La Luz del Mundo celebrates church’s growth at Phoenix gathering

Light was the prominent theme at Saturday night’s public concert and laser show at Civic Space Park organized by Phoenix’s chapter of the Mexicobased religion La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World). La Luz del Mundo is a religion based in Protestantism that has millions of followers worldwide.

On Saturday, more than a hundred choir members sang hymns and young church members performed choreography representing the religion’s diverse reach across the world. La Luz del Mundo has a presence in more than 60 different countries, according to Isias Campos, a spokesman for the Phoenix church.

“The Light of the World is a church that opens its doors to everybody,” Campos said. “It’s a very inclusive church and that’s why we’re here, right in the middle of downtown, with our doors open.”

Campos and other members of the church didn’t appear to be bothered by the underlying darkness of their leader’s current imprisonment. Naasón Joaquín García, who was previously Phoenix’s minister, has been charged with 26 felonies in Los Angeles County, including human trafficking, production of child pornography and forcible rape of a minor.

“Everybody’s aware of the situation,” said Cesar Morales, the minister of a small La Luz del Mundo congregation in Avondale. “Our confidence is in the legal system. We understand that we all have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and we’re glad that his rights are being respected.”

Morales said he personally hadn’t seen the church’s growth slow since García’s imprisonment.

“Socially, spiritually, culturally, the church continues to grow,” Morales said. “We continue to encourage our children to study, to go to college, to go to universities, to give service to the community.”

Young people were a huge part of Saturday night’s event. Twelve girls, each representing a country where La Luz del Mundo has a presence, performed a dance that ended with the release of colored balloons into the air.

“My time has come,” the girls chanted during the routine, after raising their arms to the sky. Campos said the phrase symbolizes the importance of churchgoers’ civic engagement.

“It is a phrase that tells us that the opportunity is today,” Campos said. “Don’t wait til tomorrow. Your time has come.”