Guatemala was once the center of the highly advanced Maya civilization. Throughout its modern history as an independent state it has been controlled by a series of dictatorships and military governments. Since the 1960's Guatemala has been troubled by a bloody guerilla civil war, during which the government has developed a blatant record of human rights abuses. The situation has improved slightly in the 1990's.

For over 100 years Guatemala has had separation of church and state, and evangelicals have experienced astounding growth in numbers, now making up nearly a third of the population.