Iglesia Evangélica Apostólica del Nombre de Jesús – La Ferroviaria

Can a church have two birthdates? The Iglesia Evangélica Apostólica del Nombre de Jesús, often called IEANJESUS, seems to. Our story begins not in a grand cathedral, but near Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas in the 1950s. Colombian refugees, fleeing internal conflict, carried with them not only their belongings but also their faith, specifically the teachings of the United Pentecostal Church of Colombia. Among them were Crispiniano Arredondo, a craftsman, and Joaquin Jaramillo. These men, independent of each other, began preaching the gospel in their new Ecuadorian home. Around 1958, their paths converged, uniting their efforts to spread the word. This informal beginning, marked by the first gatherings and baptisms in the Suma River in 1959, could be considered the first birth of the Iglesia Evangélica Apostólica del Nombre de Jesús in Ecuador. The second birth? That takes us to Quito, and a more official establishment of the church. The Iglesia Evangélica Apostólica del Nombre de Jesús, recognizing the growing congregation in Ecuador, sent Missionary Miguel Mariano Peña and his wife to Quito in October 1959. This marked a transition from informal gatherings to a structured, organized church body under the guidance of a designated missionary. The church, initially known as the Iglesia Pentecostal Unida del Ecuador, later officially became the Iglesia Evangélica Apostólica del Nombre de Jesús. The church’s official registration occurred on January 16, 1976. Today, right here at Calle Miguel Valverde, you stand before the Iglesia Evangélica Apostólica del Nombre de Jesús – La Ferroviaria, a testament to this rich and layered history. This specific branch, La Ferroviaria, serves the local community here in Quito. It stands as one of over 1,000 congregations across Ecuador. It’s a reminder of the church’s humble beginnings and its remarkable growth, now boasting a membership of around 100,000. So, as you look at this church, remember the two beginnings. The informal gatherings sparked by displaced individuals and the subsequent official establishment. They remind us that faith, like a river, can find its course. It can carve a path even in the midst of displacement and uncertainty. It blossoms in new lands, taking root and flourishing beyond borders.