ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) — Mennonite Mission Network offers an opportunity to learn from Mennonites in Argentina who live and breathe mission.
From July 20-26, 2009, after Mennonite World Conference Assembly Gathered in Paraguay, Mauricio Chenlo and Edgardo Sánchez will lead a tour focusing on church-planting and mission.
Chenlo, an Argentine and former mission worker in Ecuador, serves as a consultant and Director of the Hispanic Church Planting Academy with Mennonite Mission Network. Sánchez is a leader of Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Argentina (Argentine Mennonite Church).
“Planting new churches is a passion that transcends borders and cultures,” Chenlo said. “I’m excited about the possibility of folks from the United States seeing God transforming people’s lives in powerful ways through churches that have very active missions with their communities.”
Chenlo encourages those who are interested in revitalizing their own congregations, as well as church planters, to join the tour and witness first-hand what God is doing in urban centers and remote Andean villages. He extends a special invitation to Hispanic church leaders and youth.
Chenlo hopes North American young people will be challenged by the vibrant energy that their Argentine peers bring to church life as they “engage their friends in divine conversations and actively serve their communities through peace, justice and conflict resolution work.”
An ardent promoter of leadership programs for young adults, Chenlo believes the future of the church will depend upon those who have the language and skills to thrive in multiple cultures.
The tour will visit the capital city, Buenos Aires, before venturing into the Patagonia region and beautiful locations, like Neuquén, Bariloche, Villa La Angostura and Esquel.
Physical activity may involve several hours of walking and participants should be able to carry their own luggage when in transit.
Accommodations will include a retreat center in Buenos Aires, Mennonite host families in the Neuquén area and affordable cabins or hotels in the more remote locations.
The first Mennonite missionaries began work in central Argentina in 1917. Mission Network now relates to the Argentine Mennonite Church as a sister church in the Mennonite World Conference and provides support for leadership training, evangelism and mission programs.
Mission Network facilitates three partnerships that offer mutual encouragement for mission in North and South America. These involve congregations in Patagonia and Illinois; central Argentina and Atlantic Coast Conference; and Buenos Aires, new churches north of the city and North Central Conference.
For more tour information, contact ArloaB@MennoniteMission.net or MauricioC@MennoniteMission.net
For more information on mission partnerships with Argentina, see: The Patagonia Story: Congregations in Argentina and Illinois Link "Arm-in-Arm" for Mission and Un Relato de la Patagonia: Congregaciones de Argentina e Illinois se dan la mano para hacer la misión de Dios.
