban development and urgent need for new churches. The project seeks to establish a Church Type Mission (CTM) there, with support from the southern district and regional leadership. Although there is no established church in the city, the team has the support of District Superintendent Benny Sánchez and leaders from Missionary Mobilization, Nazarene Youth International (NYI), and Nazarene Missions International (NMI).
From the beginning, the team has been involved in practical and relational actions: painting the central park, door-to-door visits, and meeting with neighbors like Orlando, Román, and Doña Carmen. The testimonies abound.
Román, a neighbor who has not yet received Christ, said, “I admire how you reach out to people with such love… I can see God in you.”
A wave of transformation has begun. Children and adolescents have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Bible school is held every Saturday, followed by worship on Sundays.
In addition, activities such as reading clubs, English classes, and sports have been launched. Soon, a Vacation Bible School will be ready. Families have opened their homes to the team, and community leaders like the firefighters have been God’s answer in times of need.
At the end of the three months of this first team, a second group will arrive to continue the evangelistic work, accompanied by a district leader who will remain in charge of the congregation being formed.
The desire is to establish a church in Pedernales, one that serves as a model of compassion, service, and active presence in the community. This low-income community needs the support of other churches—children’s supplies, utensils, church materials, and more—requiring prayer, funding, and collaboration.
–Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica