‘Passion for people’. Does that resonate with you? That is Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida’s stated purpose.
Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida started October 16 1982. It began in Parque de los Patricios. This area of Buenos Aires had resisted an evangelical church. Other ministries failed there. Even five small churches closed due to problems.
Pastor Guillermo Prein felt guided by God. He left his first church. It was strong and growing. He took on a new challenge. After initial struggles, the church grew. By the end of 1983, it had 100 believers. By the end of 1984, it doubled to 200. This growth continued for five years. By 1987, there were 1600 believers. For the next five years, the church grew spiritually. Workers rose up and the church expanded.
Today, Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida has over 30000 people. There is a pastoral body of 380 members. Over 1200 prayer groups exist throughout the city and country. Many evangelical activities reach all ages. These involve people in social tasks. They spread the word in streets, hospitals and schools. This is done through Accion Comunitaria. Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida belongs to the Union de las Asambleas de Dios. This institution has nearly a century of history in Argentina.
Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida is more than a building. It is a community. It’s a network of people connected by faith and service. You might think of Parque Patricios as the main church. But the church is all of Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida. Each location is just another meeting place.
Guillermo Prein wanted a community with many activities. These would include recreation, education, and social outreach. He wanted a center for Christian activities. It would include a place for worship.
The church focuses on community work. It has a dynamic structure. This differs from other evangelical churches. Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida is a church. But it emphasizes its unique identity. This sets it apart from a typical church.
The church began with a small group of families in 1982. By 1987, it had 1600 members. It also had a system of home prayer and Bible study groups. These groups were crucial to the community’s structure. The 1990s saw rapid growth. Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida became a national reference. It also became one in Latin America for Pentecostalism.
Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida faced the 2001 socio-economic crisis. This led to a significant change. The church created ministries and projects. These addressed social problems.
The church undertakes community ministries. These include projects for all ages. They also include evangelism efforts. Accion Comunitaria is a vital area. It has support groups for people with HIV. It also assists people with drug addictions. They deliver food to the homeless every night. It also runs shelters for children.
The church considers community work as evangelism. It does not distinguish between evangelism and other outreach. This reflects a theological shift. Evangelism involves converting people. But it also involves transforming the community. New members join naturally. They join as a result of the activities.
Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida has evolved. It maintains its Pentecostal identity. It transforms aspects of its denomination. This reflects in its innovative practices. Iglesia Centro Cristiano Nueva Vida is a movement of faith. It is dedicated to serving people. It proclaims the good news of Jesus.