This month, I've been reflecting on our history as an organisation. Latin Link was created in the early nineties with a very modern and flexible structure to respond to the needs in Latin America. That´s something that attracted me to it. For me personally, when I arrived in Guatemala (now 15 years ago), our team here had been established only a few years previously, so it has felt like we are in the early stages of making relationships with churches and projects that we work alongside, and are little known outside of that.
But when Latin Link was created in the nineties, it was the amalgamation of 2 (or more?) organisations who I think had a 100+ years of history working with the church in Latin America (in particular in the Andean region, southern cone and Brazil).
This month, there have been 2 events that have reminded me of that historical link - and the huge impact it has had and continues to have. At the beginning of the month in Argentina the Red de Misiones Mundiales (World Missions Network) celebrated their 40 year anniversary. Members of Latin Link there were able to attend and celebrate with them. They testify to a mutual relationship between mission agency and the Argentine church, in particular as the church has grown in their involvement in world missions, which has blessed them all.
Last week, I was in Brazil, and was so encouraged by the Brazilian Missions Congress and the vibrancy of the worship and commitment to follow God's heart in reaching all the peoples of the world. I was introduced to a number of people representing ministries or denominations which Latin Link has worked with over decades. Some I met, mentioned the teaching or the writing of some of our retired members being influential in their development and growth. And some even traced the faith expressed in their family in their early years, from a grandparent who was converted through interactions and friendships with a missionary from the past. Many of the Brazilian leaders I met, were fruit of the efforts of previous generations of European missionaries, but were also sewing new seeds and encouraging new fruit in our members as they each use the gifts for the growth of the Kingdom. I came away with a sense of a very symbiotic relationship, in which all benefit from the close connection and interdependency.
It was wonderful to see and hear those stories and to be a part of it in the role I play in the organisation today. It´s humbling, but at the same time uplifting to really recognise that I am part of a body - part of a greater community and church, which all works together for God´s glory to be known on the earth.
