By Rev. Dan Beyer
Over the last few years, I have been captivated by the stories of dynamic faith, steadfastness in prayer, faithfulness under persecution, and gospel breakthrough in the Global South. So when our general secretary, Rev. Eddy Alemán, asked me if I would go to South America with him this past April, I jumped at the chance. The mission was to support the work of our director of church multiplication, Rev. Dr. Andres Serrano, and others by encouraging pastors and leaders in Chile and Argentina. This was an opportunity to have a front row seat to personally witness how God is moving in a very different part of the world.
We started in Santiago, Chile, drove to Mendoza, Argentina, and finished our adventure in Buenos Aires, Argentina, encouraging and celebrating leaders while being blessed by their testimonies of God’s calling, goodness, and love. We worshiped together, prayed together, experienced the inspired preaching of God’s Word together, and because of their generous hospitality, we often ate together! As much as you hope to be a blessing to others on a trip like this, the reality is that you cannot possibly out give what you receive. While the Global South has shown how willing they are to learn from us, the truth is that they may be the ones who hold the keys for us to be a revived church in North America again. Throughout this trip, we were surrounded by spiritual hunger, inspirational faith, and the intentional multiplication of leaders. Let me share a couple of stories with you.
On our first night in Santiago, Chile, we drove to Ministerio Expansion Church, where Pastor Jorge Sanderson introduced us to many pastors and leaders followed by a worship service with his church family. At the conclusion of Eddy’s sermon, members of our team were invited to come forward and pray for people and anoint them with oil. The first person I prayed for was an 84-year-old pastor who has faithfully preached the gospel his entire life. The second person I prayed for was a 97-year-old pastor. The first two people to the front represented 181 years of life experience, and they were still hungry for God’s goodness and blessing! This was our experience the whole trip—from pastors and church leaders to the newest converts, every one of them had a spiritual hunger and desire to receive from the Lord through prayer. In three opportunities for our team to pray for people, I personally had the joy of anointing over 140 people with oil. People in South America are spiritually hungry! We desperately need to experience this hunger again in North America. A spiritually hungry church will very quickly become a revived church.
Another beautiful experience on this journey was the vital faith of the pastors and leaders. In the United States over the past three years, we have bemoaned a growing inflation rate reaching a recent high of 8 percent in 2022 that has reduced people’s giving and tightened our budgets. Now I want you to imagine ministering in Argentina where the inflation rate was 289.4 percent this past April. Yes, this is the real number! How many churches would close in North America facing this type of circumstance? How many pastors would throw in the towel under the financial pressures of ministry? But in Argentina, they are multiplying leaders and trusting God for revival. Their faith in God drives their actions in the face of terrible economic headwinds. We need this kind of vital faith to infuse our leaders and churches again.
Finally, this experience was marked by the intentional multiplication of leaders who are eager to be equipped in the Word of God while also being empowered by the Spirit. This was especially evident through pastors who are significantly investing in other pastors and leaders across their cities. These catalytic leaders are constantly affirmed for their encouragement, support, and guidance. Through them, both long-time pastors and new leaders find strength and fellowship. These catalytic leaders are surrounded by new emerging leaders, and they see what it means to grow the church across their cities. Other global leaders are now coming alongside them to help provide quality theological education while continuing to fan the flames of revival across the local churches leading to accelerated church planting. All of these leaders are working together sacrificially for the expansion of Christ’s kingdom. Imagine what this type of leadership, sacrifice, and collaboration could do in North America.
Do you long to experience spiritual hunger, inspirational faith, and sacrificial leadership for the multiplication of leaders? Let’s continue to embrace the church in the Global South and learn from them together!
Support the work of RCA church multiplication.
Rev. Dan Beyer is lead pastor of Gun Lake Community Church in Wayland, Michigan.
EN 
ES 
KO 
PT