Women in the Early Nazarene Mission Among Spanish Speakers: Maye McReynolds and Santos Elizondo

Authors

Stephanie Rountree, Asbury Theological Seminary

Abstract

This paper examines the early Nazarene holiness mission among Spanish speakers, specifically focusing on two women foundational for this ministry. It argues that with the example and encouragement of Maye McReynolds before her, Santos Elizondo became a trailblazer and minority voice in implementing holistic mission within Spanish speaking communities in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico at the turn of the 20^th century. Maye McReynolds initiated the Spanish mission of the Church of the Nazarene in Los Angeles, California, where she was instrumental in converting and discipling Santos Elizondo. Elizondo moved out in her own ministry to El Paso, and this paper examines her life and border work there, including her successes and obstacles as a woman and minority in ministry. Finally, there is a discussion of underlying power systems and structures pointing to the importance of developing character within communities. This paper presents a marginalized perspective and examines what the modern Church can learn from the ministry of McReynolds and Elizondo for multicultural ministry.

DOI

10.7252/Journal.01.2022S.06

Recommended Citation

Rountree, Stephanie (2022) "Women in the Early Nazarene Mission Among Spanish Speakers: Maye McReynolds and Santos Elizondo," Asbury Theological Seminary: Vol. 77: No. 1, p. 92-121.
Available at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/asburyjournal/vol77/iss1/6