New Methodist Churches
in Latin America Gather for School of Evangelism

Bishop Pedro Arauz and the Evangelical Methodist Church of Panama hosted a "Latin American School of Evangelization" (ELADE) October 21-26, 1997 in Panama City. Representatives of four newly formed Methodist churches in Latin America attended, along with delegates from Panama and Costa Rica. Sponsored by the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America (CIEMAL), the ELADE, as it is referred to, brought together for the first time delegations of Methodists from Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. All of these new churches were formed in the 1990s.

It marked the first time that leaders of the emerging churches had a chance to meet one another and share stories of the joys and struggles of initiating new church work. The main purpose of the school was to provide training in evangelization for church leaders.

Chilean Bishop Emeritus Isaias Gutierrez, president of CIEMAL, served as dean of the school. He brought together a faculty of teachers from six different countries for the six-day intensive course. It was the 16th time that Bishop Gutierrez organized an ELADE school. He has been referred to as the "Latin American John Wesley" for the support he has given to emerging churches. His visits, pastoral care for leaders, and wisdom have been key components in the growth and success of the new churches.

Bishop Gutierrez' diverse faculty brought their own enthusiasm and expertise to the courses they taught. Dr. Wilson Boots, a GBGM missionary to CIEMAL living in Cochabamba, Bolivia, taught "Christian Doctrine from a Wesleyan Perspective" and "Contemporary Theology." Rev. Mario Nicolás, President of the Panama District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA) taught "Bible: The Plan of Salvation." María Dolores Cruz, CIEMAL's liturgy specialist, joined fellow Cuban Professor Rita Oliva, general secretary of CIEMAL, in teaching "Music and Song in Evangelization." They brought out the many talents of students, who played guitars, keyboards, and drums as they worked together on new and creative forms for reaching people in their respective cultures. Bishop Gutierrez gave a class on "Traditional and Modern Evangelization." And Professor Humberto Fuentes, a Methodist minister from Cuba, led the group in "Dynamism in Preaching and Worship." Douglas Ruffle, Executive Secretary for Training and Leadership Development at GBGM, offered a course on "Connectional Evangelization."

Apart from the representatives of new churches, the school also included Methodists from established churches in Panama and Costa Rica. The Reverend Oscar Aguilar, a pastor from Costa Rica, preached on the value and ministry of small-membership churches during the opening worship service. Bishop Pedro Arauz of the host Evangelical Methodist Church of Panama preached at the concluding worship service.

Besides classroom education, there was a lot of extracurricular learning through the relationships formed. The leaders of the emerging churches learned that they are not alone in their endeavors to begin new communities of faith. There are brothers and sisters facing similar joys and struggles and a larger United Methodist structure willing to give support. The ELADE school afforded leaders of each of the newly emerging churches a chance to tell their stories. They mentioned challenges they individually face as they strive to be witnesses to the love and grace of Jesus Christ in their respective countries. They brought their enthusiasm and love of Christ to the classrooms as they discussed together the how and the why of evangelistic ministry.

ELADE participants take a break by the Panama Canal.

The General Board of Global Ministries was a partner in this endeavor, providing financial support to make the ELADE possible and sending an executive from the Evangelization and Church Growth Unit to serve as an instructor.

For more information, read "New Methodist Initiatives in Latin America"

The photographs are courtesy of Douglas Ruffle.

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