South American Division

Adventist Theology Students Lead Evangelistic Campaign in Arica

Event leads hundreds to Bible studies and baptism.

December 17, 2024

Chile

Rosse Ramirez, South American Division, and ANN

Theology students who carried out evangelism campaigns in northern Chile, accompanied by Pastor David Victoriano, at the center of everything.

[Photo: Personal archive]

Ten students of the professional career of Theology at the Adventist University of Chile (UnACh) traveled to Arica, in the far north of the country, where they resided for four months, to develop evangelistic campaigns that resulted in the baptism of 181 people.

From August to November 2024, the young people who are preparing for pastoral work taught Bible studies to more than 600 people from four districts of the city, creating a closer relationship with each Bible student.

Baptism in the Putre Hot Springs.

“This evangelistic campaign corresponds to the intermediate practice of Public Evangelism that Theology students carry out during their third academic year,” reported David Victoriano, professor of Evangelism at UnACh.

He added, “At the same time, the campaign is part of a project of Connection with the environment since it allows students to connect with churches to participate in evangelization efforts in communities close to the congregations.”

The four districts of the city of Arica—Arica Centro, Arica Norte, Azapa, and Filadelfia—include the cities of San Miguel in the Azapa Valley and Putre in the Province of Parinacota. These areas were selected to share and spread the Word of God. Seven students remained in the city of Arica, two conducted their campaign in San Miguel in the Azapa Valley, and one worked in Putre.

Evangelism in Remote Areas

Adventist Church in Chujlluta, Parinacota province.

Student Ricardo Catalán, settled in Putre, in the Andean highlands, 145 km east of Arica, presented the gospel of Christ to the inhabitants of that place and the surrounding areas such as Chujlluta, Caquena, and Lipiche, located at more than 4,500 meters above sea level. In these remote places, after a period of study of the Bible, 20 people accepted Christ, 17 were baptized, and three were incorporated by profession of faith.

Marriages and New Lives in Christ

Eight couples decided to get married and later sealed their decision to follow Christ with baptism, thus embarking on a new path with God.

Marriage of Marta and Ruben, one of the couples who received Bible studies.

For the theology students, this project has also been very significant, as it has spoken and motivated about this marital bond designed by God as the foundation of the family and society, with eternal purposes. “It is the Theology campaign in which we have had the largest number of people who get married and then give their lives to God,” commented Pastor Victoriano.

United in the Mission

Marta and Ruben are baptized after getting married.

The support of the district pastors and administrators from the North Chile Conference, the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the northern part of the country, was crucial in strengthening the youth's missionary work. United by a common purpose, their commitment and dedication to this mission were evident through their participation in visiting Bible students, assisting with decision-making, and performing baptisms.

Vanesa, Rubén, and their children's baptisms.

At the end of the campaign, 320 active Bible students were registered, a missionary task that will be continued by the pastors and Bible instructors in their respective districts. Pastor Victoriano notes an interesting statistic: for every four Bible students, one decides to dedicate their life to God. He concludes that reaching this target is not a problem as long as we are willing to provide the necessary amount of Bible studies.