One Latin America Team – Fall 2024 Quarterly Update

A snapshot of blessings during the past quarter:

1.  Annual meeting and new ten-year target
From October 11-14, 2024, the One Latin America team held its annual meeting at Divine Savior Academy in Doral, Fla. The meeting centered on establishing a ten-year target, a three-year picture, and one-year goals. At this meeting, the One Latin America Team set this new ten-year target:

• 10,000 have finished at least one Discipleship Level course
• 1,000 church plants (Grupos Sembrador) started
• 100 church plants (Grupos Sembrador) have become congregations of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional

2. Baptisms in Argentina
Luis Bello and his wife, Karina, from Baradero, Argentina, joined the Lutheran faith through Academia Cristo. They began hosting a small group in their home, gathering 15-25 people regularly. One evening, after a lesson on Jesus’ baptism, a young couple asked if their daughters could be baptized, inspiring six others to request baptism as well. Over the next two weeks, Luis and another leader, Jorge, baptized a total of ten people, including adults and children.

3. Church planting in Ecuador
Henry Isidrio, a church planter from Guayaquil, Ecuador, continues leading three groups through a Bible information course to prepare members for confirmation in the Lutheran faith.

4. Church planting course implementation
The instruction team is leading the writing and implementation of new courses for the Church Planting Level of courses, This advanced level, following the Discipleship Level, is for students in doctrinal agreement who have committed to starting or supporting new groups.

5. Discipleship Level capstone course
Twenty students successfully gathered groups and taught them a brief course on sin, grace, faith, and works. This was the final project for the Discipleship Level capstone course that wrapped up in early Sept. Several of these students are in doctrinal agreement and will continue their studies in the Church Planting Level of courses. Another session of the capstone course started on Sept. 30, 2024.

Fast Facts

• 1.75 million average weekly social media reach
• 25,800 total cumulative students have enrolled in online Self-Study Level of courses
• 3,791 students have finished the Self-Study Level of courses
• 542 total cumulative students have enrolled in the online self-study level in the U.S.
• 1,132 students have completed one Discipleship Level live course
• 105 students have completed the Discipleship Level (13 live courses)
• 45 students have completed the Church Planting Level (ten live courses)
• 35 active church plants (Grupos Sembrador)