When Impact Ministries was founded in 1997, the compelling desire was to reach a generation of Guatemalan children, train them in the ways of the Lord and disciple them to become leaders that would Impact their society.  A determination to influence the society of a developing nation was reflected in the vision statement (listed on the right side of the screen)

For three years, the founding board prayed and sought the Lord for direction. In the year 2000, Les and Rita Peters were sent as representatives to Guatemala to initiate the ministry. The Lord brought Impact Ministries alongside a small struggling school of 80 students that had been founded by a dear Guatemalan lady and was known as “Colegio Beerseba”. The lack of resources hampered the growth and productivity of this small ministry. This need led to the development of what is now the Impact Ministries Sponsorship program.

The inception of the sponsorship program and the aid that came from Short-Term Mission teams opened doors of opportunities that were astounding. Over the last few years the Impact School System has grown to serve over 1,000 children. In 2006 the first satellite elementary school began in the village of Chicoy. In January 2007 the elementary school in Mocohán was opened in a newly constructed facility. That same year, the Purulhá School was started in a building lent to Impact Ministries by that Municipality. In 2008 the Purulhá School was moved to a new facility that had been constructed on land given to Impact Ministries by the Municipality of Purulhá.

The Lord’s favor on this ministry was evident, and the rapid growth brought new challenges and opportunities. A deliberate effort was made to maintain the intense discipleship and personal contact with the children and their families. This focus produced much spiritual fruit and the reputation of the ministry and the schools grew. In the year 2008 the schools were given a new name that more clearly reflected the vision and purpose of the ministry, Colegios Cristianos Vida (Life Christian Schools).

In 2007 the Tactic Municipality invited Impact Ministries to undertake the construction of a new campus in the south-west edge of the town. They gave Impact Ministries an incredible piece of property so that the dreams of a new and complete campus could be realized. The Chijacorral property was surveyed and plans were drawn. In March of 2007 construction of the first phase began. In January of 2009 the elementary school and the Jr. High School opened. When this campus is complete, it will host the medical clinic, 22 classrooms, a computer lab, shops, office space, kitchen, dinning room and a Chapel.

It is our belief that over the next few years thousands of students on this campus will mature in Christ, hear His call on their lives and devote themselves to Impact the world with the power of the Gospel. From modest beginnings, the Lord is building mighty lives for His Kingdom.

More than 25 Vida graduates are now attending university and are beginning to work as teachers in our new schools.  It is exciting to see the vision of Impact Ministries unfold. The sixth Vida School opened in January 2009 and by God's grace, plans are in motion to open two more schools by 2011. In the fall of 2000 several of the parents of students and teachers began meeting on Sunday afternoons in Les and Rita’s living room to pray, worship, and share testimonies. A small house church began and passionate new believers began to bring friends to “hear God’s Word”. As the “congregation” grew, people spilled out of the living room into the hall and up the stairs. Eventually, this “house church” moved to the largest classroom of the Vida School Chamché. Within a year, that room also was too small and renovations doubled the space for the Rio de Vida Congregation (River of Life). Today, over 250 people consider Rio de Vida their church home…and the numbers are growing. A piece of property has been purchased by the Rio de Vida Congregation, and plans are now being made for further expansion of the ministry and the facilities to contain all the “new life”.