In May 1977, the church was founded at the Santa Lucia neighborhood in Ilopango, El Salvador, by Sergio Daniel Solórzano Aldana.
Elim decided to develop the prayer cell concept of Yoido Full Gospel Church, South Korea.
Solorzano eventually overcame his doubts and went on to establish another congregation called "La Palabra Viva" (The Living Word) in the late 1990s, which continues to flourish to this day.
[8] Elim Christian Mission International is run by a global spiritual Directive, a Council of Ministers (acting as an advisory and consultative body) people led by Mario Vega, who in turn is the senior pastor of the church in San Salvador, so practically it is the highest authority of the mission not only locally but internationally speaking.
On July 3, 2008, members of the church who were driving a private bus after a religious service were drifting down the river in the Salvadoran capital Acelhuate 31 people died.
This fact shocked the Salvadoran society and reopened a debate about the care of the environment and the status of risk mitigation works.