The vision of the creation of Peniel was inspired by the ministry of Colombian Pastor Rafael Villar, who on behalf of the Evangelical Church of Holiness gave a seminar for leaders in Siguatepeque in 1982, in which Luis Rodolfo Sorto, Reina Madrid de Sorto, Pedro Marcía Soto, Emilio Padilla, Dora Molina de Argueta, María Marcos Padilla, Elizabeth Padilla and Gaspar Oliva.
Peniel was born as a missionary field of Christian service and testimonial presence in response to the need for educational, moral, ethical and practical training for the children and young people of the community of Marcala and its surroundings. The name Peniel alludes to the main aspiration of the project, that every child, youth, teacher and father of family can have a personal encounter with God through the revelation of his Word.
Work began in February 1983 with kindergarten, high school, first, second and third grade in the Sunday School classrooms of the Holiness Church in Marcala, La Paz, under the ministry of Pastor Pedro Marcía Soto, with volunteer teachers from the Local church, with a registration of 45 students.