Baptist History in Argentina

<body> <p><strong><em>(This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them. )</em></strong></p>  <h2><a NAME="argentina"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>Argentina</h2> </i> <p>God placed Argentina on the minds and hearts of a small group of courageous Baptist pioneers in the latter nineteenth and early twentieth centuries during a period of racial change and social amalgamation. As a result, Argentine Baptists have a heritage of men and women who "stand tall" in their faith. Struggle for religious liberty characterized this beginning period, and because of early pioneers' faithfulness to this cause, evangelical Christianity today enjoys a great degree of freedom for religious expression. </p> <p> </p> </font> <hr> <h2><a NAME="land"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>Land</h2> </i> <p>Argentina is a big country, the word's eighth largest nation. The country is 2,300 miles long and 980 miles across at its widest point. The climate varies from subtropical to subantarctic.</p> <p>The large River Plate (estuary) with its tributaries flowing from the north gives the country a natural means of transportation and its principal port, Buenos Aires. Geographic, commercial, and cultural motives have historically encouraged monopolistic, centralizing tendencies in the political and economic life of the country, focusing primary attention on the city of Buenos Aires. Those compelling forces have also affected Baptist life and development.</p> <p>Argentina is sparsely populated (approximately 36,000,000), with nearly two-thirds of its citizens concentrated in temperate metropolitan centers. Away from these areas lie fertile plains with abundant grain harvests and cattle ranches.</p> <p> </p> </font> <hr> <h2><a NAME="peopleandreligion"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>People and Religion</h2> </i> <p>The cultural and religious heritage of the people partially explains the absence of formal Baptist witness until the twentieth century. Contrary to the experience of North America, the early Spanish explorers and settlers of Argentina were prompted by the search for riches. The great "inland fresh water sea" was named <i>Río de la Plata</i> (Silver River) with the hope that it would lead to the Peruvian silver mines high in the Andes mountains. (The name "Argentina" comes from the Latin word for silver, <i>argentum</i>.) The early explorers did not plan to remain permanently, nor did they bring their families with them. </p> <p>Political and religious control came from Spain. The Argentine territory soon demonstrated a combination of Spanish and indigenous racial and cultural influences. Horses and cattle introduced by the early explorers flourished on the luxuriant grass of the <i>pampas</i> (prairies, plains), and the "land of silver" became the land of cattle!</p> <p>As the population and permanent settlements increased, Spain attempted to govern Argentina from Peru, seeking to deny a port at Buenos Aires and requiring all international trade to be routed through Lima, Peru. Resentment, open defiance to existing authority, smuggling, bribery, and finally, open conflict became a part of the social structure. The resulting revolution led to formal independence in 1816.</p> <p>Changes in immigration during the second half of the nineteenth century paved the way for Baptist witness. The doors of the country were opened and a flood of European immigrants arrived from Italy and Spain, and to a lesser degree, from Germany, Russia, and other countries. As over against the few wealthy, landed aristocracy of Spanish ancestry and dominant Spanish-Indian mixed population, this new wave of immigrants formed the background for the future middle class of small land owners, shop keepers, artisans, and professional people. The racial composition of the country changed from dominant Spanish-Indian to European. Today, eight of every ten inhabitants are of European descent.</p> <p>Evangelical Protestants arrived among the immigrants, and they longed for worship as they had known it previously. God was already at work preparing Baptists to help alleviate the soul hunger of an innately religious people.</p> <p> </p> </font> <hr> <h2><a NAME="baptistbeginnings"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>Baptist Beginnings</h2> </i> <p>During this period of racial change, Pablo Besson, a well-trained Swiss Baptist pastor, arrived in Argentina in 1881 at the invitation of a small French Baptist immigrant agricultural colony. A competent linguist and an ardent Baptist whose convictions came from study of the Scriptures, he soon moved to Buenos Aires. There he organized the first Argentine Baptist church to witness in Spanish. This was a radical break with tradition, as Evangelical churches until then were available only for a few foreign language groups. Besson entered into the struggle for religious liberty (worship, civil marriage, official burial for non-Catholics, education, etc.), and his fluent pen and keen mind soon found echo in the liberal spirit of the new Argentina.</p> <p>From North America came another pioneer: Sidney Sowell arrived in 1903 as the first Southern Baptist representative. He joined Besson and God blessed their efforts. By then Besson had organized three independent Baptist churches. These humble beginnings had been well grounded through personal convictions, commitment, and sound Biblical scholarship. Geographical, sociological, and historical threads intertwined and Baptist churches found their footing.</p> <p> </p> </font> <hr> <h2><a NAME="otherinfluences"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>Other Religious Influences</h2> </i> <p>Other evangelical forces also entered Argentina during this period. Towards the end of the nineteenth century organized Methodist witness was begun in Spanish. More recently Plymouth Brethren, Lutherans, and Pentecostal groups have swelled the ranks of those proclaiming God's truth in Spanish. The Bible, first sold and distributed through Bible societies, today is printed locally and rates as a best seller.