Guyana
Guyana achieved independence from the U.K. in 1966 and became a republic
in 1970. In 1989 Guyana launched an Economic Recovery Program, which marked
a dramatic reversal from a state-controlled, socialist economy towards a
more open, free market system. Results through the first decade have proven
encouraging. Guyana is located in Northern South America, bordering the Atlantic
Ocean, Suriname, and Venezuela. It is slightly smaller than Idaho. The climate
is tropical: hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; there are two
rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January).
The terrain
is mostly rolling highland, coastal plain, and savanna in the south with
the lowest point the Atlantic Ocean and the highest
point, Mt.
Roraima (2835 m). Some of Guyana’s natural resources include bauxite,
gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, and fish. The population in July
2002 was 698,209.
The Church of
the Nazarene
The church in Guyana grew from a friendly relationship with an independent
holiness group called the Christian Mission. Rev. Rice, minister of this
independent church, had been a minister with this group since 1933 both in
New York and Trinidad. Yet by 1944 Rice knew that he needed a permanent affiliation
to continue the work in Guyana. Due to his time in Trinidad, Rev. Rice was
an acquaintance of a Nazarene minister, Rev. Lelan Rogers. In 1945 Rice invited
Rogers to come and evaluate whether his independent churches (by that time
he had two) could become affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Later
that year, the General Board approved the trip, and shortly after in a unanimous
vote, the churches merged with the Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Rice served
as an ordained minister until his death in 1951.
In 1955, the
first Nazarene church plant was started in the key city of New Amsterdam.
It began in a rented store building, but grew rapidly.
In the
1960s, during a difficult time politically and socially for Guyana, the
church was put to the test. To that date, churches were started equally
between
Black and East Indian populations. But the struggle for independence ushered
in a spirit that was unfavorable of all things foreign. It was not a healthy
situation for foreign missionaries. Yet the silver lining could be seen
in the person of Rev. Joseph Murugan. He was appointed as the first
local DS
of Guyana during these years. The church and district flourished under
his dynamic leadership. He initiated a 10 year plan to become a regular
district.
This goal was attained in 1982.
To date, Guyana
has expanded into two districts with around 3,000 members. Guyana still
deals with tension between the two predominant ethnic groups,
Black and East Indian. There is much work to be done in this country.
We hope that you pray with us that God will continue to bless the
ministries
of our pastors and lay-leaders in Guyana.
Sources:
Parker, J. Fred. Mission to the World: A History of Missions in the
Church of the Nazarene through 1985. Nazarene Publishing House,
Kansas City,
MO, 1988.
http://www.odci.gov/