Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)
The Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, emerged when many Puerto Rican families settled in the area surrounding the Norris Square Mennonite Church. The Council of Hispanic Mennonite Churches and the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference decided to initiate a Hispanic ministry within the church. On 9 January 1971, Jose A. Santiago started making contacts in the community. Eugenio Matos and Candelario Matos assisted in the work, and Eugenio Matos became the Assistant Pastor of the Norris Square church.
In 1974, the Norris Square Mennonite Church closed due to declining membership, and the Hispanic church subsequently took over the building.
In 1982, the congregation opened an extension work in North Philadelphia led by Herminio Acevedo.
Bibliography
Falcón, Rafael. The Hispanic Mennonite Church in North America 1932-1982. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1986: 97-98, 130, 189.
Grieser, David. "Worship as diverse as the city." Gospel Herald 86, no. 25 (22 June 1993): 6.
Additional Information
Address: 2149 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122
Telephone: 267-345-6771
Website:
Denominational Affiliations:
LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches
Mennonite Church USA (Until 2018)
Pastoral Leaders at Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Eugenio Matos | 1971-1974 |
| Benjamin Pérez | 1974-1975 |
| Isidoro Sáez | 1975-1977? |
| Arcadio Tolentino | 1977-1995 |
| Heriberto Vargas | 1996-1999? |
| Diodoro Baez | 1999?-2002? |
| Juan C. Carmona | 2002?-2010s? |
Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 20 |
| 1980 | 66 |
| 1990 | 74 |
| 2000 | 68 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | June 2025 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2025. Web. 15 Apr 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Iglesia_Evang%C3%A9lica_Arca_de_Salvaci%C3%B3n_(Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=180787.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (June 2025). Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 15 April 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Iglesia_Evang%C3%A9lica_Arca_de_Salvaci%C3%B3n_(Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=180787.
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