There has been work in the Patagonia region for many years and we give thanks to God for the foundation that has been laid. Even so Punta Arenas is one of the least evangelized cities in Chile; with a total evangelical Church membership of 8000 out of a population of about 122,000. Baptist in Punta Arenas number about 200. Outside of Punta Arenas the percentages drop even lower, and sometimes the distances and the isolation are great hindrances to us as we attempt to spread the gospel of Christ to the uttermost parts.
The Xtreme Patagonia Team is projecting new work in several different people centers outside of Punta Arenas, towns of 5000 to 20,000 people as well as small villages with a few hundred people. As a way of entering some of these small areas, we are trying to get into schools to make initial contacts and to pave the way for new churches to be started. As we work with the schools, we are having the opportunity to touch the lives of many children, teachers and parents. In the beginning there is always excitement tempered by a little suspicion, but after some time of friendship cultivation and showing God’s love to them, all suspicion disappears and many doors are opened. It is not as fast as many would like but it is often the only way to enter. It’s really simple, if you love people in the Lord and you show true concern for them God will make straight the paths…
We have been busy setting into motion many of the plans that were made last year. We are all teaching English as a way of meeting people and therefore having opportunities to evangelize and plant new work. We hope to encourage the local Churches to broaden their vision of what God would have happen in and around their communities. Our prayer is that they will see the need not only to strengthen their local churches, but also to reach out and start new work. Our prayer is that 100 new churches will be formed to reach the people of this region.
We recognize that the task we have is far too great for a small team like ours, and that training and mobilization of National Christians is the key to reaching all of the Patagonia. God is slowly but surely providing laborers for the field here in the Patagonia. Unprecedented interest is being shown by Chileans, Argentines and many other nationalities.
Recently we have seen the arrival of workers to take part in many aspects of reaching the Patagonia for Christ:
Dietmar and Denise arrived to work in the Bible Institute as well as be involved in other aspects of the work. Dietmar and Denise come from Brazil and from their experiences speak Portuguese, Spanish and German. In the future they also hope to plant Churches here. They have supporters in Brazil and in Germany that are praying for the work. They are not Baptist but are Great Commission Christians committed to sharing the Gospel of Christ.
Garry and Jennifer, independent missionaries from the United States arrived last year to begin to study language and plant a Church in the future. They have a large family and are already ministering to many people even with limitations of the language.
Jaime and Miriam are Chileans who have come to the Patagonia to work and live. Leaving their home and Baptist Church in Valdivia they were commissioned to start a new Cell Church here in the Patagonia. They come from one of the most successful Baptist Cell Churches in the country and already have cells meeting and have baptized many new believers.
On the island of Tierra del Fuego an Argentine Baptist Cell Church is looking into starting work in the city of Porvenir.
Throughout the year several groups of volunteers from different churches in the United States will be coming to be a part of the Xtreme Patagonia Team and the plans to reach out to different areas.
As you can see God is moving many hearts toward the Patagonia. When the Xtreme Patagonia Team arrived none of these new workers were on the horizon. We have been praying along with our prayer supporters for several years to see God’s hand here in the Patagonia. Could this be the beginning of a great outpouring of God? Several churches will be participating in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign which will begin on the first of May. Our prayer is that we will see not only a great revival among the churches but a Church Planting Movement that will change the hearts of all of the Patagonia. Pray with us that new Churches will begin to take root in the rocky soil of the ends of the earth.
Living on the latitude 53.3S you have a great vantage point to look at the constellation Crux or the Southern Cross. It is the smallest of the 88 official constellations but one of the most easily recognizable. I gaze up at the Southern Cross at least 3 or 4 times a week and have discovered that right next to the Southern Cross there is a dark area that looks like it is completely void of stars. The truth is that the stars in this area of space are obscured by space dust and clouds by a nebula called the Coal Sack. With a small telescope you can see several colored stars in the same area called the Jewel box. The application that God has shown me is that even when we are proclaiming the gospel of Christ there are dark forces at work trying to obscure the light, but the riches are still there. Pray with us that in the near future as Patagonians look to the stars and see the Southern Cross that this grouping of stars will have special significance for them as new believers in the Lord Jesus Christ!
And please “Pray for us that God may open up doors for the Word, so that we may speak boldly the mystery of Christ” Colossians 4:3 (paraphrase)
Mike and Annette’s photos at: http://community.webshots.com/album/167552893HOcBrQ
and Jackie’s at: http://community.webshots.com/album/167785854NXdGlG
