: Argentina

Thank God for the nine years Greg Venables has served as presiding bishop in the Southern Cone, for his oversight of the other dioceses and for his leadership and pastoral gifts within Argentina. Pray for Greg and Silvia, for God to lead them by his grace as they continue to serve him in the diocese and for the new presiding bishop Tito Zavala of Chile.

Pray for Latin partner Mario Ágreda in Buenos Aires. Henry Scriven was much encouraged by a visit to his church in Villa Devoto prior to the Provincial Synod in November. After the sermon, Mario invited the three bishops present (Henry, Abelino from Chile and Mike Chapman from Perú) to pray for the congregation – which they did, moving from one to another, quietly talking and praying. All were conscious of God moving through his Spirit.

Agustín Marsal and Mario pastor the churches in Villa Devoto, Lomas and another church plant. Pray for all the Buenos Aires churches, asking the Lord to equip their pastors for ministry and to bless the congregations.

Uphold Bishop Greg Venables and Sylvia, praying for good health and strength for them both, safety in travelling and wisdom in pastoral oversight in the two dioceses in Argentina. Pray for the churches and clergy in Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba, for those training for ordination and for those working with the youth and children. Remember the staff, volunteers and children in Hogar el Alba.

Thank God for Mario Ágreda’s gifts in leadership, teaching and with young people. Pray for him and Paula with Manuel and Maite serving in Villa Devoto and also in Lomas. Pray for spiritual growth in the lives of those in the home groups and youth groups and for the emergence of new leaders.

Sonya Brown from Carryduff Parish who is with the Red Box Project updates us on her 5 week placement.
 
I help 2 missionaries over here, Graziela and Lorena, I am so grateful to having the chance to help these girls in their work on Saturdays making lunch in one of the poorest areas here in Salta and on Wednesdays at the hospital.  This week I am helping them organise for a Bible event for the children this Saturday – busy times!
 
I help in a local school on Tuesdays and Thursdays with English lessons. The teachers and children are so welcoming and its great being there and helping in whatever way I can, whether answering questions, helping with their work, or marking exams!!
 
Your prayers are valued. Pray for the time that I have for myself, that I will reflect on my experiences and take time to refuel! The language is a barrier, in that I can’t build relationships with the majority of the people I meet, which is a tad frustrating to say the least but I’m learning that sometimes words aren’t needed, a smile never fails to get a response!!
 
Also I’m only here for a short time so I ask that you pray that I can plant seeds in the people that I’m spending time with and that I have the energy needed for the long days that I’m out and about, for safety and that my travel back goes as smoothly as arriving here.
 
Many thanks 🙂
love & prayers
 
Sonya xx

Dear friends,

We are looking forward to visiting many of you when we come to England in October and wanted you let you have this brief note about my recent and forthcoming activities.

The two weeks of youth camps has just finished. The first was held in Ingeniero Juárez from 12 to July 17 and the second in Misión Chaqueña from 19 to 24 July. We all experienced a time of great blessing at both camps. The one in Juarez took place in the Criollo church, where 57 young people met together in all, including some non-Christians invited by their friends. At Misión Chaqueña there were 70 youngsters from eight different indigenous churches.

Give thanks to God for the blessings we received during the camps and pray for the young people present

I’m now preparing for the new pastor training intensive course in Juárez which runs from 16 to 28 August. We are expecting some 70 pastors from 40 different churches to attend.

Please pray for the preparation, teaching and good outcome of the course.

Thank you again for your continued prayer and support.

We would really value your prayers over the next few weeks as we have embarked on a Youth Alpha after an invitation here at the Criollo church at Ingeniero Juarez, the Anglican church which we attend when we are not travelling to Indian Communities. They have many young people, and have just finished a youth camp, but the leadership has been quite shaky over the last few years. Hopefully, Alpha will not only lead many to a faith in Christ, but also build the team of leaders. It is  a big commitment and quite a challenge as nobody here has ever done an alpha course here before, certainly not a Youth Alpha! The Church has been wonderfully supportive and the team is really working well together. Catherine is doing the Administration for the course..

We were simply amazed when some 75 kids squeezed into a room for karaoke, video clips, choripans, and the introduction to the Course which Nick headed up. We were even more amazed, when 60 of them  turned up at 10.30 am for the first morning. It is an interesting mix too, mainly Spanish speaking Criollos, but also Wichi, and Toba young people too. Some are  travelling from a local church an hour away at Laguna Yema. Everyone is “buzzing” …as they say, but it’s a challenge, not least for the leadership…but there is much faith and we really do pray that there will be much blessing!

Could we please ask you to accompany us with your prayers over the next 10 weeks?

Thank you so much for your loving support and interest and anticipation….prayers!

Every blessing Catherine and Nick

Catherine Drayson writes from Juarez, Northern Argentina for prayer for leadership of the Youth Alpha course they are running; “We had a good Alpha Youth preparation today at 10am, but the youth leader has now pulled out, please pray as we still sense that this Alpha is very much of God. The leaders are really excited about it.”

Suffragan Bishop Nick Drayson and Catherine ask prayer for insight into the culture and the church and for language learning and making friends. Nick writes: “There is need for wisdom and hopefully the opportunity for change as we look back on almost 100 years of missionary work here, and build on it for a future in which the Indian church will have to become in some way autonomous.”

Pray for wisdom and discernment from God for Wichi and Toba pastors and leaders, to deepen their understanding of God’s Word and be able to teach and encourage in their communities. Pray for the Holy Spirit to free the people from all that holds them back.

Lift to God those whose lives are dedicated to helping these communities in practical ways: Ana Álvarez, Claudia Lungu and Cristina Vargas and the ASOCIANA team in advocacy and assistance in obtaining health care; Chris and Helena Wallis in literacy; Alec and Ivon Deane with crafts and agriculture.