reasons for the church’s phenomenal growth in the region. Roberto Lugo of Paraguay, president of Baptist Youth of Latin
America (JUBLA), highlighted the work of the mission enterprise, Volunteers Without Borders, or “Radical Latin America,”
a program to reach and recruit youth for mission.
Started in 2006, the program has so far offered missionary experience for more than 80 youth from countries such as
Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru. The program, which lasts for up to 11 months in each year, places youth and young
adults in various locales, usually to work with a weak congregation, and, in a few instances, to help in planting a new church.
These “radicals” also help to develop programs within communities such as in sports and health; teach music and languages;
and provide training to women.
Jointly run by JUBLA and UBLA’s mission department, the former doing the identifying and recruiting and the latter the
training and placement of the volunteers, Volunteers Without Borders recruits persons between 19 and 33 years old.
Maryinkellison Wanderley of Brazil, outgoing director of mission for UBLA, stated that, as a direct result of this
mission initiative, which started in Brazil and was later adopted by the rest of Latin America, more than 28,000 persons were
evangelized, more than 4,500 decisions were made for Christ, and almost 1,400 persons were brought into a discipleship
program.
Brazil has had such a mission outreach initiative for some time, run by the World Mission Board of the Brazilian Baptist
Convention. It has had the involvement of more than 160 Brazilian volunteers, with two initiatives geared specifically for
Africa: “Luzo Africano” for Portuguese-speaking countries such as Mozambique, Angola and Guinea-Bissau and the “African
Radicals” for other African countries such as Senegal and Niger.
Other countries such as Ecuador and Peru have developed their own “radical” initiatives, usually started by youth
from those countries that participated in the UBLA program and who returned to their home country after their service is
complete.
The aim, said Lugo, is to “mobilize youth to have a vision for mission and evangelism, improve fellowship among Latin
American youth, equip youth in their personal life, and to make an impact on Latin American life and society.”
An initiative of the evangelism department of UBLA is the “Life in Jesus” campaign, which targeted Argentina, Chile,
Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, and several other countries. One feature of this exercise has been to provide clean water to
communities where new churches have been planted and where other forms of ministries have been established. The provision
of potable water is intended as a practical demonstration to these communities that “Jesus Christ is the Living Water.” In San
Pedro, Paraguay, a well was dug and connected to an existing 50,000 liter (13,000 gallon) tank (see story on next page).
Latin America is at the cutting edge of Baptist faith and witness, and is helping to lead the way in evangelism and mission.
The fruits of such endeavors are evidenced by the increase in membership, and the greater level of presence that Baptists
have in the region.
PHOTOS: Members of the new UBLA Executive being installed into office at the 6th UBLA Assembly
and Congress in Peru; Some youth who attended the 6th UBLA Assembly and Congress in Peru in April
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