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A stream of worshipers poured into Georgetown’s Dios de la Profecia church as the walls shook with noise. A fleet of hurried ushers in lilac button-down shirts rushed to unfold the extra metal chairs that were occupied as soon as they were set down—the rest were taken.
Another usher patrolled the aisles of the church on a recent Sunday morning, handing out tissues to worshipers in need. Only babies in their parents’ arms turned to look at Pastor Anastacio Matamoros, who watched from the back wall.
Matamoros, dressed in a full gray suit and jet-black hair, prepared to deliver his sermon.
The church would soon be filled with 300 worshipers, mostly Latino. A subsequent service a few hours later would be similarly successful.
The 600 people sunday service The church, known in English as the Church of God of Prophecy, began in 1997 with a quaint rented hall and a handful of young poultry factory workers. The church, known in English as the Church of God of Prophecy, is now expanding with a huge new meeting hall that can accommodate at least 1,100 attendees each week.
The planned $8.5 million building will make the space one of the largest churches in Sussex County. The expansion of the Spanish-speaking church is an illustration of the growth of Latino and immigrant communities that have experienced a boom in the county over the past 30 years.
The number of people of Hispanic origin in Sussex County increased by more than 1,715% between 1990 and 2020, according to the United States Census BureauIn 2020, nearly 27,000 people identified as Hispanic or Latino in Sussex County.
In 2022, efforts to expand Sussex Central High School started digging to accommodate a growing and diverse student population.
“(The Latino community) has seen impressive growth,” Matamoros said.
For years, job opportunities and family networks have drawn immigrants from Latin America and Haiti to Sussex County. Many worshipers now come from Venezuela, Guatemala, Ecuador and Brazil.
Matamoros moved to New York from Nicaragua in 1985 and began helping with the local Church of Prophecy. After 12 years in New York, Matamoros and his wife, Carmen, founded a church in Milford before moving to Georgetown.
Georgetown Church is part of the Church of God of Prophecya global network of over 10,000 churches in 135 countries with over 1.5 million members. The church is supported by the Georgetown Motor Vehicle Division and is located across from Delmarva Christian High School on Zoar Road in Georgetown.
The new building is 70 percent complete and is expected to be finished next summer, Matamoros said. The space will allow the two Sunday services to be consolidated into one, making room for new church members.
The church has been offering two services for about five years, and the idea of building a larger building was first floated in 2019.
According to Matamoros, the building will be funded through a combination of fundraising events, donations and a bank loan. There will also be offices and a daycare in the new building.
Matamoros’ lively sermon often drew applause from the congregation. Some participants raised their hands in the air, while others prayed on their knees, their elbows resting on their chairs.
Matamoros finished his sermon and began relaying upcoming announcements. Attendees shifted in their seats as some slipped toward the back door.
Soon the small number of people leaving became a torrent. Matamoros chatted with the handful of people left before they left too.
Matamoros found himself in an empty church for just a few minutes before the back door opened again and families found their seats. The excess folding chairs are expected to be removed soon.
The second service was due to start at any moment.
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This article was originally published in the Delaware News Journal: Delaware megachurch serves Sussex’s booming Latino population
