Project ID: CL0001-65301

LCMS involvement in Chile began in the 1960s in the port city of Valparaiso. Since the late 1990s, LCMS Disaster Response efforts have helped extend the reach of the Gospel. The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile has ten congregations in Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Talca and Constitución. 

The pastors who serve the Chilean church are stretched very thin. For example, Venezuelan Pastor Obed Coronado, serves as chaplain for the students who attend the Lutheran school in Valparaiso, and also serves as Pastor of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Valparaiso. Newly ordained Pastor Marcelo Rivas Flies, a 2023 graduate of Concordia the Reformer Seminary, serves as chaplain for the Lutheran school in Viña del Mar, and also pastors a congregation. Between the two Lutheran schools, over 900 children are reached with the Gospel each day.

Intentional outreach to the local communities has borne much fruit. For example, in Valparaiso, Talca and Santiago, church members came together during lockdowns to pool their meager resources and serve their communities with physical food as well as spiritual food. That effort continues to produce fruit, years later.

The Chilean church is seeing rapid growth. With that growth comes the challenge of identifying and nurturing future pastors. A new Chilean pastor from Venezuela was ordained in May. He is currently serving in the Dominican Republic while working through the arduous process of moving to Chile with his family. Many more pastors are needed. We pray the Lord will bless His Church with workers for the ripe harvest fields.

Chile Mission

Checks should be made out to Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or LCMS Memo Line: CL0001-65301
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Mission Advancement
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-6861
FORO Contact: james.sharp@lcms.org

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