A family more than a church at San Mateo's Iglesia Pentecostal

There are followers and there are disciples of God, he says in Spanish.

The Spanish-language service meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m. On Sundays, Sunday school begins at 10 a.m., followed by two services at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to cater to those unable to attend the 10 a.m. service. The church has been providing services since 1969, welcoming everyone who comes in to make it a place to call home.

 “Once you enter through those doors, you feel the love from everyone,” Meliza Lazaro, a youth leader and member for eight years, said. “From the welcoming to everyone going out of their way to get to know you. I felt the love.”  

Beginnings

In 1976, Pastor Esther Batarse found God in her heart while living in El Salvador. A year later, she came to San Francisco and discovered a church under the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination. After becoming an active member of the church, she says God spoke to her and told her to start preaching to the city of San Mateo.

In 1969, Pastor Esther Batarse founded the Iglesia Pentecostal San Mateo. After 50 years as head of the church, Batarse passed the ministry to Pastor Alexander Ascencio and his wife, Shinar Benitez, in 2020.

Before becoming church pastors, Ascencio and Benitez were active members when Batarse was pastor. They also said they felt a calling from God to get licensed to preach without knowing they would take charge of the location.

“It’s not like someone can wake up and say, ‘I want to be a pastor,’” Benitez said. “They could do that in an independent church, but for the Assemblies of God, it’s required to have 2 ½ years of theology studies and pass certain exams.”   

Throughout the classes they had to take, they learned how to apply the Bible when advising people in times of need.

“We never thought that being part of this church, we were going to stay here to continue a legacy here,” Ascencio said. “From that legacy we have had, we have seen how the community has grown in large quantities.”

The present

The church has a capacity of 205 people. Many members are from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and other South American countries.   

“We have seen how many people have come here destroyed, spiritually or emotionally,” Ascencio said. “With the word of God and offering them a place to call home.”

The church’s motto, “Welcome to your home,” reflects its mission, as many people come in to hear the preachings then leave, while others stay to congregate. They believe it to be more than just a church but a family.

Lazaro was one of those people who decided to make it a second home after struggling with a toxic relationship. Her brother invited her to church after he saw how she was battling this era in her life.

“I remembered my brother’s words, ‘You are not alone. The day you want to speak to someone and even if it’s not me because you don’t feel comfortable, there is someone who does listen and that is God,’” Lazaro said. “I remember telling God that day that I didn’t want to be in that situation anymore and he listened.”

Since that day, she decided to give her life to God and has been an active member.

With growth, they have expanded their men, women, retired and youth outreach departments to connect with every member who steps inside.

Lazaro was recently appointed as youth leader and is in charge of finding ways to get to know them better and what they need spiritually or how they would like to contribute to the church.

“There are many talents that could be developed here in the church,” Lazaro said. ”We are trying to find out what their passions are and what they are good at to continue God’s work. The future depends on them.”  

They also offer Bible studies in collaboration with Latin American Bible Institute College in affiliation with the Assemblies of God.

Pastors Ascencio and Benitez also believe in being fully equipped and knowledgeable on economic, immigration and legal resources to help congregants beyond spiritual services. They’ve had to conduct funerals and call the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo.

In the future

Ascencio and Benitez are looking to expand their church’s structure to match the membership growth. They hope to make room for about 100 more people by expanding the church’s length. They have been speaking to a bank to make it happen financially.

They have also considered fitting another service in on Sunday to make more room or open a new church in another city.

“We have the blessing to have people come from Redwood City, Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Hayward, South City and Belmont,” Ascencio said. “We would love to have another location to offer our services, but everything is in the hands of God.”