The Kentucky Baptist Convention is launching a partnership with International Mission Board missionaries in Chile and kicked off the newest international opportunity with an informational meeting Thursday (May 9) at the Kentucky Baptist Building.
Participants heard from missionaries in Chile and learned about numerous ways they can be involved in efforts to reach Chileans with the gospel. Then on Sept. 4, there will be a vision tour to Chile.
Landon Williams, a former South Carolina pastor who has been a missionary in Chile for the past five and a half years, briefed the KBC Mission Board on Tuesday about the gospel opportunities that abound in the South American country.
Williams told of a recent conversation with a person in Chile who is of a different religious background. The person told him, “We are sad because we focus on the death of Christ.”
Williams then added, “People are sad, they are beaten down by the world. People need Jesus — new life in Christ — they need to be born again, in Kentucky and Chile and Asia.
“There’s nothing special about Chile … other than God, in His perfect timing, has opened doors and brought people together and He doesn’t make mistakes. We’re excited about the Kentucky Baptist Convention partnering with us in Chile.”
Williams, who leads a team of 14 missionaries, said the work is centered in Santiago, the country’s major metropolis. He reported there are 500 Chilean Baptist churches that stretch over 3000 miles, but 137 of them do not have a pastor.
“You can help us with life-giving, transforming church revitalization. There are so many needs. You can help us with evangelism, with evangelism in rural communities, where our team doesn’t live but we can form partnerships,” Williams said.
‘Phenomenal’ need
“You can help us with evangelism as we reach the upper classes of Santiago — who are 2-3% reached. On any giving Sunday, 2,000 to 3,000 will attend church out of a million people. The need is phenomenal. You can help with that.”
He said the Thursday meeting will elaborate on how Kentucky Baptists can be involved, including:
• Working on a women’s retreat for pastors’ wives.
• Church planting opportunities.
• Creating digital platforms for evangelism. “You can help with that without getting on a plane,” Williams said.
• English as a second language affords a unique opportunity for gospel engagement because the Bible is being used as curriculum. “We need volunteers from your churches who would be willing to give 90 minutes for six weeks from their couch in their living room or their kitchen table,” Williams said. “Every time the class has been done; someone has moved from online to a connection to a discipleship relationship for a relationship with a local church.”
Williams urged Kentucky Baptists to be involved in the effort. “Your legacy will far outreach what you do,” he said. “Years from now you will be gone, but because of your faithful work and faithful preaching, God is going to raise up another generation.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chip Hutcheson and originally published by Kentucky Today.