</p> <p>Although the country is officially Roman Catholic, the number of those faithful in religious observances is nominal. Conservative elements have opposed any but the officially established church; however, as in political life, a more liberal attitude prevails and religious freedom (with some restraints) is a cherished tradition. An outsider could call this tolerant spirit one of "benevolent indifference." At the same time, reforms instituted in Roman Catholicism have brought about a genuine spirit of "renewal" in some circles with an emphasis on the centrality of Christ and biblical revelation.</p> <p> </p> </font> <hr> <h2><a NAME="baptiststoday"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>Baptists in Argentina Today</h2> </i> <p>From small beginnings, Baptist witness began to move more rapidly. In 1909, six years after Sowell's arrival, the <i>Convención Evangélica Bautista</i> was organized. Today there are more than 450 churches and more than 400 preaching points affiliated with the Convention. From the two God-called men<strong> </strong>and their families, Baptist witness has grown until today more than 560 Argentine pastors and 72 International Mission Board representatives serve the "land of silver." Yearly baptisms recently passed the 5,000 mark, and church membership exceeds 67,000.</p> <p>From the beginning the Convention has been mission-minded. During the early years financial and personnel resources were sent to Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Presently, Argentine Baptists have home missionaries serving in many localities, and transcultural missionaries working in five countries around the world.</p> <p>Sunday School is an effective tool in local churches, having an enrollment of more than 41,000. The Women's Missionary Convention is an active force with more than 17,000 members: here missionary concern is matched by evangelistic fervor. </p> <p>Fellowship plays a vital role in church life in a secular society that makes great demands on the faith and vitality of new converts and young churches. There is a concern for outreach through mass media. Radio and television programs are produced through the Convention's Media Department for use, not only in Argentina<strong>, </strong>but also in other Latin American countries.</p> <p>Baptists care! The Argentine Baptist Convention is assisted by several international Baptist mission agencies in ministering to specific human needs. Baptist churches sponsor children's homes and retirement homes. They cooperate with Southern Baptists through the International Mission Board in major disaster relief. Local churches have at least sixty community centers that reach more than 7,200 persons each year. Many churches sponsor kindergartens<strong> </strong>and others operate elementary schools with more than 5,600 pupils enrolled.</p> <p>Theological training occupies an important place in Baptist strategy. The International Baptist Theological Seminary in Buenos Aires, established with the assistance from Southern Baptists has a current enrollment of 260 students. The library contains more than 41,000 volumes. Seminary extension centers and Bible Institutes scattered over the country offer supplementary training to 1,500 Baptist leaders.</p> <p>Many young people are concerned for effective witness on both an individual and collective basis. With dynamic faith they move into society convinced that true freedom is found only in Christ.</p> <p> </p> </font> <hr> <h2><a NAME="challenge"></a><img SRC="../images/arglogo.gif" WIDTH="63" HEIGHT="49"><font FACE="Arial"><i>The Challenge for Argentine Baptists</h2> </i> <p>Argentina faces many problems in today's world: unemployment, sociological change, and the influx of varied ideologies. Strained economic structures are sorely taxed. Immigrants from surrounding countries seeking relief from their own troubled lands have filled large areas around major cities with substandard (<i>villas de emergencia</i>). The Buenos Aires metropolitan area has grown to a population of ver 12,000.000. The shift from rural areas to urban centers is even more evident in other cities such as Córdoba, Mendoza, and Rosario, with consequent social problems. Notable national progress has been made in many areas; however, the future task is staggering, and includes an overwhelming need for a moral and spiritual awakening.</p> <p>God's message of redemption for the total man has relevance as never before. To this cause the Baptist Mission in Argentina is dedicated and, alongside capable national leadership, is cooperating in building a new Argentina for today and tomorrow. Although the growth of the Convention and its Cooperative Program of financial support has been steady, Argentine Baptists are not yet able to undertake alone the full responsibility of sharing Christ with their nation. There is a continued need for missionaries willing to cooperate with their Argentine brothers in this challenging task.</p> <p>With prayer and dedication, Southern Baptists join hands with Argentine Baptists and, in a supportive role, share the message of salvation in the "land of silver." Pray that many in Argentina may find the wealth of God in Christ!</p> <hr> <p><i><a NAME="credits"></a><small><font>This has been adapted from material written by Dr. Jack Glaze, former President of the International Baptist Theological Seminary, Buenos Aires.</font></small> </i></p> <p> </p> </font>  <p align="center"><img src="../images/HH01518A.gif" width="54" height="31" alt="HH01518A.gif (838 bytes)"> <a href="mailto:webmaster@imb-argentina.org.ar">ArgentinaOffice (at) samregion.com</a><br> <font color="#000000">rev. 21 Feb 2002</font> </body>