The Reformed Christian Church in El Salvador is considered a minority Protestant or Evangelical denomination. The first church was established in 1978 by missionaries from the Christian Reformed Church in North America. In recent years, the first Reformed Church remains active, and Baptist-Reformed churches have recently been established.
Reformed Theology
The Reformed Christianity also called Calvinism is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-ceturury with the Protestant Reformation. Reformed Theology emphasizes the authority of the Bible and the Sovereignty of God, as well as Covenant Theology, a framework for understanding the Bible based on God's Covenants with People.
Also, Reformed Churches are adhered to the Apostles Creed, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort and Baptist Confession of Faith.
A Brief History of the Protestant Church in El Salvador
Protestant churches, also known as Evangelical churches, began to establish themselves in El Salvador in the late 19th century as part of the efforts of international missionaries. Their beginnings were challenging due to the country's poverty and the strong influence of Roman Catholic tradition. Preachers such as Jeremías Bolaños, current president of the Pentecostal denomination Assemblies of God in El Salvador, have noted that during the early evangelism efforts, preachers were met with attacks using sticks and rocks by members of the traditional Catholic church.
The first to arrive in El Salvador were missionaries from the Episcopal Church, who established their first congregation around 1869. Later, in approximately 1880, the Baptist Church was founded through the efforts of missionaries from the Southern Baptist Convention of the United States. In the following years, other denominations emerged: the Methodist Church around 1885, the Presbyterian Church between 1895 and 1900, and the Pentecostal Church around 1920, with its main representatives being the Assemblies of God and the Elim Church. Additionally, other independent and non-denominational Protestant churches were established, contributing to the diversity of Protestantism in the country.
Current State of Protestant Churches in El Salvador
In El Salvador, two main denominations dominate: Pentecostal churches and Baptist churches. Among the most prominent are the Misión Centro Américana Church (a conservative denomination) founded in 1899, the Misión Cristiana Elim Church (a Pentecostal denomination) founded in 1977, the Assemblies of God El Salvador (a Pentecostal denomination) established in 1920, and the Tabernáculo Bíblico Bautista Amigos de Israel (a Baptist denomination) founded in 1977. Additionally, other churches and denominations with smaller congregations or lesser recognition have been established. Among these minorities are the Reformed Christian churches.
Christian Reformed Church in El Salvador
The Reformed Christian Church in El Salvador is considered a minority denomination. Unlike the predominant denominations in the country, which often focus on spiritual gifts and experiences, congregational growth, and a more spontaneous and simple form of liturgy, the Reformed Christian Church places greater emphasis on expository preaching, the importance of discipleship, and growth rooted in Reformed principles. These principles are grounded in historical standards that emphasize the Sovereignty of God and The Doctrines of Grace.
First Churches
One of the first Reformed Christian churches in El Salvador was established in Santa Tecla, a municipality in the department of La Libertad, located a short distance from the capital. This church was founded in 1978 by missionaries from the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Today, it is a small but very active congregation led by Reverend Carlos Mejía, with approximately 600 members. The church faced challenges during El Salvador's Civil War in the 1980s and suffered significant structural damage from the 2001 earthquake. Despite these hardships, it has shown remarkable resilience and remains active to this day.
Baptist Reformed Churches
Other Reformed churches have also been established in El Salvador, belonging to the Baptist-Reformed branch. These churches maintain a strong focus on expository preaching, discipleship, and the teaching of Reformed principles grounded in historical standards.
Iglesia Bautista Reformada Gracia y Verdad (Reformed Baptist Church of Grace and Truth)
Established in the district of Mejicanos, north of San Salvador, this church adheres to the 1689 London Baptist Confession. It was founded in November 2017 by Pastor and Church Planter Javier Castro. The church places a strong emphasis on Reformed theology, the doctrines of grace, covenant theology, Baptist ecclesiology, and the Puritan perspective of Christian living. Additionally, it is allied with other Reformed Christian churches and ministries in Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States.
Iglesia Bautista Gracia y Verdad (Grace and Truth Baptist Church)
Established in the district of San Salvador Centro, the capital of El Salvador, this is a Baptist church that, although it does not explicitly identify as Reformed, aligns its teachings with several Reformed principles. Its name is similar to that of the church located in the city of Mejicanos, although it is unclear whether there is any connection between the two. It was founded in February 2017 by Pastor Jaime Gómez and meets in the southern area of San Salvador. Among its teachings are the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation, the Doctrines of Grace, and other Reformed principles.
Iglesia Bautista Reformada Gracia Sobre Gracia (Grace Upon Grace Reformed Baptist Church)
Founded in 1994, this church began as a non-denominational congregation with a neo-Pentecostal orientation, under the name "Centro Internacional de Alabanza" (International Worship Center). In 2009, a decision was made to transition the church toward Reformed Baptist theology, gradually implementing changes such as expository preaching, discipleship groups, theology classes, the application of the regulative principle of worship, and biblical counseling.
Since 2004, the church has been led by Pastor Javier Domínguez. In 2017, it changed its name to Iglesia Bautista Reformada Gracia Sobre Gracia (Reformed Baptist Church Grace Upon Grace) and adopted the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. The church currently meets in the Santa Elena area, in the district of Antiguo Cuscatlán, within the municipality of La Libertad Este (Eastern). Its teachings emphasize the Doctrines of Grace, the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation, and historic creeds such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.
References
- ^ "Asambleas de Dios El Salvador (CEAD)". ceadsv.org. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- "Southern Baptist Convention", Misplaced Pages, 2024-12-21, retrieved 2025-01-21
- "Homepage - Misión Centroamericana". Misión Centroamericana (in Mexican Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- "Misión Cristiana Elim - San Salvador, El Salvador". Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- "Tabernáculo Central – 2025 – El año de mi Victoria" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- "Inicio - Gracia y verdad" (in Spanish). 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- Gracia, Iglesia Gracia Sobre. "Iglesia Gracia Sobre Gracia". graciasobregracia.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-21.
External links
- Facebook | Iglesia Cristiana Reformada en Santa Tecla, El Salvador
- Iglesia Bautista Reformada, Gracia y Verdad | El Salvador
- Gracia y Verdad - El Salvador