The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chile has announced an extensive plan to expand its reach by planting 150 new congregations across the country between 2023 and 2027. This initiative marks a significant effort in the church's ongoing mission to spread the gospel of Christ.
The project is driven by the church’s members and leaders, who are working diligently under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The initiative has already commenced, with teams actively engaged in the establishment of these new congregations.
Church planting is expected to generate new membership and increase Bible study participation, providing communities with spaces for worship and outreach. The church emphasizes that this expansion is not just about numbers, but rather about fulfilling the Great Commission outlined in Matthew 28:19-20, which calls for believers to spread the Word of God in new areas.
Evangelistic Teams
Church planting pastors of the Metropolitan South Mission of Chile.
Church planting pastors of the Chilean Pacific Mission.
In a significant push for growth, each missionary district is now tasked with establishing a dedicated planting team. Over the past two years, from 2023 to 2024, 33 new church plantings have been carried out.
Abraham Canteros, the district pastor in Chillán, has emerged as a key figure in this initiative, having spearheaded the formation of 21 churches throughout his ministry. Notable recent achievements from his team include the establishment of the Church of Ñipas, in an area previously devoid of Adventist presence three years ago, alongside the openings of the El Quillay Branch and the Baquedano Branch. Each of these branches is focused on evolving into fully recognized churches.
During the preceding five-year period, the church successfully planted 42 new congregations. According to regional Secretariat statistics, by the close of 2023, there were 988 churches in Chile, serving a membership of 103,451. Elton De Lima, the executive secretary of the Chilean Union, highlighted the vital need for training new leaders within each emerging congregation as a cornerstone for continued growth in the church.
Steps in Establishing New Churches
Church planting pastors of the South Austral Association of Chile.
Church planting pastors of the Metropolitan Association of Chile.
The Adventist Church's Global Mission Department in Chile, led by Alberto Silva, conducted a training tour from September to November 2024 to visit church planting teams across the country. At each stop, Silva met with district pastors to encourage them and introduce the “Eight Steps in Church Planting,” a program implemented in 2023.
Under the guidance of district pastors, the process begins by establishing a new nucleus in a selected location, followed by enlisting support from the entire district. Missionary couples are then organized, a weekly small group and branch Sabbath School are formed, and an integrated evangelism plan is launched. Two evangelism campaigns—Easter Week and Week of Hope—are held before officially founding a new church in the chosen area. The final step involves coordinating with district and field administration to develop plans for the next church plant.
Planting pastors of the Central Mission of Chile.
Pastors-planters of the Northern Chile Conference.
In the Northern Chile Conference, pastors and their teams launched ten new church planting projects in Arica, Iquique, Alto Hospicio, Calama, Antofagasta, Atacama and Copiapó with the goal of establishing additional congregations.
In Cunco, located in the province of Cautín in the Araucanía Region, the local Seventh-day Adventist Church opened a branch in April 2024. It currently has 20 baptized members, two missionary couples, five Bible students and a recently formed small group.
Supporting New Generations
Church leaders credit much of their progress to initiatives driven by younger generations, including Youth Ministry’s Caleb Mission and Children’s Ministry’s Vacation Bible School, as well as Adventurers and Pathfinders clubs. These programs have enabled outreach to families and new communities while strengthening the discipleship of participating children, adolescents and youth.
“Vacation Bible School is the most effective project of the Adventist Church worldwide for evangelism,” said Gláucia Korkischko, Children’s Ministry leader for South America, during her visit to Chile.
On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2024, a virtual meeting of church planting teams was broadcast on the official IASD channel in Chile on YouTube. Each regional field presented testimonies and updates on their progress, highlighting what church leaders view as evidence of unified work and divine guidance in expanding Adventist congregations.
The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish website.
