Pastor Hector y Marisol from Calama, Chile (left). Pastor David y Yanini from Antofagasta, Chile (right)

My wife and I just returned from three weeks in Chile, visiting two churches in the towns of Calama and Antofagasta in the Atacama Desert, in northern Chile.

This isn’t my typical post. But I thought some of my readers might be interested in our ministry travels.

A Ten Year Relationship

We’ve been traveling to Chile to visit these two churches, located three hours by car from each other, since 2014, when we first went to Calama to help lay a foundation for their church building. We really connected with the people in these two churches and so we decided to visit them on a regular basis to encourage them.

A $20,000 Gift to Help Serve Others

Last summer I was thinking and praying about how I could encourage these churches the most. I saw on Facebook that they were actively reaching out to their communities by serving the poor with free clothing, food, and medical help. So I wrote to ask if they had a wish-list that would make their outreaches more effective.

They were getting by on borrowed equipment, so they sent me a list for a variety of things, like a generator, a medical tent with a medical bed, a sound board, etc. The total cost was $20,000. I told them I’d do my best to raise the money for them. Thankfully, four churches and a few individual friends of mine came up with the money and we started buying their wish-list when we were with them in Chile. They couldn’t have been more grateful.

We were impressed with how these small churches of 50 and 70 people were so passionate about helping others. Click here for a brief video of the outreach set up near the beach. Below is a picture of the free blood pressure testing booth at an outreach.

The Antofagasta Church want’s to take their outreach to the migrant camps on the edge of the city where they can help a number of people. And the Calama church wants to add a room onto their building just to offer free medical care. The picture below shows the space where they want to add a medical room.

Pastor Hector stands where he hopes to add on a room to offer free medical aid.

When God Opens a Window…

The backstory on the $20K is interesting because the churches had requested $20K from our church denomination to aid their outreach. The grant was approved, but due to the bureaucracy of both Chile and the denomination, the money wasn't able to be released. It was a huge disappointment to the churches.

That was all unknown to me when I emailed them and asked if there was any way that I could help them raise money for their outreaches. As Pastor David related the story to me, his eyes were filled with tears of gratitude.

I wish you could have been there to realize the HUGE impact this gift made on the churches. When a door had been slammed on them, God opened a window.

A Building is Needed in Antofagasta

We raised money for their outreaches. That's great. But what the Antofagasta Church needs is a building. They rent a three story house for their meetings. But it is totally inadequate and a fire hazard. Here's a video of me walking from the entrance of their rental house up to the third floor where they meet. Below is a picture of the church sharing a meal on the first level of their house.

A church meal in their house church. People are sitting outside as well.

I love their willingness to exist without a perfect place. I doubt if most North Americans would put up with it. But they can't fit everyone in the house at the same time. And it’s futile to invite new people since there is no more room. They often meet at the beach for more space.

A midweek gathering of the church on the ocean side beach in Antofagasta.

Praying for Another Window to Open

In Chile, a church or non-profit can request free land from the government. That’s how Calama was able to build their building. Antofagasta has done this, but the bureaucracy is incredible and the government doesn't particularly like evangelical churches. Please pray that they will receive land to build on. I'd love to lead a team back to Antofagasta to help build them a building... or maybe to Calama to build their medical space.

Where To Next?

We just learned that our denomination will be holding another Acts29 Discipleship School in Ecuador this Fall. We have taught in these schools a number of times before in various countries (it rotates locations). It's a three month school where 20 somethings gather to live in community, receive teaching on the Bible and life skills, and get a chance to serve in a local church.

Join the Journey!

Our relationship with the Chilean churches has been so fulfilling, for us and them. If you would like to receive an email update on our travels, drop me a note. Or, if you, or someone you know might be interested in attending an Acts29 school, I’d love to hear from you.

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Traveling Notes From Churches in Chile