Puerto
Rico
Puerto Rico
is an American Territory with American citizens. Therefore, Americans don't
need a passport to come on the island. Only a driving license or other
picture identification for standard check-in at the airport is needed.
Many establishments are recognizable. Puerto Rico hosts companies like
McDonalds, KFC, K Mart, Sam's, Wal-Mart, Sears, etc.
Puerto Ricans
are very friendly people with a wonderful sense of hospitality. Puerto
Rico has within its borders peoples of many nations such as Palestinians,
Arabian, Argentineans, and Latins from throughout Central and South America.
For the most part Spanish is spoken. However, English is very popular and
many people understand it even if they do not speak it.
The Church of
the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene was begun in PR much like the early church was
formed. In 1944, a group of independent churches were accepted by general
agreement into the Nazarene fellowship. Following shortly thereafter, two
new structures were built in San Juan. A radio broadcast ministry was vibrant
in the early days, said to have reached over 3 million listeners. Also in
1944 Lyle Prescott and his wife were assigned to St. Croix. Part of their
responsibilities included supervising the work in PR, 100 miles west of St.
Croix. The Prescotts were later reassigned to Cuba and the infant work started
there in 1945. Thus, the church in PR continued for the next seven years.
Yet after this time it was seen that the original group of churches were
not a genuine Nazarene operation. A decision was made to start a school for
the training of pastors. This rekindled the tension. Sadly the outcome was
a withdrawal from the Nazarene Church.
But all was
not lost. In fact, this time marked the beginning of healthy growth for
the Church of Nazarene. In 1954 Rev. and Mrs. Porter were assigned
to PR. They were influential in beginning the Nazarene Bible Institute
on the island. This institute was active and fruitful until its close
in 1971.
By this time many pastors were enrolled in university-level classes to
match the educational level of their congregants. In 1975 PR took
its first major
steps toward becoming a regular district. In 1980, during the General Assembly
in Kansas City, Puerto Rico was officially recognized as a regular district.
Puerto Rico now hosts two districts and is continuing to grow through a
faithful ministry.
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.
Rev. Raul Puig, D.S. PR West