Virginia Elizabeth Richter Aris De Juarez  

VIRGINIA ELIZABETH RICHTER ARÍS DE JUÁREZ

 

I studied Civil Engineering from 1977 to 1982 at San Carlos University in Guatemala City. By God's grace, I came to know the Lord in 1982, falling in love with Him and wanting to know everything about Him. I began to read the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. In 1984, I married a Christian man, Eldin Juárez, who was the son of pastors. I was working at the Faculty of Engineering at San Carlos University, but God put it in my heart to preach the Word of God. I resigned from my job, knowing that God would take care of us. My husband didn't have a stable job. By 1986, we had a baby, Mercedez Juárez Richter, who came with us to live in Tactic, just knowing we had to preach the Gospel. Two years later, Ana Belén was born. It's a long story, but in 1993, God told me to start a school, so I obeyed, with my husband's help. Every year, the school has grown. A church also started at the school. We worked hard for thirteen years as the founder and Principal of the School. God gave me the opportunity to keep learning and preaching the Bible. Before we went to Tactic, I had studied at a Bible Institute for two years (45 Bible courses). Afterward, I studied at Nazarene Bible School from 2008 to 2011, earning a Diploma in Ministerial Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Theology. I became a Professor of Theological Education at the Nazarene Seminary and also at World Vision Seminary. I was ordained as an "Ordained Minister and Pastor" by "Alianza Misionera de Visión Mundial" on June 11, 2011. And I was ordained as a Presbyter by the Nazarene Church of Coban on August 9, 2015. I finished my Master of Arts in Bible Studies at the University of Mariano Gálvez in 2016. In 2020, 2021, and 2023, I studied for a Ph.D. in Sociology of Religion at the same university. I presented some Seminary Work, and now I am finishing my thesis (hoping it will be finished this year). God has allowed us to start about 10 churches. My challenge is to keep preaching and teaching the Bible wherever God wants, to establish pastors and teachers to take care of God's flock.