Partnership – Living out a Core Value in Uruguay
Partnership – Living out a Core Value in Uruguay
“In Uruguay it’s all about partnerships,” Arthur Lupion, TeachBeyond National Director for Uruguay says. “Because we are the most secularized country in Latin America, even a small movement in a church can make a big difference.”
Back in 2016, a partnership began between TeachBeyond’s Theological Seminary in Gramado (STG), Brazil and a small church, Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica del Uruguay (Evangelical Christian Church of Uruguay), in Santa Rosa. The church hosted a 3-day evangelism camp staffed by seminary students from Brazil. That year 30 campers came. In 2023 that number jumped to 70 for a 5-day camp.
That first evangelism camp lit a spark and the desire to begin TeachBeyond Uruguay as its own national entity soon followed. Howard Dueck, TeachBeyond’s Executive Director of Regions, was instrumental in helping to develop the strategic plan with local pastors for the founding of TeachBeyond Uruguay.
Since 2022 TeachBeyond Uruguay has been running a seminary program in Ecilda Paullier, 105 kilometers (65 miles) northwest of the capital Montevideo. Partnership enters into the picture again as they share the property with Seminario Biblico del Uruguay (Uruguay Bible Seminary). They currently have 15 students doing an undergraduate theology program and approximately another 30 are taking more basic, general courses.
Today, 2 students from that program are missionaries with TeachBeyond: Darwin Hernández as Translator and also Language Center Coordinator for starting up English Camps, and Alejandra Martinez as Structure Coordinator. They are also from the church that hosted that very first evangelism camp in Uruguay. The pastor from that church, Esteban Hernández, is President of the Board for TeachBeyond Uruguay.
“Friendship with the people is so important,” Arthur shares. “Our ministry is always a partnership with the people.”
Pray for TeachBeyond Uruguay
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The new additions to the TeachBeyond Uruguay team: We have 2 couples arriving at the base to work with the new group of students starting in March.
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For expanding our services in 2024. We see the potential to grow more than 50% in the scope of our educational services and 25% on seasonal services (this is in our strategic plan which we have been praying about).
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Fundraising to expand these services and support new students here. Money raised will support scholarships for students, renovations to the building and team transportation. (In Uruguay, gasoline and the cost of living is one of the highest in Latin America, currently a gallon of gasoline is US$9.00). Click here to donate.