John E. McKenna, senior editor of denominational publications, who also serves as president of the California Graduate School of Theology, traveled to Peru and Brazil in July to institute a doctor of ministry degree in an extended education program in South America.
Daniel Quintana, a representative of the Lima, Peru, WCG congregation, and two of his associates, attended two sessions of Dr. McKenna's classes. They met 15 Peruvian pastors of different evangelical backgrounds.
"It seemed that the Lord had prepared their meeting of one another, so warm was their reception and interaction with the Peruvian pastors," Dr. McKenna said.
Dr. McKenna felt that the introduction of these pastors to one another represented a new era of cooperation between them and a good step toward the future of the ministry of the gospel in South America.
Dr. McKenna also met with Mr. Quintana at the WCG's service in Lima July 11. He devoted three hours to a question and answer session. He noted that the questions showed astute theological concerns along with a great hunger for knowledge and wisdom of our God.
"It seems our local congregations are poised with a new enthusiasm for the new direction that the WCG is taking," Dr. McKenna said.
Mr. Quintana is an executive of a consulting engineering firm in Lima, and in this position he is well-versed in adding new dimensions to the Peruvian culture, and is surely poised to do the same with the gospel, Dr. McKenna said.
"He, along with his associates, should have no trouble finding the new direction in Lima for his congregation," Dr. McKenna said.
"With the newfound freedom of our local congregations and the freedom with which headquarters is able to relate to the church pastors, we may anticipate substantially new relationships that will contribute to the solid vision for the ministry."
Unfortunately, Dr. McKenna did not experience the same readiness and openness among Christian ministries when he continued on to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
"Roman Catholicism and evangelical Christianity in South America have stronger barriers between them than we understand in the United States," Dr. McKenna said.
"It may take a new generation to create those kinds of relationships that will enable Christianity in Brazil to realize a new kind of direction and unity."
But Dr. McKenna reports a growing willingness in the successful evangelical Korean community in Sao Paulo, led by pastor Jae Ho Park, and it is hoped that in the future WCG and Brazilian pastors can also experience what occurred in Lima.
"We would see the WCG playing an important role as a mediator between denominations that in the past have constructed strong barriers between themselves."
John McKenna (back, third from left) with ministers in Peru.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1998