In 1973 a coffee shop became a haven. A place of refuge for troubled youth in Tegucigalpa. This was the humble beginning of Amor Viviente. Ed and Gloria King two Mennonite missionaries saw a desperate need. These young people were struggling with drugs alcohol and abandonment. Established churches weren’t reaching them. The Kings’ informal coffee shop offered a welcoming atmosphere.
Amor Viviente literally meaning Living Love blossomed from this simple setting. Youth found healing restoration and renewed relationships. The word spread like wildfire. Soon the Kings were overwhelmed with requests for prayer and counseling. Many of the young people were educated. They quickly learned from the Kings’ leadership becoming involved in ministry themselves.
Weekend rallies in schools and parks drew even larger crowds. Contemporary music attracted more followers. Parents impressed by the transformations of their children joined the movement. A Christian bookstore opened in Tegucigalpa. The Eastern Board’s former missionary children’s school became a rehabilitation center. Amor Viviente personnel played a vital role in its operation.
Amor Viviente’s reach extended beyond Tegucigalpa. Groups formed in other Honduran cities and towns. By 1984 the movement had spread to several locations. A rural community Moroceli joined in 1986. In 1981 a Child Feeding Center Ebenezer was established in a poor Tegucigalpa neighborhood. In 1985 missionaries were sent to New Orleans to work with Honduran communities there.
Amor Viviente initially held meetings in public schools and rented offices. By 1985 with a loan from the Eastern Board a new building was constructed. It featured a 1200-seat auditorium a recording studio a print shop and administrative offices.
The movement maintained a strong centralized leadership structure. After the Kings departed in 1983 Rene Peñalva led the Tegucigalpa congregation and served as national director. The movement boasted about 2500 members in 15 congregations. Each congregation held large meetings and smaller discipleship groups. Amor Viviente was associated with the Mennonite World Conference. However it maintained limited contact with other Honduran church groups.
In 1998 a division occurred. Rene Peñalva left to form Centro Cristiano Internacional. Many followed him. In 2003 Amor Viviente had over 10000 members in 48 congregations. Most lived in Honduras but others resided in various countries including the USA and Canada. This demonstrates the global impact of this movement that started in a simple coffee shop in Tegucigalpa. A testament to the power of love and faith.