In a countdown, almost 11 thousand souls celebrated on Thursday, June 4, at Casa de Dios, the welcome to the Ensancha – Double Portion Congress, which will continue with two more days full of multiple activities.
Ensancha is a conference that Casa de Dios has held annually since 2001. In 2026 it has guests from Central America, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, the Dominican Republic and even Europe, who share this experience that has grown.
“We are happy to start this congress and, looking back, the purpose was to have an activity that showed us the model of Jesus. It has grown in an extraordinary way to share with pastors, leaders from other countries and people with leadership. This year God is going to surprise us,” says Sonia de Luna, pastor of the congregation.
The event, during its first day, featured the participation of pastors Cash Luna, Juan Diego Luna and Sergio Hornung. Satirio Dos Santos and other special guests will also participate in the rest of the day.
The first to come out on stage were Enoch Parra and Joel Rocco, who for almost an hour shared praise with the attendees. “For a generation that does not consume the gospel, but lives it,” Parra said during one of the most emotional moments of the presentation.
In music, the congress will feature the participation of Thalles Roberto and Miel San Marcos. Miel San Marcos is one of the most influential Guatemalan Christian bands in contemporary Latin music. Founded in 2000 in San Marcos, Guatemala, by brothers Josh, Luis and Samy Morales, it is currently celebrating 25 years of ministry.
In a later activity, Parra shared that he has been a Christian since the cradle, “but at 17 years old the Lord gave me a very strong dream. In one part of that dream he spoke to me clearly and told me that my voice was his. In the dream I was silent and could not speak. Then I heard the voice of God very loudly telling me: ‘Your voice is for me,'” he comments as a testimony of why he has dedicated his talent to God.
For his part, Rocco recognizes that God spoke to him a lot about something from a very young age: “What is the point of having talent? What is the point of having gifts if I am going to keep them and not multiply them?” And that is where he offers his music to the service.
What does the double portion symbolize?
Miguel Mendoza, event coordinator at Casa de Dios, explains that this year the theme is focused on a concept called double portion. This is a concept from biblical tradition, in which a double portion was set aside for the firstborn of the house. We see throughout the Old Testament that this was not always fulfilled in terms of what God wanted to give or the divine blessing.
There are many biblical characters who, being the second brother or even like David, who was the eighth brother, received this double portion.
The theme is based on the verses where someone says to a prophet: “I would like a double portion of what you have.” This occurs at a time of transition, when one prophet leaves and another remains to continue the work.
In the book of Kings it is reported that one prophet performed eight miracles, while the second, who asked for the double portion, performed sixteen miracles. It is as if the writer wanted to illustrate precisely this continuity and how the double portion serves to continue the work started by others.