Four Global Churches Pursuing Adoption
In the last month we’ve had four Global Churches formally asked to be adopted by Sovereign Grace. We are thrilled to announce that all of the following have now become Candidate Churches, and so will formally begin the ordination and adoption process. With great joy, here’s a bit about them…
La Vina Escazu - Costa Rica
From Mark Prater, Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches…
I met Rodrigo Fournier, Lead Pastor of La Vina Escazu in San Jose, Costa Rica when I spoke at a conference alongside of my friend Joselo Mercado in February 2020 in San Jose. Rodrigo was not only my capable translator when I preached during the conference, he had also invited me to preach at his church the Sunday after the conference. On that Sunday, Jill and I found La Vina Escazu, a church of 600 people, to be very similar to a Sovereign Grace church. There was a palpable passion for Christ in their singing, a warmth in their relationships, and a gospel-centrality that marked their Sunday service.
Since that Sunday in February 2020, Rodrigo and I have talked about every 6 weeks. In those conversations Rodrigo became a friend as we got updates on each other’s lives, and he told me that he first became aware of Sovereign Grace by listening to CJ Mahaney’s sermons.As Rodrigo and his elders interest in Sovereign Grace grew, we had conversations about our polity, our Seven Shared Values and our new Statement of Faith, all of which seem to confirm that Sovereign Grace could be a denominational home for La Vina Escazu. On February 25, 2021, a year after I met Rodrigo, the elders of La Vina Escazu sent me a signed Letter of Intent formalizing their desire to be adopted into Sovereign Grace. I’m so excited about the possibility of our family of churches having another church in the nation of Costa Rica.
Igreja Nova Vida - Brazil
From Bert Turner, SGC Representative to Brazil…
“Faithful” is a more biblical (and important) descriptor than “heroic,” but they both apply to our dear friends at Igreja Nova Vida (INV) down in the southernmost state of Brazil – Rio Grande do Sul. These precious saints have faithfully persevered through being abandoned by a former denomination, the tragic death of their senior pastor and the difficulties of living the doctrines of grace in an area where they are little understood or celebrated. Yet, they are joyfully serving Jesus, and, to our joy, eagerly pursuing adoption by Sovereign Grace Churches. The INV leadership team officially signed a letter of intent to become a SGC candidate church last month.
I first met their pastor, Emerson Soares, when I was in São Paulo, Brazil in 2018. He flew 800 miles just to meet over the possibility of the adoption of INV by SGC. Since then, we have developed a warm and deep relationship. Emerson has attended the Pastor’s Conference twice (once with is wife, Tati). I have been twice to visit them in Rio Grande. Emerson is progressing quickly through the ordination process. As a sign of his favor, the Lord was kind to recently give INV a new, larger and better meeting place. Even during COVID restrictions they are seeing new visitors.
Casa Vida Playa Azul Church (CVPA) - Costa Rica
From Joselo Mercado, SGC Representative to Latin America…
I still remember this man full of enthusiasm coming up to greet me after preaching at a conference in Santo Domingo. Between laughs and tears he told me that he wanted to be able to communicate the gospel with the passion that I had done and that he wanted to talk about his family in a similar way. From that conversation was born a friendship that we have cultivated for several years. After several visits to Costa Rica, serving together in conferences, having dinner and laughing, Chespi Sandoval and Casa Vida Playa Azul Church (CVPA) asked to be adopted by SGC.
It is evident that both CVPA and SGC are compatible in the gospel-centered values that define our mission. We hope that in time God will give us direction to confirm this relationship and to continue the work of proclaiming the gospel in Costa Rica.
Sublime Gracia Church - Santa Marta, Colombia
From Joselo Mercado, SGC Representative to Latin America…
Jacobis Aldana is a young pastor with many gifts. In addition to being the pastor of the Sublime Gracia church in Santa Marta, Colombia, Jacobis works in public relations and web development of several recognized ministries in Latin America. Because of God's gifts, many ministries want Jacobis to become part of them. So why does he want to be part of SGC? Centrality and application of the Gospel, this is what summarizes the relationship we have with Jacobis and his precious congregation.
Our relationship describes the mutual desire to encourage each other in the truths of the Gospel, our desire to fellowship for our benefit and that of our families, and enjoy the values we hold dear. Jacobis has built a church where the Gospel is not just academic knowledge; it is a truth that applies on a day-to-day basis. So he wants to be associated with a church group that values the same.
