Did you know that Iglesia Aviva Lugano is more than just a church? It is a beacon of hope in the Comuna 8 of Buenos Aires. This is a story of faith and community. It’s a story etched into the very streets we stand on.
Iglesia Aviva Lugano stands as a testament to a dream. That dream is to bring revival to this part of Buenos Aires. The church specifically aims to transform Comuna 8. This area includes Villa Riachuelo, Villa Lugano, and Villa Soldati.
Imagine a place with challenges. Comuna 8 faces issues like poverty and addiction. Some residents are even affected by witchcraft. But Iglesia Aviva Lugano rises as a lighthouse. It offers freedom to captives and healing to the sick. It brings good news to those with heavy hearts.
The church’s mission is clear. It wants everyone in Comuna 8 to recognize Jesus. This includes government leaders. Iglesia Aviva Lugano strives to uplift all voices. It shares the Gospel’s message without bias. The goal is to guide people to Jesus and a life of service.
The story of Iglesia Aviva Lugano goes back to humble beginnings. In the beginning, young pastors arrived in Lugano with their two daughters. They came from San Martín. Although they felt like strangers, they loved the neighborhood from the start.
The preparations were tough. The first meetings happened on empty land. There wasn’t even a roof over their heads. But on May 7, 1999, at Avenida Riestra 6158, the Manantial de Avivamiento Ministry was born. This was the start of Iglesia Aviva Lugano.
As the church grew, a wonderful problem arose. More and more people came seeking God. The temple became too small. In 2008, they knocked down a wall and expanded. This doubled the space.
In 2009, the ministry faced a new challenge. The pastor wanted to impact society beyond the church walls. He wanted to reach those who might never step inside. So, he sought a way to use mass media.
It seemed like a distant dream. But God made it happen. Manantial de Avivamiento met with Radio Maranata FM 89.3. It was a leading Christian radio station. By 2009, a studio was built at Avenida Riestra 6158. Radio Maranata FM 89.3 began broadcasting from there.
The church held many services each week. They still faced the same problem of space. During group meetings, people spilled out into the street. Small groups prayed and listened to sermons outside.
This led to the biggest challenge yet. Since 1999, the pastors wanted a main temple in Lugano. The church started talks to buy the neighborhood cinema. It had been closed for ten years. In mid-2015, they got the keys.
The work to renovate the cinema was huge. Years of neglect had taken their toll. But on October 2, 2015, they opened the new temple. The congregation praised Jesus loudly. The new temple is where Iglesia Aviva Lugano is today.
The church’s desire to share Jesus never stops. They want to transform lives by preaching. In 2017, they bought a mobile evangelism unit. It’s a truck with a screen and sound system. They can preach anywhere.
In 2019, they took two big steps. They opened their first church plant in San Martín. This small church grew quickly. It brought light to those who needed Jesus. In their 20th-anniversary celebration, the whole church met at Avenida Riestra 5651. People from around the world joined them. Avivamiento Worship, the church’s worship band, was formed. They recorded their first album called “A El sea la Gloria.”
Today, Iglesia Aviva Lugano stands strong. It has many projects ahead. The pastors, Juan and Silvana Alvarez, have dreams in their hearts. These dreams come from God. And as we’ve seen, dreams from God come true. The church will keep moving forward. They won’t stop until the city and the world are at the feet of Jesus.