beliefs

Because of their lack of prestige, the Northern Argentine Criollos are clearly an unreached people group. Statistical research is ongoing, but we have so far been able to identify fewer than 10,000 believers, mostly Pentecostal or Assemblies of God, among them. General Conference and Conservative (Swedish) Baptists have worked for about fifty years in the northwestern provinces of Argentina, but in the 95+ year history of Southern Baptist work in Argentina, only five Southern Baptist missionary units have ever worked in the Northern Argentine Criollos’ homeland. That is, up until now!

The Criollos speak Spanish. The Bible is readily available in Spanish, but the Criollos know almost nothing of the Scriptures, since the majority prefers to communicate and learn through the spoken word rather than by written means. This is why narratives are our principal communication format.

This is a shrine for Gaucho Gil. He was just that - a gaucho (cowboy) that lived in the 17 or 1800's. He was sort of a Robin Hood, stole from the rich and gave to the poor. People still build shrines to him. They light candles, bring gifts and pray to him to heal their children or help them with their problems. One lady we talked to said that she had prayed to Gaucho Gil and he had taken the asthma from her daughter and given it to her. She also believed that he had saved her husband from death when he grabbed hold of an electrically charged wire.

There are many shrines set up along the city streets and the highways that are built for the Virgin Mary or to Saints.

The Criollo people view spiritual things through fearful eyes. To them, the spirit world is a bleak, dark, malevolent place. Many are afraid of physical darkness as well. In fact, many keep a strong light or lantern burning every night while they sleep. Pray that they will receive the Light of the World in their hearts and that He will give them strength to turn out the lights. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all those that are oppressed (Psalm 103:6).