Chile, Church Planting In Peñalolen, Santiago

transforming lives in Chile

The Anglican Church of Chile has 50 rural and 50 urban congregations. There are 33 ordained ministers (9 are graduates from the Center for Pastoral Studies) and 67 untrained lay pastors. In Santiago, the capital and a city of 6 million people, there are only 10 Anglican congregations. There is a great need for trained teachers throughout the country. With 50% of the Chilean population being under 21, youth work is emphasised as an important part of ministry.

Cesar and Ani Guzman, formerly supported at the Center for Pastoral Studies (CPS), have been commissioned by the Bishop to start a congregation in an area of Santiago with little Christian presence and no Anglican congregations. The suburb, Penalolen (an indigenous word that means “gathering of the brethren”), has 250,000 inhabitants and it is the most socially diverse suburb in Santiago.

In 2010 the Guzmans hope to include the Bible College (CPS) students, where Cesar still teaches, in the leadership training program within the parish. They plan to invite some of them to serve in the church and gain ministry experience as student ministers. They hope this congregation will be a good model of a mission-minded, bible-based church.

Sunday attendance has doubled since October 2008 (about 130+ and 40 children). Between 40-60 people attend Bible study on Wednesdays, and the monthly marriage enrichment evening had 88 people in March 2009 and 102 in April 2009. People want to study God’s word and the Guzmans are seeing lives being transformed. 70% of the people have become Christians in the last 24 months.

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About CNEC Partners International

CNEC Partners International involves Australians in Extraordinary Partnerships with local Christian ministries in developing regions. Together we share and demonstrate God’s love in Christ - a love which transforms individuals and their communities.

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