When Gloris Granado started holding a weekly children's Bible study in her home in Punta de Mata, Venezuela, she had no idea that years later it would turn into an organized Church of the Nazarene.

Iglesia del Nazareno Luz de Vida (Light of Life) was recently organized as a church with over 20 members. Granado is the pioneer, a pillar in the foundation of Luz de Vida.

"After receiving the Lord in 2017…God saved my daughter and me from a bus accident that we had," Granado said. "God delivered us from death and restored our health."

Granado was attending Iglesia del Nazareno Renacer, prior to the accident, and began holding children's small groups to teach local children about Christ in their homes. When lockdowns came in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and the church could no longer meet, Granado got creative.

She began inviting people from the community to meet at her home for church services like she had been doing with the children. It started with five people and eventually grew to 20 to 30 people in five months.

The Renacer church recognized what was taking place and planted Luz de Vida in Granado's home. In two years, the congregation has become an organized Church of the Nazarene.

"God has blessed us greatly so we can celebrate this great step of being a consolidated church," Granado said. "A church family even offered a house (to meet in), which is where we gather today. I am still amazed at how God transformed a group of a few children into a new church. Glory to God for His wonderful works."

Around 50 Nazarenes from both congregations recently came together to celebrate the church's organization in a joint service of worship and teaching, experiencing the fidelity and sustenance of God toward His children.

"God called me to this ministry in November 2020 during a pandemic," said José Henríquez, pastor of Luz de Vida. "God has sustained us in these two years, and even if storms come, we will continue to see the hand of God. I can testify that when God calls you, He also empowers you and provides everything you need to do His work. As an organized church, we continue to pray and work to extend the kingdom of God in this place, for Him to be glorified in all that we do."

--Church of the Nazarene South America