“Where we worship and glorify Jesus!” That’s the motto of Iglesia Cristo Vive. It is located on Beechnut Street in Houston. Iglesia Cristo Vive is more than just a church. It is a vibrant community.
Iglesia Cristo Vive strives to preach God’s Word. It seeks to teach and reach lost souls. The church wants to minister to saints and to God. It perseveres in prayer. It makes disciples of Christ. Iglesia Cristo Vive fulfills the great commission through missions.
The church has several services. On Wednesdays, it holds a prayer service. It starts at 7:30 pm. Friday is dedicated to worship. This service also begins at 7:30 pm. Sunday offers two services. The Spanish service is at 9:00 am. The English service follows at 11:30 am.
Iglesia Cristo Vive has a rich history. The Iglesia Evangélica Cristo Vive has a long history filled with God’s generous faithfulness. Looking back inspires the church to move forward with hope. It reaffirms its obedience to God’s command.
The Iglesia Evangélica Cristo Vive started in Madrid. It began in 1962. It was the Hogar de Enseñanza Bíblica. Several missionaries from the Alianza Evangélica mission worked there. Juan Gholdston was one of those missionaries.
In 1964, Juan Gholdston began Bible studies. These studies took place at the Hogar. Attendance grew. Eventually, it became recognized as a church. The Ministry of Justice recognized it on October 22, 1968. Before this, the church applied to join FIEIDE. This is the Federación de Iglesias Evangélicas Independientes de España. It was accepted in October 1967.
By the late 1960s, the congregation had 20 families. By the mid-1970s, it had one hundred baptized members. Juan Gholdston cared for the church until June 1975. In 1971, Juan and Bárbara met in “La Casita”. TEAM owned this property. The land was large. Juan used it for youth gatherings. These included concerts and Christian films. JCUM helped him. “La Casita” became a meeting place for young people. It also served as a witness point for neighborhood youth.
This youth group was led by Juan Gholdston. Ángel Sierra and Ramón Bowman assisted. They spread the Gospel. They distributed pamphlets and Gospels of John. They shared their personal testimonies. More and more young people joined the church. They were captivated by Jesus’ love.
In 1971, the church started its first mission point. It was in Alcobendas. David Esaú led this mission. Later, Ramón Bowman took over. Several young people from the Canillejas church helped. Roque Sánchez consolidated the church from 1975 to 1988.
The Canillejas church grew. Juan Gholdston felt called to start new churches. So, they looked for a national pastor. Roque Sánchez de la Torre came from Úbeda. He was accepted as pastor in April 1975. The church recognized Juan and Bárbara Gholdston’s work. They had served the church for seven years.
The church continued to grow. The space on C/ Talía 20 became too small. They considered the land of “La Casita”. TEAM agreed to sell it. In 1981, the church decided to buy the land. They planned to build a temple for God.
The project was large. The church had few resources. Yet, the members committed to giving. Roque Sánchez and his wife Angelita led them. TEAM also gave a loan. Construction took place from 1982 to 1984. The new temple opened on May 19, 1985. It provided more space. The church grew even more.
Today Iglesia Cristo Vive continues this legacy. It serves the Houston community. It welcomes all to experience Christ’s love. Its services provide spiritual growth. They foster a strong sense of community. Come and experience the love and teachings of Iglesia Cristo Vive.