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result shows conflicting feelings. According to an influential lay person of the IVF it is not due just to a lack of time, but that the members of his church have little interest and participation in these aspects because they are inward looking. Then he added that, they think in this way because their pastors talk more about themes like salvation than how to face the challenges of the society. According to his opinion \u2018the top church leaders must understand that we must be open to enter many more fields and not be so closed to the possibility of changing all the structures of society\u2019 (L1IVF). According to him the leadership of these churches does not give due importance to the discussion of social problems.\u000AOnce again in spite of the fact that only a third part of the lay people participate in\u000Aactivities in the neighbourhood, it is important in terms of getting closer to the problems\u000Aand challenges of the community. Gooren affirms that in Guatemala the civil associations\u000Aand clubs do not prosper, the Evangelical churches of low income appear like some of the\u000Amost dynamic parts of the civil society (1999: 228).\u000ATable 5.7 Do you participate in a committee for development and quality of life for the population?\u000A   Options Frequency Yes 86 Sometimes 79\u000AI have never participated 121\u000AI do not participate, but I an willing to 224 serve\u000ATotal 510\u000ASource: Survey of Neo-Pentecostal lay people 2003\u000Ac. Presence in civilian society\u000AValid Percent 16.9\u000A15.5\u000A23.7\u000A43.9 100\u000A         According to Putnam, voluntary associations are key entities in the formation of human resources and civic culture of a society. He notes \u2018that churches in the United States provide an important incubator for developing civil abilities, civic norms, community interests, and civic recruitment\u2019. He emphasizes that, \u2018actively religious men and women,\u000Alearn to give speeches, how to develop meetings, handle disagreements, and to take on 259\u000A


































































































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