A Church of God pastor who oversaw 26 churches and various missions in Guatemala's Quiché Region has been murdered, according to news reports.
The tragic death of Pastor Juan Saturnino Guachiac on March 16 was announced by Church of God Field Director over Latin America David Ramirez, who received the report from Bishop Otoniel Collins, superintendent for the Church of God over Central America, Charisma News reported.
Guachiac pastored a church and was planting two new churches in the region. He was also the overseer of the 26 churches and many missions in the Quiché Region, according to Collins.
"He loved his people and dreamed of furthering their development,'' said Collins, who described the murdered pastor are "the most prominent leader of the Quiché Region."
Guachiac was also reportedly leading a project in education in the region.
"He was an outstanding leader. We were supporting him for even a greater leadership, but violence took him away from us. We feel helpless and vulnerable in the face of the unstoppable violence that has taken hold of our country. The preparation of a leader like Saturnino takes at least 10 years; but coward assassins ended his life ... we hope this crime won't go unpunished," Collins said.
He said Guachiac was a widower who is survived by his four adult children.
"We say farewell to one of the most distinguished ethnic pastors of Guatemala,'' Collins said.
In 2012, a Guatemalan Church of God pastor was also killed by an unknown assailant while on his way to a territorial ministers meeting, according to Charisma News.
Fr. Neftali Leiva, father of five daughters with the youngest only two years old then, was gunned down by drug traffickers known as "The Zetas'' who reportedly control the area near the border with Mexico, reports said.
According to a priest who witnessed the shooting, the assailant "walked up to the victim without a word and shot him point blank several times.''
The shooter also fired shots at the priest but he was able to escape. It is a practice in the violent area to leave no witnesses, according to Charisma.
The murder of the priest has prompted World Missions to set up a relief fund to help care for the widow and children of Leiva.
The border territory is only about 30 miles long, but it is home to 73 Church of God congregations, said Jose Clara Vela, territorial administrative bishop.
