From Charles and Carmen Fleming: Latin America
By Patrick Fearon
FREEPORT, Bahamas--The WCG in Latin America continues to fight the good fight as members--young and old, male and female--move into the future with greater involvement in the church.
Congregations are being prepared for healthy church growth, doors are being opened to our people, and many are attesting to the wonders and miracles accomplished through the Holy Spirit.
Members are discovering their spiritual gifts and are moving into meaningful ministry in a shared ministry environment in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Members see themselves as ministers of the Lord, called to make a difference for the kingdom..
As members continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and use their spiritual gifts, new converts are being added to the body.
In Salto, Uruguay, where some members visit hospitals and minister to the sick, divine healings have been reported, and many new members have been baptized.
In Montevideo, Uruguay, the church's music ministry is leading people into the presence of God through prayer, songs of praise and the Word. Last November, members in Uruguay helped with a crusade put on by Luis Palau.
Additionally, when the Logos II (a floating Christian bookstore staffed by 200 missionaries) arrived, pastors and leaders in Salto and Montevideo were involved in seminars and other related activities.
The congregations in Argentina and Bolivia are stabilizing, and are using the power of God's grace in their lives. New congregations are being formed in Diamante, Argentina, and they are also starting a project for next year that will see the planting of a congregation in Cordoba, Argentina.
Hector Barrero,
sub-regional coordinator for Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Puerto Rico, reported that
members' most ardent prayer at the moment is that "the Lord Jesus grant us the power
to preach his gospel with power to our communities."
A March conference in Chicago, Illinois, on Natural Church Development is serving as an "excellent start for a new perspective in plans for growth," Mr. Barrero reported.
A follow-up sub-regional conference was conducted in Bogota, Colombia, May 15 to 17, and further addressed the topic of church development.
Delegates attended from Ecuador, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the host country. Regional director Charles Fleming; Salvador Barragan, sub-regional director from Mexico; and Mr. Barrero addressed the conference.
According to Mr. Barrero, 16 members in Colombia are studying theology with the Latin America Faculty of Theological Studies (FLET). "We have the conviction that Jesus Christ has a great work to be done in this country," Mr. Barrero said. "WCG members are without a doubt being prepared to be a part of that great work."
From Mexico,
Salvador Barragan reported that a ministerial conference conducted in Mexico City in April
focused on the biblical principles for quality church growth.
During the conference the ministers and wives focused on eight qualities of healthy churches as illustrated by Christian A. Schwarz in Natural Church Development.
Those eight qualities are empowering leadership; gift-oriented ministry; passionate spirituality; functional structures; inspiring worship services; holistic small groups; need-oriented evangelism; and loving relationships.
Mr. Barragan reported that for the remainder of the year each of the congregations will seek to grow in two of the eight areas--the two selected by individual congregations to be the ones needing most attention.
Mr. Barragan also reported that two WCG leaders in Costa Rica were invited in May to a Christian television station where they answered questions about the transformation God has made in the WCG, and were invited to host the church's own weekly program on their channel.
According to Mr. Barragan, the scattered members in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua cannot meet regularly. They, however, receive literature and tapes.
Also, in Nicaragua, where member Apolinia Kohler runs a Bible school for about 20 children in her neighborhood, some of the parents of these children have now started to attend. Understandably, most of the congregation is made up of children.
Positive developments are also taking place in Peru. A ministerial conference in Lima brought together local leaders from the four main congregations.
"God is giving us quality growth," Mr. Barragan said, "but he's also giving us quantity growth in the Andean region where the main language is Quechua.
"Last year we had one congregation there, but now God is raising up three, and has provided local bilingual leaders for those congregations."
Please praise God for all he is accomplishing through the lives of his people in Latin America. Pray also for God's guidance as our members walk through the doors being opened up to many of the congregations.
Colombia: urgent prayer request
Please pray for Christians and all people of Colombia suffering the following:
Political turmoil.
Economic depression.
Crime and violence--kidnapping has reached epidemic proportions.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999