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Growing Pains in Uruguay

The pastor’s care helps explain why this church in Latin America’s most secular nation continues to grow.

Based on a report by Peter Marshall, an Alliance international worker serving in Uruguay

In 2009, when the Salto Alliance church was planted in Uruguay, Latin America’s most secular nation, about a dozen people attended the first gatherings. Within a year, the group had grown to about 25.

Growing Pains in Uruguay
Pastor Herbeth Vega with his family

Today, the Salto church is one of Uruguay’s fastest-growing C&MA national churches. It is the first new Alliance congregation in that nation in 22 years. With a current membership of 110, the church continues to grow.

A Shepherd’s Heart

Herbeth Vega, the pastor, is known for his concern for his flock. He emphasizes visitation, spending a larger part of his day being available to church members. Herbeth’s care helps explain why the church is growing.

After one of the congregants, Marcos,* underwent surgery, Herbeth spent two afternoons with him at the hospital, giving his wife, Maria,* the opportunity to return home to do laundry and cook for their children. The pastor also drove Marcos home after his release and purchased food for the family, as Maria had been unable to work while caring for her husband during his recovery.

Growing Pains in Uruguay
With a current membership of 110, the church continues to grow.

Church members are renting a building and desperately need more space. “There are Sundays when there is not enough room for all the chairs needed,” says Alliance international worker Peter Marshall. “So, people stand along the sides of the room.”

Peter and his wife, Laura, joined the pastoral team three years ago to help identify and train leaders. The couple also has assisted the pastor with organizing this growing Body. Currently, the Marshalls are teaching a two-year leadership course with 12 students enrolled.

With limited space for Sunday school, a group of 15 to 20 children walk from the church to Peter and Laura’s house for classes. The older kids meet in the couple’s one-car garage, while the smaller children gather in the living room. “We just roll up the rug and pull out the toys,” says Peter.

“I Believe in Your God!”

The church members also have been involved in personal evangelism—another factor that has added more people to the Body. Luis, the church treasurer, owns a small trucking company. He had shared the gospel with Rodrigo, one of his drivers, many times. But at first Rodrigo was unresponsive.

Growing Pains in Uruguay
A church gathering draws a crowd.

One day as the men were loading their trucks, a storm was approaching. If it started to rain before they finished, their cargo of wheat would be ruined. Rodrigo let Luis load first because he was older and was his boss.

After Luis had finished and started to drive away, Rodrigo stopped him. “Do you think your God is big enough to hold off this rain until I get my truck loaded?” he asked.

Luis responded, “Why, yes, of course!”

As Luis drove off, he began earnestly praying for God to hold off the rain. About 20 minutes later, Rodrigo’s voice came over the radio. “I believe in your God! He held off the rain!”

Tears rolled down Luis’s cheeks as he praised the Lord for revealing Himself to his friend. From that day foreword, the young driver has been attending the Salto church. Last year he and his wife, Lorena, were baptized.

*Name changed

Please Pray

The church members are saving money in hopes of one day purchasing property for their own facility. This will enable them to expand their ministries and reach even more people with the gospel. Pray that God will provide the needed funds.

Join the Alliance family in interceding for our workers in Uruguay and worldwide, who are taking the good news—in word and deed—to some of the world’s most spiritually dark regions. Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to assist you.

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