Abelardo Berrios pastoring the Latin American Pentecostal Church, known to the community as “The Synagogue" ('La Sinagoga' in Spanish). At that time, the church was a Jewish Synagogue located on E. 109th Street, between Park and Madison Avenue in New York City, NY and was still affiliated with the Pentecostal Church of God in Puerto Rico. In 1952, the Latin American Bible Institute was inaugurated
into the church. Abelardo Berrios made it clear that the Institute would be governed by the mother church in New York and constantly declared that the Bible Institute was “our school.” He selected notable teachers such as Felicita M. Serrano and Miguel Salas, but due to his love to teach, Rev. Berrios not only was the Director of Bible Institute but also a teacher. Abelardo Berrios had a two day meeting with officials of the Pentecostal Church of God of Puerto Rico on July 26 and 27. By the end of the meeting, it was decided that Rev. Berrios and the Latin American Council of the Pentecostal Church of God separate from the Pentecostal Church of God of Puerto Rico and start the new Latin American Council of the Pentecostal Church of God Inc. Five months later, on December 7, 1957, the Latin American Council of the Pentecostal Church of God Inc. was recognized by the State of New York. Two years later in 1959, the church was relocated because the City of New York purchased the building for an urban renewal project. “The Synagogue” and the Latin American Council moved to their current location at 115 to 125 East 125th Street, Harlem, New York City, a few blocks away from the original location between Park and Lexington Avenue. Since then, the name “The Synagogue” became a staple of the Latin American Council and for decades, remains a legend for the community. It was in 1965 that the Latin American Council began doing missionary work. They began in Republic of El Salvador and over time, extended throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.