by Steven A. Bailey
GBIM Regional Director, Latin America
This year, the Grace Brethren Church of Argentina celebrates 100 years of history. Nowhere else in the world have Grace Brethren missionaries served longer than in this beautiful and diverse country located at the southern tip of South America. Today, an organized national church exists, along with its own missionary sending agency. Today, Argentina is not simply a country that receives missionaries, but it has transformed itself into a country that sends missionaries.
A Colorful History
In September 1909, Charles F. Yoder arrived with his family and a single missionary, Bertha May Bell, in Argentina-a barren, rough, and spiritually dark country. It was considered one of the most unreached and spiritually needy places in the world.
Yoder was an honors graduate of the University of Chicago and had turned his back on a prestigious secular teaching career to dedicate himself to the ministry. He chose to begin his work in the city of Rio Cuarto in the north-central province of Cordoba. In order to make an impact in this hard soil, Yoder began teaching English at the National College, where he came into contact with hundreds of young people from key families in the city.
Soon, through the influence of L. S. Bauman, then executive secretary of the Foreign Missionary Society of the Brethren Church (the predecessor to Grace Brethren International Missions), the Bible Coach was purchased. It began to give identity to the fledgling mission and became the platform from which literature was distributed and open-air and tent-style evangelistic meetings were held throughout Cordoba.
Growth was slow but fruit gradually began to be seen, as at least a dozen new churches were established, thanks to the faithful ministry of dedicated missionaries-among them Clarence and Loree Sickel, who served with distinction and longevity.
Founding missionary Charles Yoder left the Grace Brethren movement following the Ashland-Grace controversy in the 1940’s, and this was a blow to the missionary effort. Nevertheless, the Lord blessed, and the succeeding years brought encouraging growth and expansion. The first churches were established in the national capital of Buenos Aires through the ministry of the Maconoghy and Hoyt families. In 1949, the Bible Institute was established in Almafuerte, Cordoba, and many key Argentine leaders, who continue in ministry to the present day, received quality training in the Word of God.
The late 1960s and early 1970s brought times of turmoil and spiritual stagnation in many areas of the work in Argentina. The charismatic controversy was a major cause of this chaos as it swept through the Grace Brethren churches and more than half of the total membership of the national fellowship was said to have left because of these doctrinal differences.
In spite of this upheaval, God continued to bless, and the Argentine church persevered. The ministry of the Argentine National Camp at Cerro San Lorenzo, Cordoba, became a rallying point for the unity and spiritual health of churches during this time-and continues to be to the present day. In 1967, the Victor Wagner family were sent as missionaries to the Toba Indians in northern Argentina-foreshadowing the beginning of the indigenous mission movement that would begin in earnest many years later.
The year 1987 marked, without a doubt, a changing point in the history of the Grace Brethren church in Argentina. Jose and Ilda Palacios, of the Don Bosco church in Buenos Aires, stepped out in faith and supported financially and in prayer by their local church moved to Uruguay to become the first foreign missionaries sent out by the Argentine Grace Brethren church.
An Encouraging Present
Today, there are 22 Grace Brethren churches and 11 points of light (churches in formation) in Argentina. It is a national church in transition as most congregations are led by godly groups of elders as opposed to the single pastor model. It is also a church engulfed in a profound and notable generational changing of the guard. Both nationally and on a local church level more and more of the leadership is in the hands of new, young leaders with a fresh and vibrant vision for outreach, growth, and community impact.
Perhaps most encouraging in recent years has been the birth and development of the Argentine missionary movement-having started from such humble beginnings as the sending of the Palacios to Uruguay by the Don Bosco church in 1987. In 1997, the Argentine National Mission Commission was founded and has been instrumental in this movement. Short term teams have been sent to northern Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Central Asia. There are currently 17 Argentine missionaries serving throughout Argentina and in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Angola, and Chad. The small Uruguayan congregation-started with such sacrifice by the Palacios just a few short years ago-sent one of their own to help start the first Grace Brethren church in Paraguay in 1999. Finally, in 2001 the National Training Commission began to prepare future pastors, teachers, and missionaries. The materials they have produced are being used in other Latin American fields. The Argentine church and National Mission is well on its way to becoming a valuable partner with the worldwide Grace Brethren fellowship in taking the church where it’s needed most.
An Unlimited Future
What does the future hold for the Grace Brethren in Argentina? One thing is clear: the future rests on the presence, the power, and promises of the God who can “do exceedingly and abundantly more than all we can ask or imagine.” The opportunities also depend on the faith of godly Argentine men and women who have already seen God move mightily in their midst throughout their history-and now must trust Him even more! There are those in Argentina today who have the vision and dream to one day see Argentine church planters forming and joining church planting teams around the world-especially in the most resistant and dark places-like those under Islamic domination. Many mission leaders believe that Argentines are uniquely suited to surviving and having success at planting themselves as gospel seed in the soil of Asia and North Africa-places where North American missionaries may find themselves unwanted and unwelcome. The worldwide Grace Brethren church needs the help of their Argentine brothers in reaching the world for Christ-while there is still time. These brothers and sisters can’t do it alone-they need our support, prayers, and teamwork.
Editor’s Note: Steve Bailey and his wife, Wilma, have served on the Argentine field since 1987. He has been regional director of the Latin American field since 2000. He referred to Seize The Moment, a book by Tom Julien in preparing this article.