South America

LPGM has an on going relationship with the 7,000 member Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Unida (IELU), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina and Uruguay. Since 1997 groups from the United States have traveled to Argentina and Uruguay under the auspices of LPGM to establish relationships with partner congregations.

In addition to establishing partner congregations, from 1999 to 2000 LPGM also directed a project to purchase Bibles and hymnals for about 38 congregations in the IELU community, collecting over $20,000 for this effort.

Summer 2008 Update

ARGENTINA VISIT EXPANDS LPGM/IELU PARTNERSHIP by Gordon Olson

My trip to Buenos Aires in late April helped to solidify the relationship between LPGM and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina and Uruguay. I was invited to attend the annual church assembly where I had the opportunity to meet most of the church’s pastors and observe how the church operated. I was very impressed with the leadership of the church and their sincerity in sharing the Gospel and building up their church. LPGM has connected six U.S. congregations with IELU congregations. But they want all 33 of their congregations connected. This will be a challenge indeed!

Project Director, Gustavo Driau and Church President, Rev. Alan Eldrid asked that LPGM find a partner congregation for a little mission congregation outside of Buenos Aires called Florencio Varela. This “mission” congregation is located in a very poor neighborhood and has no resources for development. They are in a little building that has remained the same for many years, but the church shows promise. A very committed lay “deacon” has been commissioned and assigned to Misión Cristo Salvador (Christ the Savior Mission). He and his wife are attracting many new people to the church. The potential is great.

A second congregation, Santo Sacramento (Holy Sacrament) Church in Villa Ballester, also near Buenos Aires, operates a home and ministry for women and children. The pastor of the church and former president of IELU is Rev. Angel Furlan, who also serves as Latin American representative to the Lutheran World Federation. This tiny congregation, located in an old area of the city, attracts many children and their families who live atop an old garbage dump. Imagine the impact that a vibrant U.S. congregation could have by joining forces with Santo Sacramento to expand their ministry and share the Gospel of Jesus with many others in that community. Is your congregation interested in checking this out? Join the six other congregations who have made Argentina a part of their global outreach and have had amazing experiences visiting Argentina. Please contact LPGM for more information.