After several trips to proclaim Christ to villagers deep in a jungle called El Impenetrable in northern Argentina’s Chaco Province, the tribal evangelist was the only one who had learned how to get to their hamlet, the leader of his native ministry said.

“He was happy and grateful because he was able to travel again on these difficult paths that only he knows,” the leader said.

Returning to the area this summer to share the gospel and bring discipleship materials to a small church plant, the worker first mounted a motorcycle into a canoe to enter the jungle reserve on the Bermejo River. Negotiating river currents in a motorcycle-bearing canoe was risky, the native ministry leader said.

“We give glory to God for the courage of our brother who keeps going, and nothing stops him.”

After disembarking, the worker knew the path would narrow quickly.

“The road can only be traveled by motorcycle,” the leader said. “There is no possibility that a truck can enter, because it is very narrow and dangerous. We give glory to God for the courage of our brother who keeps going, and nothing stops him.”

For 10 hours the worker made his way through thick foliage amid wild animals to reach the destitute tribal people, he said.

“As the name El Impenetrable indicates, the difficulty of traveling is due to its wild and dense vegetation,” the leader said. “It’s a risk; the abundance of cacti, bushes and animals such as jaguars, pumas and vipers are a threat to those who try to walk through it.”

Native ethnic groups in the area eke out a precarious existence, with food scarce, malnutrition widespread and sanitary conditions poor, he said.

“The needs are extreme in every way,” the leader said. “Our missionary knows every route and how to reach the indigenous people of this place to bring the Good News of the gospel and show the love of Christ to this remote area.”

In the course of six months, Gospel workers led more than 100 people to eternal life in Christ. Local missionaries need donations to undertake such Gospel outreaches and follow up with new believers.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Christian Aid Mission)

With hand-made benches placed beneath trees, the congregation gathered to hear God’s Word.

“They worship Christ regardless of whether the heat or the cold hits them,” the leader said. “Without luxuries or modern constructions, our missionary preached the Word of God. Many people, crying and broken, received Christ in their hearts after the message and evangelistic materials were delivered.”

The Lord delivered the worker from all evil and danger, and he was deeply grateful for the opportunity, the leader said.

“We thank God for his life and ministry, his service to God and his commitment,” he said.

Mission Accomplished

The local missionary, whose name is withheld for security reasons, visited several jungle communities on the trip despite forecasts of rain and harsh heat, the leader said.

“After making a journey of several days preaching the gospel in various places and villages of El Impenetrable, he returned to his home very tired,” he said. “He fulfilled his commitment before God. He is grateful to the Lord for allowing him to travel again and preach the gospel, since in the time of the pandemic it was impossible to leave.”

Tribal people have experienced God’s love in various ways thanks to the ministry, including meeting emergency medical needs, offering basic health care, sending those who need greater care to a city hospital and providing medicines. A local official was grateful for these outreaches and has lent his support, the ministry leader said.

“The hospital authorities and staff, moved and grateful, thanked God for this, since medicines are scarce, and patients otherwise cannot continue their treatments,” he said. “Let us pray to the Lord for new projects and continuity of the good relationship with local authorities, in order to be well received to continue witnessing for Christ.”

Families in Argentina came to know the love of God when workers provided food through “communal pots.”
(Photo, caption courtesy of Christian Aid Mission)

Tribal workers have also reached non-tribal people. A 49-year-old Argentinian of mainly Spanish descent recently approached the tribal missionary in tears, saying he did not know how to get free of depression. The workers spoke to him about the love of Christ, and the man humbly received Him into his heart.

“This testimony is very important, since in the region where our ethnic missionary serves, it is very difficult for a person who is not an aboriginal person to seek advice from an indigenous person and approach him,” the leader said. “The Holy Spirit worked in the life of this man, opening his heart without distinction of race or color. Double miracle – hallelujah!”

Such dedicated local missionaries are working throughout Argentina. Help them bring Christ’s love to the lost.

Header and story images courtesy of Christian Aid Mission.

The Hindu Heartland is a loosely-defined region in North and Central India where varieties of Hindi are widely spoken, either as primary or secondary languages.
(Map, caption courtesy Wikipedia)

India (MNN) — Fears are coming true in the Hindu Heartland of India. Local authorities now have the power to make the rules and say “No” to Christians. Recent Chhattisgarh persecution is making Christians in Odisha nervous, according to contacts with India Partners.

“The State Government of Chhattisgarh must act to protect constitutional rights,” stated the Evangelical Fellowship of India in a press release shared with India Partners. “The decisions of a number of village Panchayats in the Bastar region banning the entry of Christian workers could lead to the large scale persecution of the minority community by aggressive groups.

“The government must reverse the decisions of these Panchayats immediately to restore the confidence of the Christian community in Chhattisgarh, which is under considerable stress in recent days. There seems to be well thought-out pattern and sinister design behind these actions.”

A “panchayat” is a local governing body, explains India Partners’ CEO and President, John Sparks. “The state is trying to give some of the local administrative bodies more [authority],” he states.

“Whoever has the power makes the rules, and that is the fear [of Christian workers].”

According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, more than 50 panchayats have passed laws forbidding “all non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers, and speeches in the villages.”

“In addition to this, there seems to be a social boycott of Christian villagers, some of whom have also been denied basic amenities including rations,” the group adds in its press release.

“If someone comes and tries to share the Gospel, they’ll get beat up and thrown in prison,” says Sparks.

“If they [local leaders] can do this in a few villages, and no one in the state government or central government takes any action, then it empowers the local people [in other states] to say ‘No Christians’ and throw the Christians out of the village.”

Why Hindu nationalist and current Prime Minister Nahendra Modi might not step in.

Odisha state shares a border with Chhattisgarh.

Christian workers in Odisha (formerly Orissa) state have a multitude of ministries that would be directly impacted if this “legal persecution” spread outside Chhattisgarh’s borders. Reaching Hand Society, a ministry helped by India Partners, shares Christ through medical missions in hundreds of tribal villages.

Learn more about their work here.

Please keep this situation in your prayers.

“Pray for peace,” Sparks requests. “Pray for the leaders, that they would allow the Gospel to go forward.”

More stories from India’s Hindu Heartland here.