Living Water Bible Fellowship welcomes Pastor Chuyma

By Caroline Rosacker

Pastor Diego Chuyma has accepted the position of Senior Pastor at Living Water Bible Fellowship in Guttenberg. He brings 22 years of experience preaching and teaching the Word of God as a pastor and Christian university professor.  The 57-year-old minister has been preaching since age 19. "It is a joy for me to make disciples of Jesus Christ," said Pastor Chuyma. "One time I led a high school boy to Christ, and I discipled him. Today he is one of the pastors of a church that I planted. Several of my former students are senior pastors, university teachers, and church planters," he added. 

Pastor Chuyma, his wife, Rebecca, and their three boys, John, David and Joshua, moved to Guttenberg and have begun to set down roots. "My wife, Rebecca, is employed as a nurse at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital and Clinics. We home-school our three boys." He continued, "COVID-19 has been difficult. My boys like to play soccer. It will be nice when they can gather with other players for a game. My wife and I enjoy going out on weekly dates, so it will be nice when restrictions are lifted."

Inspiration

Pastor Chuyma shared his inspiration for becoming a clergyman. He recalled, "I was born in Bolivia. My town did not have a church. My grandfather was the only Christian living in the village at the time. He converted my father, who then inspired me at age seven. We attended church in another town within walking distance. Our town started to have meetings and my dad led the way and planted a church."

He explained, "Very early on I knew I wanted to preach God's word. I often pretended to be a pastor with my siblings. A church group in high school presented me with a conversion experience. After that I started leading others to Christ and was invited to preach in my local church. A Catholic nun also invited me to preach in a Catholic church. God has been confirming again and again my call to ministry." 

Following high school graduation, Pastor Chuyma worked as a minister without formal theological training in Bolivia. He relocated to the United States and attended Barclay College in Haviland, Kan., and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Bible and Pastoral Ministries with a minor in Missions in 1992; a Master of Divinity from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., in 1995; and his Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill., in 2017.

"I decided to move back to Bolivia and plant a church and teach at the university," he said. 

In 1990, Pastor Chuyma was invited to participate in an Evangelistic trip to four countries in Europe with Christian Sports Outreach International; he was nominated and sent to “Amsterdam 2000” Evangelistic Association of Billy Graham in Amsterdam, Holland. In 2001 he represented Friends World Committee for Consultation at the UN World Conference in Durban, South Africa, and graduated from “Advanced Leadership Seminar” at Haggai International Institute in Singapore.

Pastor Chuyma's call to Guttenberg came at an opportune time. "I was pastoring in Salem, Iowa, just south of Mount Pleasant. It was a Quaker church and my contract was for one year and a half. The church was located in a small town and very traditional. I was more interested in evangelizing and reaching out to people. Here in Guttenberg was an opportunity," he shared, 

The evangelical minister looks forward to settling into his new position and becoming a member of the community. "My family and I have fallen in love with the town and people. We purchased a home and I look forward to planting a vegetable garden when the weather warms up. I look forward to meeting more people in this loving, friendly community and reaching out to ministers from other congregations in town," he concluded.