Unreached of Ecuador
■ by Justin Rose
are Reached
B
ASED OUT OF the Amazonian city are sometimes left without adequate church will be established in the down-
jungles of southeastern Ecuador, food. Scarcity of food is common for the town area. Pastor Gonzalez is also able to
the Shuar Indians are one of the Shuar’s hunter-gatherer culture: often the preach in eight surrounding villages.
largest hunter-gatherer tribes in land cannot sustain a growing population. Plans are currently underway to reach
South America. Since 2002, Church of God Due to the vastness of the Amazon, Puerto Marona, the gateway to the Amazon
missionaries Don and Chryssie McBrayer covering a large geographic area and a River Shuar population. Eight hours by bus
have been establishing the foundations wide spectrum of societal development, from Macas, Puerto Marona will become
of ministry to reach this indigenous, from jungles to modern cities, the Shuars home to another Church of God Bible
unreached people. Through visiting, teach- have been difficult to reach. The Church
ing and preaching, the Shuars are learning of God was established in 2004 in the
about Jesus Christ for the first time. Over growing city of Macas, the capital of
3,000 conversions have been documented Morona Santiago State, along with sur-
in the last two years. rounding Shuar
Although they are one of the most villages. Vil-
studied and prevalent tribes in South lage ministries
America, the Shuar people have many have included
cultural customs and a naivety that teaching local
opens them to exploitation, especially in pastors, build-
the global sex tourism trade. The group ing churches
does not believe in traditional marriage for new Christians (five have been built),
customs, although they do form faithful and distributing food. Farm projects have
unions; sexual history is not a concern. also been instituted, teaching tribes how
Pastor Miller
Gonzalez with
They are also a warrior people, with the to raise chickens, cows, and other food
his daughters
winning victor kidnapping the women sources. A Bible school and church were
and children of another tribe to produce established in the village of San Miguel, institute, as well as a model farm project to
more warriors. about 30 miles from Macas, in 2006. teach the Shuar of the area to grow their
The Shuar children are deemed the Pastor Miller Gonzalez, a graduate of own crops. A program is also being started
responsibility of the entire village. With the South American Seminary in Quito, in Macas to feed street children.
the current global economy, a lot of has worked among the Shuar for five Don McBrayer says, “The Lord has
migration throughout Ecuador to search years. This September he moved with his given the Church of God a unique
for jobs leaves children home alone. In family to Macas, where he has already opportunity to reach an unreached peo-
most cases, the village will continue to started two Bible study groups. Once ple group. We need local church groups
take care of the child, but children in the these Bible study groups have grown, a from the U.S. to come visit our work
and help us in practical ways. Our needs
Missionary Chryssie McBrayer
range from cooking and serving street
with Shuar children
children in Macas to teaching farm-
ing techniques in Puerto Morona.” The
construction of a classroom at the San
Miguel Bible School is one of a number
of presently unfunded projects.
If you are interested in finding out more
about a possible trip to Ecuador to visit with
the McBrayers, you may email them at
dgmcbrayer@juno.com.

Justin Rose is a media projects specialist
for Church of God World Missions.
14 EVANGEL • JAN 2010
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