Lausanne World Pulse – World Pulse Archives – World Pulse Archives

For some, missionary work in Latin America is in crisis, and its usefulness is in serious doubt. Why go there when some Latin American countries are 20 percent evangelical while millions in the 10-40 Window have yet to hear the gospel?

Many mission agencies are refocusing on other needy parts of the world. Others are shutting down programs and pulling out missionaries. A bad global economy and changing priorities have caused some supporters of Latin America to pull their dollars from the region. They’re spending them instead where newspaper headlines say is the latest crisis—or not spending them on missions at all.

The Latin America Mission gathered some 100 Latino pastors and leaders, missionaries and mission agency representatives September 9-12 for MisiónHoy, a congress to explore Latin America’s needs. They also studied what form missions in Latin America should take in the 21st century.

LAM president David Befus challenged the idea that the pullout of organizations and missionaries can be called “nationalization” of the work. “From the point of view of the national church, it is abandonment,” he said.

Needs remain, and the work in Latin America is far from finished. “With the growth of the church, especially in non-traditional denominations, there is now more need for biblical teaching,” he said.

Chuck Van Engen, missions professor at Fuller Seminary, said that the growth and expansion of the church highlight the fact that Christianity is no longer a Western religion. “In this new century, Christianity has become a truly global religion with much of the vitality and fresh expression of its life to be found primarily in the Two-thirds world,” he said.

Van Engen called on Christians to form multi-cultural mission teams, partnering with other congregations and Christians around the world to proclaim the word.

“The mission is Jesus’ mission, not ours,” he said. “We are all equally disciples of Jesus, called to participate in his mission both globally and locally. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, Latin or gringo [Spanish for white person]—we are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Congress participants agreed that church and mission leaders should stop thinking in terms of North Americans and Latin Americans with separate roles, but as co-participants in the mission given by God.

Arturo Piedra, who teaches at the Latin American Biblical University in Costa Rica, said that missions need to continue their work in Latin America, but with “a greater willingness to readapt (their) objectives and structures.”

Latin America needs missionaries to work in specialized ministries in an attitude of mutual respect and teamwork. An “affirmation” developed from participants’ discussions stated, “Latin America is no longer solely a missionary destination for North American believers. We are co-participants in the mission given by God.”

Copies of presentations and summaries of dialogue and discussion are available from the Latin America Mission.

Kenneth D. MacHarg is a missionary journalist and communications coordinator for the Latin America Mission.