Nazarenes from across South America gather for Iberoamerica Conference

Arequipa, Peru

Friday, June 25, 2010

Arequipa, in the southern part of Peru, was the beautiful setting for this year's Iberoamerica Conference, held June 16-20. Leaders and laypeople from each of the 10 countries of the South America Region took part in the workshops, services, and evangelism events held during these five days.

During the first three days of the conference, more than 300 people were trained in the new lay discipleship training initiative though a series of workshops and services, which included a test to see where their interest in ministry lies. The vision is to now have these leaders take the materials to their home countries with a region-wide goal to train 250,000 people in four years in 11 different ministries (evangelism, lay pastors, Sunday school and discipleship, communications, literature, global missions, compassion, leadership, women's ministries, Nazarene Missions International, and Nazarene Youth International). In every country, training camps are being scheduled within the next six months. The South America Region was delighted and amazed by the enthusiastic response of the people to this initiative.

On Saturday, June 19, the Iberoamerica attendees participated in the Love Extreme evangelism events going on in Arequipa. During the first part of the day, Lonna Vopat spoke to the women while Felix Vargas spoke to the men with over 100 people from each group coming to Christ. Later in the afternoon, Nick Vujicic spoke to a crowd of up to 10,000 people and approximately 6,000 made a profession of faith. Leaders were able to secure at least 1,000 names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Extreme volunteers and local pastors will follow-up immediately calling and visiting these new children of God.

On Sunday morning, Extreme and Iberoamerica once again combined for a celebration service and a calling service. More than 150 U.S. and South Americans made commitments to become missionaries or short term workers in the next two years in Asunción, Paraguay; Lima, Perú and Cali, Colombia. It was a great end to an incredible week.

For more information on the Love Extreme event, click here. For more information on the celebration service, click here.
--SAM Region Communications

Related news: "Nazarene leaders meet with Peruvian Congress"

 

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