Formed by a breakaway group from an existing established evangelico church, a group of around 70, dissatisfied with the failure of the pastor to adhere to biblical teachings, El Centro Evangélico Vida Nueva - Zona Norte held its inaugural service on Sunday 7 March 2004. They were joined by friends and relatives, and by the congregation of their sister church in Santa Cruz.
Prior to the inaugural service, the group had been meeting in the garage of a private house, kindly made available by one of their congregation.
The garage though was soon found to be too small. The opportunity came to expand and relocate when a building at a former garden centre became available.
For months before, in a labour of love, the building was made ready – decoration, painting, the entire floor surface tiled, a picnic area created and an area cleared and seeded for 5-a-side football. A few days before the inaugural service, the final touch was framed pictures from a calender of natural scenes with quotes from the Holy Bible (Santa Biblia).
Pastor Manuel Sierra was on lead guitar and vocals, backed by a stunning performance by a tight knit group of musicians. He was more like the leader of a top rated salsa band and his sermon was delivered with the same degree of enthusiasm. Highly amusing was the fact that he had brought his computer to show the progress of work that led to the inauguration, only he had forgotten his keyboard, would someone who lived nearby please dash home and get a keyboard.
The joy and happiness and love of the worshipers was tangible. And it was infectious. If you could bottle and sell it you would make a fortune, but that is the whole point, grace is not for sale, it is freely given to all who are willing to accept it, whether they are deserving or not. [see Philip Yancey What's So Amazing About Grace (en español Gracia divina vs. condena humana) for a discussion of grace and the lack of grace in too many churches]
During the service people were wandering around with cameras and videos doing their best to try and capture the atmosphere of the event.
Following the service was delicious home made food, which everyone had been asked to bring along, sufficient for themselves and sufficient to share. The food, excellent Canarian fare, put to shame the food dished up in local tourist hotels masquerading as 4-star tourist hotels. Looking at the tables in the morning, there did not seem to be sufficient food for everyone present, but true to the tradition of feeding the five thousand, the food had still not run out by late afternoon when everyone was leaving.
Later in the afternoon, little girls dressed in white, and older girls in blue skirts and white blouses, danced to the music, followed by a second but slightly shorter service.
From late morning until late afternoon when clearing up took place and people said their good byes and started drifting home. The end of an amazing day celebrating the joy of God and the birth of a new church.
Located just past the Botanical Gardens (Jardin de Botanico) on the left. Why not make a day of it on Sunday? Morning in the church, picnic lunch at the picnic tables with stunning views over Puerto de la Cruz and the surrounding banana plantations and countryside, then the afternoon exploring Jardin de Botanico, and finally late afternoon a leisurely stroll back down the hill into Puerto de la Cruz.
I suggest a taxi or the bus up (autobus or quaqua), as it is hard work walking up the hill, especially when it is hot.