Iglesia Ministerios Gracia y Verdad (Grace and Truth Ministries Church) is located in zone 18 of Guatemala, one of the largest zones in the capital city. It is considered a “red zone” (slum area) because of the high rates of poverty and low employment. The church was founded on March 23, 1991, by Pastor David Blass and his family. The congregation is of Pentecostal trend, although its liturgy is quite conservative. Currently the church has over 70 members that attend the services regularly.

The pastor and other members of the congregation earned the respect and permission of the local public school director and have been teaching Bible classes since 2019. The church also fascilitates a social ministry to deliver food baskets for families in need in the community. The pastor has developed several leadership trainings and projects with other interdenominational ministries. He is also part of an association of eighteen local pastors with whom he meets every evening to pray for their neighborhood. Ever since they began their daily prayer meetings, the pastors have shared how they have seen a positive difference in the neighborhood. There have been fewer crimes and more families are living now with peace.

Pastor David Blass and his wife Silvia have three daughters: Karen, Cesia, and Susan. The pastor and his family are very involved with the church and the community outreach programs. Silvia leads a ministry for the sick, accompanying other church leaders to visit nearby hospitals to share the Gospel with those in need. Susan studies at the National Conservatory of Music and leads the worship ministry for the church. One of David’s daughters follows in his footsteps by ministering to children in the church and local community. They are currently mentoring a teenage girl living in an orphanage and are hoping to become a foster family to help more children in crisis.