The Called to Disruption 2024 conference was held in Costa Rica on 31 August. The event was organized by Seminario Nazareno de las Americas (SENDAS), which brought together more than 180 leaders and pastors from Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Peru, and other countries to reflect on the importance of updating the mission of the church in the contemporary world.

With the subtheme "Disruption," the conference sought to motivate participants to rethink outreach and ministry strategies without compromising the essential message of the gospel.

"These conferences led me to reflect on the way we have been approaching ministry and evangelization because, on many occasions, we have fallen into rigid and traditional patterns that, although well-intentioned, can limit the impact of the gospel message in our society," said Chris Mesén González, of Amazing Grace Iglesia del Nazareno in San José, Costa Rica.

The concept of disruption, inspired by General Superintendent Emeritus Jerry Porter, highlights that while the church's message remains sacred and unchanging, methodologies and ways of reaching people can and must change. This year, the event reviewed evangelism, discipleship, and ministry strategies to adapt them to the needs and challenges of 2024. The call was to "break the molds" of tradition and revitalize those practices that can still impact a constantly changing world.

The day began at 7 a.m. with the registration of attendees. Afterward, participants enjoyed breakfast before heading to the opening devotional in the auditorium led by Monica Mastronardi de Fernandez, which set the spiritual tone for the day. Throughout the day, attendees could choose from various workshops organized in four blocks, with topics ranging from using digital tools in the church to dealing with migration crises and mental health care.

One of the workshops, "I Can't Take It Anymore," was led by specialist Miguel Leitón and focused on the crucial topic of mental health and suicide prevention. Another workshop, "Migrando Esperanzas" (Migrating Hopes), was led by Pastor Elimelec Juantá, who brought awareness to participants about the migration crises and the church's role in caring for migrants.

Other workshops conducted were "With Open Eyes," which discussed the issue of human trafficking; "From Breakup to Resilience," which focused on rebuilding families after divorce proceedings; "Different but Equal," which addressed issues of inclusion in the church for people with disabilities; and "Creative Evangelism," which inspired participants to think of new methods to reach youth.

"These conferences equipped me with a new perspective and a renewed passion for seeing the church as a place of innovation and creativity, where every leader and member should be encouraged to think outside the box and be an agent of change in their community," Mesén said.

The event concluded with a closing service and an inspiring message from the institution's rector, Rubén Fernández. His message focused on praying and seeking the  Holy Spirit’s guidance so that the churches in the region would be revitalized and transformed.

Called to Disruption 2024 was a learning event but also a space for transformation. Church leaders reflected deeply on breaking away from the denominational status quo and adopting approaches that resonate with today's world.

The conference left a significant mark on all attendees. Leaders hope it continues to inspire the church in Mesoamerica to be relevant and disruptive in its mission of sharing the gospel in an ever-changing world.