September 1999

Dear beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,

Greetings once again from the Garcias to you, faithful people of God of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We want to share with you some of the things that are happening to us and where we are witnessing the progress of the gospel. Despite the obstacles, we celebrate joyfully the mercy of our God who from pain and difficulties brings new life to those around us.

Yesterday we held a planning meeting with a group of rural pastors with whom we work. After our Bible study and prayer, we analyzed the current circumstances of the Body of Christ in Costa Rica. We arrived at the conclusion that the church of Christ in this country is being devastated by a wave of religious groups with various theological tendencies that puts into danger the identity of the church. Many of these are Pentecostal groups, which have a great variety of national and local expressions, such as creole Pentecostalism, missionary Pentecostalism, heretical Pentecostals, and the Pentecostalism of holy healing that preaches the "Gospel of Prosperity."

In addition to the historic Protestant denominations that have been present in Costa Rica for many years—Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans, Baptists, etc.—we now have new denominations or non-historic groups such as indigenous evangelical churches, Nazarenes, "Conservative Baptists," and missionary alliances. In addition, many congregations have been formed by groups leaving the above denominations, sometimes with the encouragement of missionary organizations from other Latin America countries or the United States. These form evangelical communities or associations of two or more congregations with loose ties between them and no connection to other denominations.

This church expansion in all directions is complicated even further by the existence of more syncretistic forms of Christianity, such as Neo-Gnosticism, Zionism, strange revivalist sects that promote spiritual warfare, and fanatical charismatics proselytizing in the slums. Though some are obvious aberrations, many are evangelical and are likely to become part of the Protestant stream. They are composed of people less interested in knowing about doctrine than knowing God experientially.

We finally concluded that the appearence of such "sects" is due to theological differences that have arisen during a period of crisis when people are looking for new sources of stability and authority. In this context, traditional Protestantism, less fluid and mobile, offers little help in adjusting to abrupt change. Nevertheless, we live in a time of many paradoxes, and spiritual experience is undeniably real and intense. The apostolic burden is shared, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).

Will you pray for us?

• We need your prayer support for our work through the ministry of CEDEPCA (Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America), especially in teaching the gospel to pastors and lay leadership. We need wisdom from God to accomplish faithfully this labor He has entrusted to you and us.
• We need your spiritual support in the pastoral ministry with the local Moravian Church in Pavas. In this congregation, 65 boys and girls attend our Sunday school classes every week. You and we can make the difference in their human and spiritual upbringing.
• We need your prayers in this moment of grief for Andrés and his relatives in Honduras. Andrés's mother passed away last month at the age of 80, witnessing her love for God until the last minute of her life. She died pronouncing these words of Saint Paul: "Whether I live or die, I shall bring honor to Christ. To me, life is Christ. Death, then, will bring more" (Phil 1:20c-21).

Therefore we finish this letter with a word of gratitude to our Lord for your faithful fellowship with us in Christ. Thank you very much for your support to the worldwide ministries of the PC(USA), which helps many people throughout the world.

May God bless you always.

Your Servants in Christ,

Andrés and Gloria Garcia