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In September 2023, we visited Porto Alegre, Brazil, for a two-day training hosted by Lyndell Campbell-Réquia at the seminary offices for the Brazilian Baptist Convention of Rio Grande do Sul. The purpose of this meeting was to explore how we (HFC) might support church planting among the Venezuelan refugees in southern Brazil, cast vision for church planting in Uruguay and Brazil, and promote theological education though Kairos University and their partnership with HFC. One year later, we have seen some great fruit from this partnership.
Brazil Training, September 2023
Three of those attending the training (pictured above) have now become students with us in Kairos. One student is working on his DMin, and two are completing MDiv degrees. They each will be positioned to train other leaders in Uruguay and Argentina, where they currently lead ministries. In addition, we have started to mentor church planters in Uruguay and Brazil. Tony Campos is meeting with them regularly over Zoom.
These new relationships have also opened opportunities to engage ministry in some unique ways. The first is in Uruguay. This is the most secular country in South America. There are only sixty Baptist churches in the entire country of almost four million people. They are less than 4 percent evangelical. There are more Catholics, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses than Protestants! We have a tremendous opportunity to work in this country with Pastor Facundo – a DMin student! – who has a vision and experience planting new churches. With a partner church, he could flourish in his calling and passion to take the Gospel to Uruguay.
Another opportunity we have is in northern Argentina. Our field coordinator, Pastor Lucio – also a student! – has a vision for planting churches not only in his region but he has also been working in Venezuela.
In Salta, Argentina, he has already planted three churches, started a Bible Institute, and launched a camp for young people. In addition, he has built a relationship with Pastor Giovanni in Venezuela. Venezuela has been devastated by a dictatorship that has ruined a once thriving economy and created many refugees who fled the country. We have an opportunity to work with these two pastors to plant churches in Venezuela, and they even own a Christian camp that could be used to start a Bible Institute! It’s Pastor Giovanni’s vision to stay and work there in spite of the conditions.
Both these fields are new and just beginning. This is the time to get involved with them. A church partnership would bring them the resources and encouragement they need but also allow our churches to be directly involved in a substantial mission field.
These new fields are great opportunities to be involved and help shape the mission work that could happen in Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Brazil. A church partnership on the front side of these ministries would be exciting, with opportunities for short-term teams, teaching at seminars, serving in summer camps (which are during the winter in North America), and building relationships that have real Kingdom benefits.
For more information about any of these fields and how you might become involved, please contact me.