CULTURAL NOTES

Argentina is a large country that stretches from the spectacular Iquazú Falls, in the steaming rain forest on the Brazilian border, to Cape Horn, within sight of Antarctica on a clear day. Its richly varied landscape includes the Falls themselves (When Eleanor Roosevelt visited Iquazú her first words were, "Poor Niagara!"), the magnificent Andes, the pampas, the Rio de la Plata, and the enormous, cultured city of Buenos Aires, which boasts impressive colonial architecture, one of the world's finest concert halls, and the widest city street on earth. Argentina's name is commonly associated with beef, for which it is rightly famous. It claims to have not only the world's best beef and most beautiful women, but is also the birthplace of the tango, which, along with soccer, is one of the nation's most popular pastimes. Tango is far more than a dance style or a musical genre-its pathos, movements and structure work together to artistically depict the predictability, sensuality and futility associated with gender roles in Argentine urban life.

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE
Argentina's history has been strongly influenced by both Roman Catholicism and secular philosophy. Although theirs is still officially a Roman Catholic country, many Argentines have become disillusioned with the church. Attendance at the mass is generally very low, though cities like Resistencia are an exception. Resource-rich, Argentina is a developing country recovering from a massive economic decline five years ago. Growing consumerism has had its predictable effect on the hearts of those with disposable income-materialism and spiritual apathy are pervasive. The cults are all very active in Argentina, and other groups seek to achieve a syncretism between Christianity and animism or the occult. In addition, as in all of Latin America, the health-and-wealth gospel has broad appeal. Many Argentine men are fanatical about sports, especially soccer. Fractured families, immorality, infidelity, and-in certain places-even bigamy are the norm and demonstrate the need for the transforming power and hope that comes only through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

LOCATION OF CURRENT MINISTRIES
BUENOS AIRES: Currently we have one family working in the city of Ramos Mejía, on the western side of greater Buenos Aires. They also help in the baptist seminary at Isidro Casinova and have further expanded their work by assisting a national family seeking to plant churches in the province of Chubút, 900 miles south of Buenos Aires. Another couple is working in Saavedra in the Capital Federal (the downtown core of Buenos Aires) and also helping in a new church plant in the town of González Catán, west of the capital. A third couple is working in the city of Don Torcuato on the northern side of greater Buenos Aires and will work with Argentine believers to determine the exact nature and location of their next ministry.

RESISTENCIA: Where in the world is Resistance? Quite literally, it is in the province of Chaco, Argentina. The city of Resistencia ("Resistance" in Spanish) is home to around 400,000 people and is the capital of Chaco. It serves as one of the links in a chain of cities along the Paraná River leading to Buenos Aires. In reality, Resistencia is far less intimidating than its name implies. Steel bars can be seen on most doors and windows. They are not symbols of unfriendliness, but rather safeguards against the constant threat of theft. In spite of this threat, people still enjoy sitting outside their homes in the late afternoons to chat with whoever walks by. Neighbors genuinely care for each other.

The only notable resistance in Resistencia appears when people are confronted with the gospel. Their strong Roman Catholic traditions and superstitions make them extremely hesitant to heed the Word of God and believe in Jesus Christ as their only Savior.

It is in this setting that BMW started the ministry of the Resistencia Bible Church in 1988. The ministry has had some setbacks over the years, but now, with a small group of believers and a permanent facility in an established neighborhood, it is looking towards becoming independent. There is still a need for leadership development to accomplish this important transition.

Apart from the work in Resistencia, several home Bible studies have developed in neighboring suburbs and also small communities near the city. There is currently one missionary family working in this area of Argentina, with another couple expected to arrive within a couple years. We have a strong desire to proceed with the goals of NordEste 2010, the strategy detailed below.

CARLOS PAZ: One BMW family lives in Villa Carlos Paz, a city near Córdoba, Argentina's second-largest metropolitan area. They started working alongside a family who is in Córdoba with a sister mission. In this way, both families enjoyed the fellowship, accountability, and support they need to be effective. We welcome and seek this kind of cooperation between like-minded agencies.

FUTURE PLANS
Some of the future plans of BMW personnel in Argentina rely on additional team members. For instance, an exciting strategy for northern Argentina was put in place by our teams there in 2003. NordEste 2010 is a plan to start nine new churches by 2010 in a circle of cities within a 250-km radius the bridge (pictured below) spanning the Paraná River between Resistencia and Corrientes. Due to the shortage of personnel, however, this plan has not taken shape. The addition of Steve and Becky Diem and their two sons to the Resistencia team will enable us to move into new cities, but we will still need more missionaries and trained, committed Argentine believers involved in order to realize these aggressive goals. The strategy involves using career missionaries, national workers, short-term teams (including athletic teams and English teachers) and short-term individual missionaries using various creative and relevant means to make contacts and train Argentine Christians to plant new churches.

In addition to new churches planned in greater Buenos Aires, we are involved in two other areas of ministry. For many years, many churches established by North American missionaries in Latin America have grown dependent on missionary personnel and US dollars. In an effort to disrupt this harmful pattern, one of our missionaries is working with a national pastor to nurture a movement in churches all over Latin America that will encourage and equip them to achieve true autonomy. This exciting movement, called, La Iglesia en Latinoamerica De Pie, is spreading via conferences and internet communication to places as remote as the Amazon jungle of Peru.

Another recent development has been the establishment in greater Buenos Aires of the Fundación Hogar de Gracia, a home for children from high-risk situations. This ministry was begun and is being conducted by a young Argentine family with the assistance of their home church in the suburb of Isidro Casanova, Iglesia Bautista Calvario. God has provided a recently remodeled home and additional resources to help these children to receive love, good nutrition and clothing, a good education, and most importantly, the opportunity to hear the gospel consistently and respond in faith to Jesus Christ. As the Lord enables us, BMW would like to be involved in this ministry through providing funds or items that would meet the practical needs of these children. Please let us know if you are interested in investing in their lives in this way.

PERSONNEL NEEDS
We need at least five more missionary units in Argentina — two in Buenos Aires, two in the Northeast, and one in Córdoba. Evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training are our focus, so training and experience in those areas would be very helpful. Other skills such as teaching English, youth ministry, and administrative and secretarial abilities would also be beneficial. The children's home near Buenos Aires, though not a BMW ministry, may need helpers on either a long-term or short-term basis. We would be happy to facilitate your involvement with these needy youngsters by connecting you with people who are directly involved with that ministry.

For more information about BMW's team in Argentina, please contact Rob Heijermans at BMW's international office.

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