This was the name given to the gathering of musicians from the Ibero-American region of the Sword of the Spirit (SOS), which took place in the Guatemalan capital, Guatemala City, from 11 to 14 September 2026.
The ‘Dios Refugio y Fortaleza’ covenant community hosted this gathering, welcoming 140 members from 26 covenant communities across 11 countries – Spain, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil – with joy and a great spirit of service. According to the statistics, 49 per cent of the participants were women and 51 per cent were men, ranging in age from 6 months to 70 years.
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
The purpose of the meeting was, first and foremost, to reflect on the passage from John 12:1–3. We compared our gifts and service in worship to Mary’s act of love – pouring her perfume at Jesus’ feet – and emphasised the importance of being with Him and being His disciples before being musicians.
Likewise, to renew our sense of belonging and ownership as members of covenant communities, taking into account not only our realities but also our cultural diversity and richness, which, rather than dividing us, unite us as God’s people.
To renew our identity as musicians and worshippers; that is to say, the value of serving with excellence whilst avoiding perfectionism; excellence unites us, whilst perfectionism makes us self-centred.
To work together in unity to make music; developing creativity and composing new songs that embody the characteristics of SOS songs for worship, praise and adoration of our God.
And finally, to grow musically through workshops that train and instruct us in musical technique and the advances that technology offers us. One of these is the digitisation and updating of the RIA songbook, and other essential tools such as podcasts, singing and vocalisation courses, sound techniques and vocal harmony.
ORGANIZING TEAM
The team that organized this gathering was made up of brothers and sisters from different zones of the RIA: from the Central Zone, Juan Carlos Aragón, who is also the moderator of the International Worship Music Committee of the Sword of the Spirit (this committee is composed of one representative from each region of the SOS), Sofía Ibarra, Vivian Fernández, who is a music missionary and vocal instructor, Dorita Xicará (from the host community), and Rodrigo Sett (Servant of the Word). From the Mexico Zone: William Contreras (Servant of the Word), Leslie Soria, and Omar Moncada; and from the Southern Zone: Susana Gómez.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
A Sus Pies 2026 was the 7th gathering. The first took place in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 2007, with the theme “My Inheritance Is the Lord.” In 2010, the gathering was held in Quito, Ecuador, with the theme “Deeper Still.” In 2013, in San José, Costa Rica, it was called “Toward the Goal.” In 2016, it took place in Monterey, Mexico, under the title “My Grace Is Enough. In 2019, it was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, under the title “On the Rock.” In 2023, it took place in Cali, Colombia, under the title “My portion.” Although it has not yet been decided which country will host the next EMRIA, it is already planned for 2031.
TESTIMONY
As a guest at EMRIA, together with my husband Humberto, we had the opportunity to meet and share with brothers and sisters from different communities, who in turn shared their experiences and the realities of their own communities, countries of origin, or the regions they represented. These testimonies left a lasting impression on our hearts; their joyful gazes and smiles, filled with a deep love in Christ, invited us to give and share that genuine joy as well—a joy that comes only from God. Singing and feeling the music for our God flow through my veins was a renewing experience; once again, I discovered the beautiful gift of being living music for Him. A gift that we share with so many brothers and sisters, a gift that comes only from God, and to Him we return it.
Verónica Espinoza is a member of La Nueva Jerusalén Community, Miami FL, U.S.A.
