Story number 2 for 12 Mar 2001

(Chile)–Next, a Chilean court says former dictator Augusto Pinochet should stand trial, not for allegedly planning killings and kidnappings that brought him to power, but for covering up his deeds. The sense of absented justice has been a sore spot for many Chilean residents, a fact not missed by missionaries in the area. Youth With A Mission’s Ricardo Rodriguez. “In one sense, the situation with Pinochet affects, indirectly, the church. In the country, there is division because of this [justice] matter. In the past, the evangelical church didn’t know many of the things that were happening in Chile. And some of them were supporting Pinochet’s government.” Rodriguez says that has changed since the sedition charges came to light. Oddly, at the same time, another change was taking place in the church there. “The new thing is that Chile and other countries in South America are beginning to be open for missions; that’s a very important change in the last year.” Rodriguez and his family are staying at D&D Missionary Homes in Florida while on furlough.