When Mike and Kaye Owen returned to their former home of Guatemala, they were overwhelmed at the amount of spiritual growth that’s taken place in the six years since they left.
“The Lord came in behind His workers,” said Mike Owen, who, along with his wife, served more than 25 years as an International Mission Board missionary to the Central American nation before leaving to take an assignment in North Africa and then retiring to Alabama.
In the time since they have been gone, the Lord has sent fresh people to spread the gospel like the 80-person team from Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia that the Owens accompanied to Guatemala July 21–28.
“When we first came [to Guatemala City], there was little Christian influence. Now there are over 400 churches,” Mike Owen said, noting that he and his wife were amazed by the growth.
The two were also amazed at the spread of Christianity among the K’ekchi’, a Mayan people group with whom the Owens worked during their first 15 years in Guatemala. The couple and son John Mark, youth pastor of Central Park Baptist Church, Birmingham, were able to catch up with K’ekchi’ friends when they returned on the missions trip.
“[I]t was great to see old friends and see how they’ve grown in their faith,” Kaye Owen said, adding that many are now pastors.
Indeed, the Owens, who are members of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham, found that the K’ekchi’ people have taken leadership in building new churches and spreading the gospel. Last year, thousands of K’ekchi’ people were baptized.
While in Guatemala, the team worked at six churches in Guatemala City, making repairs, painting and replacing roofs. Mike Owen worked as a team leader for the building projects and was also able to function as an interpreter.
Kay Owen mainly worked in the kitchen.
Part of the rest of the team facilitated Vacation Bible Schools (VBS). One VBS was held at a landfill in Guatemala City, where more than 2,000 families live, said Butch Henderson, BBA (Birmingham Baptist Association ) equipping congregations team leader.
“Most of the Guatemalans are living in poverty. Hopefully we had a lifelong impact on the children by sharing the gospel,” he said.
As part of Alabama Baptists’ partnership with Baptists in Guatemala, the team organized by Serve Management Group out of Cumming, Ga., worked with the Baptist General Convention of Guatemala on this weeklong missions trip. Members of many Alabama Baptist churches were represented.
BBA and the Owens, as well as other churches in Alabama, have more trips planned to help the Baptists of Guatemala. For information about taking a missions trip to Guatemala as part of the state’s partnership with that nation, call 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 239.
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