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and an economic crisis. The emergence of NPCs and buildings modified the urban aspect of Guatemala City. They emerged within a situation where no project seemed to be viable, not even the religious one. Within this critical situation these churches sprung up in homes, in cinemas, in tents without making a lot of noise. After few years they emerged with more impetus and grew rapidly in terms of numbers especially in Guatemala City centre. A similar phenomenon can be observed in the capital cities of Costa Rica, Puerto Rico as well as other Latin American countries.\u000AMany Guatemalans found a perspective of hope in these churches in a moment of crisis and uncertainty. In spite of the countries\u2019 problems these churches were able to establish their own human and financial resources. Far from staying at the margin pressured by the complex Guatemalan context, these churches erupted in the midst of this reality which they challenged and appeared as new religious actors. In the midst of signs of fear, pain, uncertainty death and despair, these churches were an oasis of peace for many Guatemalans.\u000AIn a context of ideological, political and social confrontation, they found in these churches a message of life and hope, prosperity, access to charismatic gifts, healing, renewed worship, and a more open vision towards the world. Jos\u00E9 Miguel and Stella De Angulo point out that the Neo-Pentecostal movement within the Bolivian working class emerged among people with a profound thirst for God in a chaotic de-structured society with very little opportunities\u2019 (1995: 46). These authors point out that in spite of certain reductionisms, Neo-Pentecostals play an important role in the spiritual and social development among their members (1995: 52-54).\u000AThe NPCs en Guatemala attracts special members of the middle and upper-classes. Garrard-Burnett affirms that people went to the NPCs for two basic reasons, a search for personal, social and spiritual improvement, as well as being attracted by the emphasis on punctuality, frugality, efficiency and a concern for law and order. These qualities are not often seen in the Guatemalan traditional ethos, and in many ways they are opposite to the\u000A61\u000A


































































































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