International Missions Outreach

In the northernmost part of Argentina there is a Province that is not only the gateway to the Amazonian forest, borders Brazil and Paraguay in a Triple Frontier formed by the majestic Iguazu Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. It is called Misiones, deriving its name from the original Catholic missions, which ruins are still standing today. Misiones la hermosa, (Missions, the beautiful) owes this description to the mesmerizing beauty of this densely forested region with fertile deep red soil, multiple rivers and endless plantations of mate herb, world class tea and every imaginable tropical fruits that grow at the reach of one’s hand.

With almost the entirety of its population coming from eastern European countries, the land truly looks like something out of a utopic country. Their immigrants came from many Slavic countries as well as Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain. An amazing melding of cultures, customs and cuisine like nowhere else in the Americas.

Almost exactly one hundred years ago, a small group of German, Russian, Polish and Ukrainian peasants and farmers established their farms and lumber yards in Misiones. They referred to their enclaves as Colonies, and shared their knowledge in their trades, culture and faith in God with the original peoples that came to share in their toils from Brazil and Paraguay, just on the other side of the river.

One of the most iconic churches in the region was funded by a group of ardent Christians came from Ukraine with my own grandparents, and, in its apogee, was responsible for sending their sons and daughters to Buenos Aires theological seminaries to become pastors, teachers and missionaries.

So this is the legacy of the Slavic Baptist Church in Colonia Yapeyu, Misiones, that had its beginnings circa 1925.

And this is the story of a tiny group of Christians in Corona, California, to whom the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ laid out the opportunity to take their hands to the plow and travel to these amazonian latitudes and reopen this temple’s doors to the current people as well as the remanent from the original immigrants.

This historical church in Colonia Yapeyu had closed its doors for over a decade, falling in disrepair and abandon as a result of Argentina’s rampant economic decline, but God allowed his children at Mountain Gate Fellowship Church to witness a wonderful miracle of resurgence, rebuilding and revival! With two representatives from a congregation of about forty five saints, we were able to travel there and be blessed with a glorious opening service that shook everyone to their core.

We hope that you enjoy the picture gallery of our trip, and we pray that you will be moved to assist us with your support and your own prayers on this worthy mission. We also hope that your faith in Christ will move you to participate on our next trip to visit our fraternal mission church in Misiones, Argentina.

We will welcome any donation that could help us meet the basic needs of this beautiful church:

Dental hygiene implements and supplies to restock their free dental clinic

Musical instruments

Christian literature and bibles in Spanish

Pledges of support to meet reoccurring financial needs of widows and orphans