My name is Andy Walker, and my wife Bethanie and I have served the gospel in Argentina since 2010. We are currently revitalising an Anglican Church in Mendoza, Iglesia El Señor de la Viña (The Lord of the Vine Church), in the foothills of the Andes. We help lead youth camps and I teach at the Bible college in Santiago, Chile.
Let me tell you about some wonderful opportunities to serve, that have opened up in Argentina. I’ll start with some of the joy of what God is doing here and then share some of the need.
This Easter, our little church (of about thirty people) will host our third gospel conference. Last year, about 80 people from Argentina, Bolivia and Chile joined us – some travelling 72 hours by bus to be here! This year, our invited speakers are five pastors, from different denominations, who will preach the gospel of hope in the midst of this desperately fallen world. Our aim is to encourage the people who come and to train them up to serve in evangelism and discipleship. In the midst of weakness and trial we can see God working to build his kingdom!
But there is also great need. We’re praying for Anglican clergy who speak Spanish or gospel-hearted folk who are willing to learn, to come and serve in Argentina. Many may think that South America has already been reached by the gospel, but the reality is the polar opposite.
On the one hand, the loosely Roman Catholic culture remains entrenched in a works gospel. On the other hand, the exuberance of the big evangelistic crusades of the 1980s has degenerated into a vociferous prosperity gospel. Whichever way you look, a superficial gospel of cheap grace reigns supreme. There is a great need for clear gospel teaching, and wonderfully there is a growing appetite for it.
In evangelical churches, about 90–95% of pastors are bi-vocational. That is, they work a full-time secular job and lead the church in their spare time. The vast majority have no formal theological training. There is a great need for clear gospel training.
Specifically, in the Anglican church, although we celebrate 200 years as a diocese this year, we are still a tiny minority. Argentina is about eleven times the size of the UK and our diocese, which covers half that area, has fifteen clergy (in eleven churches). Almost half are retired and only five are in full-time, paid ministry. Again, there is a tremendous need to train, send and support gospel workers.
Could you come? Or could you send this article on to someone else who could?
Email contact@crosslinks.org to find out more.
