Profile : Chile

Description

History

Conquered by Spain in 1535, Chile pushed for full independence in the 1810s. In 1973 the government was overthrown by a military regime led by Augusto Pinochet, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.
Chile now has a stable government that people trust and a strong economy, especially compared to other South American countries.

Life in Chile

Chile is a warm, family oriented society. Hospitality is important and Chileans love to celebrate.

Chile has one of the highest standards of education in South America.

Church

Chilean culture, heavily influenced by Roman-Catholicism, tends to consider Christians who attend church every week as fanatical and new converts often face this reaction from their families

Most Chileans are Roman Catholics by tradition. The Roman Catholic Church has influenced Chile's conservative society, but secular trends are increasingly evident, with a higher profile on issues such as homosexual rights, divorce and abortion. Many Chileans feel the pressure to work long hours to support their lifestyles.

Chile's Anglican Church (Iglesia Anglicana de Chile) has 50 rural and 50 urban congregations. In 2003 the first Anglican Bible College for training clergy and lay leaders, the Centre for Pastoral Studies, was established in the capital Santiago, under the guidance of Bishop Tito Zavala.

A number of CMS missionaries are supporting the ministry there. The Anglican Church in Chile has asked for missionaries who are able to support the church by teaching at the Centre for Pastoral Studies, being involved in church planting, and in student ministry.

Missionaries

• Bruce and Bron Hallyburton
• Frances Cook
• Lesley Doy
• Michael and Jo Charles
• Stephen and Rebecca Shead
• Tim and Sally Swan

Prayer Points

• Praise God that Chile is now a strong democracy where the gospel can be preached. Pray that economic development would be shared with the poorer segment of the population.

• A change in legislation allows Scripture teaching in public schools. Ask God to provide hundreds of trained teachers to take up these opportunities.

• Pray that more churches would be planted in the unreached middle and upper classes.

• Pray that God will bless the vital contribution of missionaries in maturing the Chilean church, and encouraging Chileans to engage seriously with the Bible.

• Pray for Cesar Guzman and students at the Centre for Pastoral Studies.

• Pray that Chilean Christians will grow in their understanding of the Bible.

Flag

Map

Opportunities

Ministry	Opportunity	Category	Duration
Development and Caring	EFL Teacher - Chile	EFL Teachers	short-term (minimum of 6 months)
Development and Caring	Primary School teacher - Chile	School Teachers	Long term
Leadership Training	Spanish Correspondence Director	Bible and Theology Teachers	long-term
Student Ministry	Student Ministry	Student Ministry	Long term
Student Ministry	Student worker - Chile	Student Ministry	Long term