Volunteers Needed |
“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” 1 Peter 2:9 (The Message) |
Missionaries David and Alisha Holt are looking for volunteers to help us with the task of pushing back the darkness in Corrientes Province of northern Argentina. Corrientes has a population of almost 900,000 people and only .2% are believers. Corrientes is one of the oldest provinces in Argentina and takes great pride in its founding by Spanish Jesuits. Catholicism is the traditional religion and most Correntinos have been baptized and experienced their first communion inside the Catholic Church. For most, their beliefs and practices go no further. While they profess salvation through infant baptism very few are confident in their relationship with the Lord and are confused about what it takes to truly know Him. The Criollo are a very spiritual people and are constantly looking for ways to tap into the power of the spiritual world. Sadly, this opens the door wide for belief in animism and “popular” cult figures such as Gaucho Gil and St. Death. However, this search for connection with God is also a bridge for us to bring the truth of the Gospel into their lives and hearts. One of the most successful avenues we have for entering new neighborhoods is prayer walking and saturating a neighborhood in prayer to the Most High God. Walking through these neighborhoods, one can sense the fact that praying is not uncommon – it is the One to Whom the prayers are addressed that makes the difference. You can see many altars to Catholic saints and popular saints alike, painted symbols on walls and doors proclaiming allegiance to this religion or that cult, you can even smell the incense and see the fires lit to draw the attention of spirits. However, most often when we pray to Jehovah in these areas, we are the only ones addressing Him. After praying over an area, we usually hold “launch events” – some sort of large event that gathers many people together. This is where volunteers come in to our strategy. The Criollo are the “forgotten” people of the Correntino culture. Everyone knows they exist but prefer to ignore them or pretend they are not rummaging through trash bags looking for anything recyclable or doing any of the other less desirable jobs around town. For the most part, they have been left out of educational and even welfare opportunities which would help them to improve their station in life. |
When groups of North Americans spend a week or ten days in a Criollo neighborhood, bringing friendship, smiles and personal attention to them, they are left with a positive impression that there is someone who cares about them after all. I remember talking with a Criollo man, a single father holding his sick toddler in his arms watching volunteers paint small brown faces and make balloon animals. He turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, “I’ve heard of these types of events for children, but I always believed they were only available for the rich families in Buenos Aires (the capital of the country). I never dreamed my kids would have this sort of sweet experience.” Many times, as we prayer walk through very humble Criollo neighborhoods we are asked, “Why?” Why do these rich North Americans choose to spend their vacation here? Most can understand coming to any of the tourist attractions in southern or even middle Argentina – but to the north, among the poorest people? Imagine being able to answer, “Because God sent me to tell you that He loves you very much.” This opens the door for us to return and build on those relationships in order to bring them into a personal relationship with Jesus. |
Traditionally, volunteers from the U.S. make their trips during the months of June, July and August. We will accept groups ANY month of the year. We are looking for small groups 10 – 12 people: teens, young adults, senior citizens, families, singles anyone with a willing heart and loving spirit. We’ll work with you to plan your week, arrange for your sleeping and eating accommodations, provide orientation and training. We are willing to answer any and all questions you may have. If you’d like more information about what volunteers have done in the past or personal experiences, please look at the “Volunteer Activities” page. Examples of types of work undertaken by volunteers include: drama, musical concerts, neighborhood festivals, workshops on family relationships, door-to-door surveys, medical clinics, veterinary services, “random acts of kindness” and prayer walking. In 2009, we implamented our newest volunteer strategy “Shotguns n Fishin Poles.” You can find information about this program on the Volunteer Activities page as well. |
If you are interested in joining with us in this work of planting churches among an un-reached people group, if God is calling you to Corrientes to be “instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you” then we know of a people who are desperate to know there is a way to move “—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” |
For more information, please contact us. Please, if you are not a decision maker in this context, pass this information along to your pastor or missions director. |
Because He Calls, |