How We Got Started: Central America & the Caribbean

The Birth of Our Movement in Central America & the Caribbean 

The Charis Alliance first entered the region in 1951 when Encompass sent Walter & Alys Haag and Roy & Dorothy Howard to Mexico. At that time, the Mexican government restricted missionaries to tourist visas, only allowing them to stay for six months at a time. As a result, the team established their initial ministry in San Ysidro, California with a host home in Tijuana, Mexico. 

Their goal was to raise up Mexican leaders who wouldn’t be limited by visa restrictions, so in addition to their home-based meetings they also prioritized developing a Bible institute. In 1953, the Haags were denied entry into Tijuana, so they started partnering with the Red Cross to take short-term trips into Tijuana where they taught medical aid. While they were stateside, they regularly ministered to Mexicans who were detained at a local immigration facility. 

While the work of these missionaries bore much fruit, we continued praying for the mission to reach deeper into Mexico and Central America. 

The Growth of Our Movement in Central America & the Caribbean 

As time went on, God answered those prayers by leading the Edminstons to serve in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. He also led Phil & Amy Guerena to bring the Charis Alliance to Mexico City where they focused on reaching college students. Charis churches started springing up throughout the country, and in 1983, we even entered Guatemala.  

By 1994 the Charis Alliance’s first Haitian church was planted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with the help of Grace Brethren North American Mission (GBNAM). Since then, three more Haitian churches have been planted in South Florida, and God called their leaders to take the gospel back to their homeland. In 2005, our movement spread to Haiti when these pastors and GBNAM partnered with a pastor in Haiti to plant the first Charis church in LaBolle, Haiti. 

In 2006 our movement spread to Trinidad and Tobago when GBNAM planted the first Charis church there. And in 2009, we reached the Bahamas.  

Today, the Charis Alliance has 30 churches in Mexico (and 15 points of light), 50 churches in Haiti, three in the Bahamas, one in Guatemala, and one in Trinidad and Tobago. 

A Call to Prayer and Support 

• Today, our movement in Mexico is so sustainable that we don’t have any more active missionaries there. Pray for our churches there to grow in cooperation as they continue planting new churches and even sending missionaries to other countries. 

• Many countries in the Caribbean are afflicted by poverty and social unrest. Pray for God to provide safety and resources our churches there so they can shine His light into their communities.