News from Missionary Jason Holt in Chile » church planting

Reaching the Goal Step by Step

jasonholt — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:08:47 +0000

This week we take another step towards the goal of evangelizing Chile! My dear friend Jason Kenney is starting Iglesia Bautista Esperanza (Hope Baptist Church) in Santiago, Chile. We are so excited to see how God has blessed this wonderful family as they have learned the language, adapted to the culture, and are now planting a New Testament church!!

Every time a church is planted in Chile, we all get closer to the goal! When one has a victory, the whole team benefits!

There is still so much to do to reach this country with the gospel. Take a few minutes to read two recent post – Chile is wide open to church planters Part 1 & Part 2

Please be in prayer for the Kenney family this week and throughout the next few months.

Read about other church-planters at bcwe.org

Chile is wide open to church planters – part 2

jasonholt — Mon, 03 May 2010 12:21:42 +0000

If you are thinking about being a church planter in Chile or if you are praying regularly for our ministry, you might want to know more about this incredible country.

Population:

16,601,707 (July 2009 est.)

Background:

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Mapuche Indians were completely subjugated. After a series of elected governments, a three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the country’s commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

bcwe.org

Chile is wide open to church planters – part 1

jasonholt — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:23:04 +0000

There are many countries around the world that have political or religious barriers that inhibit the free spread of the gospel. In many of these “closed” countries, a missionary might see a handful of people saved each year. While we definitely need pioneer missionaries in these difficult areas, there are some huge benefits to working in a wide open country.

Chile enjoys complete religious freedom. During the last 30 years, the country has experienced a shift away from Catholicism. Today many of its people are open to the gospel. Most any Bible preaching church can see people saved each week. Despite all of this, there are still millions who have never had the opportunity to hear a clear presentation of the gospel!

Maybe you should consider coming to Chile to work in a team of church planting missionaries! If you would like to serve the Lord in Chile or if you would like more information, write me at holt@biblicalmissions.com.

bcwe.org

3 instead of 1

jasonholt — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:07:00 +0000

While developing our plan to start another church in Santiago this fall, we have considered dozens of different launch strategies. It’s a monumental task to plant a cross-culture church in a metropolitan city, and even more so if you are still working full-time in the first church! These are the questions and prospects that we have been wrestling with since the beginning of the year.

But, what if we started 3 new works instead of just 1??? Sounds like a crazy leap of faith… but maybe just what God wants!

I’m not talking about starting from day one fully developed, autonomous, independent churches – but three mission churches. These missions will meet in borrowed facilities for one service a week until the core group grows. The Chilean leaders of the missions will evangelize and disciple people in unreached areas of Santiago. Chileans reaching Chileans! That IS the goal!

Pray for our ministry and church as we plan to put this project in motion during August, September, and October. We still need to raise start-up funds for chairs, church signs, printed material, etc.

Will you help us pray about this exciting project?