After 13 years of service, the Genesis Project officially concluded its cycle in the Mesoamerica Region in August 2026, leaving a legacy of new works, organized churches, thousands of lives impacted, and a generation of missionaries mobilized to serve.
The Genesis Project began its ministry in August 2013 as a Mesoamerica Region initiative focused on urban mission and church planting in places where the Church of the Nazarene had little or no presence, through the sending of missionary teams.
The project began under the leadership of Scott and Emily Armstrong, who helped launch the initiative and led Genesis until mid-2024. At that time, Erika Chaves assumed coordination of the project and accompanied its final stage through its conclusion in August 2026.
In 2014, the first Genesis generation included seven missionaries: four were sent to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and three to Veracruz, Mexico. Each generation made a two-year commitment to serve, during which the teams walked alongside local communities, shared the love of Christ, and participated in planting new churches.
Throughout its 13-year history, 42 missionaries were sent to serve at 14 ministry sites: Turks and Caicos; Grenada; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Veracruz, Mexico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Santiago, Dominican Republic; Guadalajara, Mexico; Querétaro, Mexico; Panama; Monterrey, Mexico; Quetzaltenango, Guatemala; Chihuahua, Mexico; Santa Ana, El Salvador; and Curaçao.
As a result of these efforts, 19 new works were started and nine churches were organized. In addition, more than 10,000 people were impacted through the ministry carried out by Genesis teams.
The project mobilized missionaries from nine countries: the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago. Twenty-two districts also participated actively, either by sending and supporting missionaries or by receiving teams in the places where the project was serving.
Another important part of the Genesis legacy can be seen in those who responded to God’s call to serve. More than 30 young adults under the age of 35 were mobilized through the project, and for many, the experience became a place to discover or confirm God’s call on their lives. At the conclusion of the project, 67% of those who served as Genesis missionaries continued serving in local, district, field, or regional ministries.
One of them is Eunice Zaragoza of Mexico, who served as a missionary in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, from 2015 to 2017.
“This experience helped me confirm my call and see God’s power and faithfulness at all times. Today, I continue serving in my district as an elder,” Zaragoza said.
During the pandemic, the teams serving in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and Monterrey, Mexico, had to adapt their ministry to the restrictions of the time, but they continued sharing God’s love and working to plant churches.
The Genesis legacy also remains in the lives of those who received the message of salvation and the care of missionary teams. In Santa Ana, El Salvador, some of the people reached through the project continue to receive follow-up even after this stage has concluded.
Among them is Idalia, who received visits from Genesis missionaries and shared that through those encounters, God brought comfort, peace, and hope into her life.
Albero Siliezar, also from Santa Ana, shared how the missionaries’ ministry helped him reconnect with the church.
“I had gone for years without attending a church. Through them, I began drawing close again, but because of my age, it was difficult for me to attend in person. Their ministry here in my home and their prayers bore so much fruit that we are still reaping it today,” Siliezar said.
The conclusion of Genesis marks the end of a season for the Mesoamerica Region. With gratitude, the Region recognizes Scott and Emily Armstrong, who launched and led the project for more than a decade; Erika Chaves, who led its final stage; every missionary who responded to God’s call; the districts and churches that committed to sending and supporting them; and the communities that opened their doors to receive them and walk alongside them.
Although the Genesis Project has concluded, the mission continues. The Mesoamerica Region is preparing for a new season and new projects, grateful for all God has done during these 13 years and hopeful for what He will continue to do through His Church.
Source: Teresa De Cuesta, Missionary Personnel Sites and Projects Coordinator, and historical archives of the Mesoamerica Region.
English translation prepared with the assistance of AI.
