The Iglesia Nacional Evangélica Menonita Guatemalteca (INEMGUA), Q’eqchi’ (also spelled Kekchi) Mennonite Church consists of around 140 churches divided into six regions, spread throughout Alta Verapaz and extending into the Petén in northern Guatemala.

Church offices are located in San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz. Services in almost all the churches are conducted primarily in the Q’eqchi’ language, one of the main Mayan languages of Guatemala.

The Q’eqchi’ Mennonite Church has a holistic understanding of the gospel which involves all of life, the spiritual as well as the material. Concerns for health, educational, agricultural and spiritual development are part of the makeup of the church.

The church has an active women’s organization with regional and church-wide leaders. Mennonite Mission Network became involved with the INEMGUA in response to the request from church leadership for a female mission worker to walk alongside the Q’eqchi’ women as they develop and expand their ministry.

This developed into ongoing support for the women’s organization of the Q’eqchi’ church, especially with scholarships for women Bible teachers studying at the Q’eqchi’ Bible Institute. In broader educational support, and in partnership with the Central America Study and Service (CASAS) program, Seth and Stephany Rudeen are beginning service at the Q’eqchi’ Bezaleel Mennonite Educational Center.

INEMGUA has its roots in mission work from Franklin Mennonite Conference in Pennsylvania, along with Eastern Mennonite Missions. They began relating with the Q’eqchi’ people in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala in 1968. The first baptisms took place in 1972. By 1980 the Q’eqchi’ Mennonite Church was organized.