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CHAPTER IV\u000ATHE SOCIAL THINKING OF THE NEO-PENTECOSTAL PASTORS OF GUATEMALA CITY\u000AIn the NPCs the figure of the pastor is central in its foundation, direction, formation and development. Members depend in many ways on their vision and messages to direct their thoughts and conduct in daily living. That is why it is important to analyze the thinking of the Neo-Pentecostal pastors (NPS) in terms of their role and social presence in the Church and to observe how it is transmitted to the members. For example, studies done by Paul Gifford (2004) on charismatic churches in Ghana and by David Maxwell (2006) in the Assembly of God of Zimbabwe show how the vision, thinking and leadership of their pastors determined the direction of their churches and affected other pastors.\u000AThe analysis includes material gathered from interviews with senior pastors (P), associate pastors (A), internal observers (IO) and external observers (EO) from these churches and some lay people (NPL). One of the letters indicated above is attached to every quote together with the code of the church and the number assigned to it as laid out in the study plan in the first chapter.\u000AA. THE BACKGROUND OF THE NEO-PENTECOSTAL PASTORS\u000AFirst it is important to take a look at where these leaders come from.\u000A1. The geographic situation of the churches\u000AThe churches under study are all to be found in Guatemala City and municipalities that have been absorbed by the greater city boundaries. Most of the churches are attended by middle and upper class people are found in residential districts while the rest of the churches are in more popular areas. The study included this range of churches in order to cover a wide spectrum of the Neo-Pentecostal population. How is the social distribution in\u000AGuatemala? According to data from the (United Nations, Guatemala 2005), the 161\u000A