It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Rev. Pablo González, General Secretary of the El Salvador Bible Society.

On 12 June, Rev. Pablo González passed away, but the legacy of his ministry will live on in every corner of the El Salvador Bible Society. He was a husband, father, servant of God and teacher loved by all, who set an example of loving and faithful service to the Lord.

 

Pablo’s journey with the El Salvador Bible Society began in 1984, when he followed in the footsteps of his father, who led the El Salvador Bible Society until 2000. In January 2001, Pablo González succeeded his father as head of the Bible Society, and served for 26 years as General Secretary. Since joining the organisation, Pablo has worked for 42 years to distribute  the Bible and its parts throughout El Salvador.

 

He has also faithfully served in various roles within the United Bible Societies (UBS) for many years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Bible Societies of the Americas and as chair of the Finance Committee. For 21 years, he also served on the board of the Assemblies of God Christian University, where he chaired the Finance Committee.

 

Through his leadership and sound management, Pablo succeeded in making the El Salvador Bible Society the second self-sustaining Bible Society in the Americas, where it no longer receives grant funding but has instead begun to contribute to and participate in the ministries of other national Bible Societies, supporting global ministry with its own resources.

 

Over the years, he has demonstrated great enthusiasm for spreading the Word of God and touching the lives of many people through it. He established partnerships with churches and various ministry organisations, enabling the El Salvador Bible Society to provide Bibles in languages and formats suited to the needs of everyone who receives them.

 

God has used Pablo González to inspire many UBS member Bible Societies through his work and creativity. The El Salvador Bible Society has gained international recognition for its children’s ministry resources. This Bible Society has won an award for its children’s comic book entitled: Don’t Be Afraid. This resource has helped schoolchildren across the country find peace in Jesus, amidst the violence that has plagued the nation for many years.

 

Following the news of the death of Pablo González, the President of the Republic of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, expressed his condolences to the family and the Bible Society.

 

Dr Moisés Preza, General Secretary of the El Salvador Bible Society, also delivered a moving message in his speech:

“My dear brother, Pablo, was a deeply committed Christian whose life reflected a profound faith in God’s Word and His mission in the world. He served faithfully, with integrity, and with a genuine spirit of collaboration, making a valuable contribution to the advancement of the Bible Mission. His example of service, dedication and love for the Scriptures will inspire present and future generations working to spread God’s Word and transform lives.

I was fortunate to grow up alongside Pablo. Our parents were pastors, close friends and ministry partners, united by a deep calling to serve the Lord. Thanks to that close bond, we shared childhood experiences that shaped our lives. We were raised in an environment of faith, love and commitment to the Lord’s work. As a family, we shared meaningful moments, served the Lord together, and witnessed His faithfulness over the years. I am grateful to the Lord for Pablo’s life, his sincere friendship, and his unwavering dedication to expanding the Kingdom of God.

 

His passing has left a deep mark of affection on those of us who were fortunate enough to know him; I, for one, will miss him dearly. Yet, even in the midst of our sorrow, our hearts find peace in the blessed hope we have in Jesus Christ. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit and grateful for God’s grace, we look forward with certainty to the glorious reunion promised to all who have placed their faith in Christ. This hope sustains our souls and reminds us that death is not the end of everything. In Christ, there is victory, resurrection and eternal life.

 

Until we meet again in the presence of our Lord, we give thanks to God for the legacy of faith left by Pablo and for the impact his life had in glorifying God.”

 

As a token of affection for Pablo González, the funeral held on 15 June was attended by Marlon Cardona, General Secretary of the Honduran Bible Society; Mary Pauthz, from the Nicaraguan Bible Society; and Marco Martínez, Head of Inter-Member Relations for the UBS Latin America and the Caribbean.

Marco Martínez read out a letter sent by Dirk Gevers, General Secretary of the UBS, at the funeral service (an excerpt from the letter is provided below):

 

“The legacy of Rev. Pablo González will live on in the memories of those who knew him, remembered as a tireless servant in defence of the Bible and a model of steadfast devotion and dedication. His passing leaves a void within the Fellowship, but his impact will endure in every life he touched with his love and commitment to the Word of God.

We are confident that the eternal hand of the Lord has welcomed His good and faithful servant. We join in prayer that the Lord may bless and empower every endeavour undertaken by the El Salvador Bible Society in its future ministry.”

 

Translated from: UBS Community