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Mission Statement: Team Argentina exists to strategically advance the building of Christ's church, with His passion and for His glory, in vital partnership with local churches in Argentina and students from MBBC.
2008 Summer Argentina Trip
History: This is Maranatha's first trip to Argentina. The trip was initiated by a group of students who desired to minister in a South American country for a summer team. God opened doors and hearts and the decision was made to work with missionary Ron Self in the city of Buenos Aires.
Read Ron Self's prayer and praise letter about the trip
We enjoyed our final week with the group from Maranatha Baptist Bible College. It was another very busy week, and one that was greatly blessed of God. The team helped our missionary colleagues James and Amy Greenwood to take the first steps toward establishing a church in the town of Pilar which is a part of greater Buenos Aires. The team passed out 4,000 tracts and flyers in Pilar, did several musical presentations in the central plaza and then presented a concert for 24 first-time visitors who attended at a rented facility near the plaza. Two of those in attendance made professions of faith! On Thursday the team was allowed to present a concert in a local school. In addition to the musical presentation, four evangelistic testimonies were given, clearly presenting the gospel to the students, teachers and parents in attendance. Later on Thursday, the team passed out thousands of tracts and flyers, this time in the community of Escobar. This effort was concluded with a concert in the Municipal Cultural Center. There were 25-30 first-time visitors at this event!
The team`s ministry was concluded with a painting-project at our church in Don Torcuato, and a great youth rally with our young people and the Maranatha Team together. On Saturday, after a wonderful 2-hour testimony time together with the team and missionaries, the team headed to the airport to return to the U.S. I believe that in three weeks the Maranatha team gave 24 full concerts, passed out about 15,000 tracts and flyers, held multiple Basketball Clinics and sessions of "English as a Second Language" and was greatly used in many different communities and churches in Buenos Aires and Uruguay. There were over 30 professions of faith, and many others who expressed some interest in hearing more!
Thank you for your prayers during these three weeks. Please pray for us as we follow-up on the people that made professions of faith, and on the many contacts that were made during these days. Pray for the team members as they return to the U.S. to their summer activities and then another year of college for most of them, and for those who recently graduated, to take the next steps in their ministry for the Lord. Pray for many of the team who are strongly considering the possibility that God would call them into full-time ministry, possibly even in Argentina!
Core Values
Local Church Focus: The focus of Team Argentina is joining God in actively, passionately, creatively and strategically building His church throughout Buenos Aires. - College Team Dynamic: The framework of an autonomous college team provides excellent benefits for the personal experience of the participants, enhances the preparation process, and perpetuates a missional vision on campus.
- Excellence in Preparation: Each student going on the trip will be prepared to interact with a foreign culture for the sake of the gospel. Students will demonstrate excellence of character and conduct.
- Interdependence: The work of Christ in building His church demands mutual partnerships among fellow believers who are committed to faithful obedience to the Word of God. Thus we will seek to minister with and to nationals.
- Leadership Development and Vision: The mission experience provides an opportunity for students to personally develop as leaders and to capture a vision for the world beyond.
Vital Statistics
Ministry Tasks: The primary task will be to assist the local pastors in whatever type of ministry they believe will be most effective for them. The focus will be on working with people, not buildings or work projects. The goal will be to learn to build redemptive relationships with the lost and edifying the local believers.- Students’ Qualifications: Students must be willing to participate in all levels of team building through second semester. This will include learning some Spanish, prayer meetings, cross-cultural education, and fund raising.
- Supervision: Each college team will have a faculty or staff member who will provide direct supervision.
- Timeframe (approximate): May 2-24
- Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is a beautiful, eclectic city of 13 million in northeast Argentina.
- Room and Board: All American students will be hosted by the Ron Self family. Appropriate arrangements for sleeping and eating will be made. Specific information will be available as the number and make-up of the team is established.
- Weekly Schedule: The team will work consistently through the week in ministry outreaches. Appropriate time will be given for seeing the sites in the city and country.
- Transportation: The team will fly over to Argentina together, so no one has to go alone.
- Costs: Individual costs are approximately $1,800.00. This includes airfare, travel documents, in-service time, international health insurance and all other team expenses.
- Fundraising: Each college team will work together in raising funds via sending out support letters and other avenues that the school chooses. It is recommended that each team member send out a number of personal support letters to friends and family.
- Safety: Argentina is a very safe country. The area in which the team stays is well supervised. The larger city area is safe to travel around. Terrorism is not a threat in Argentina. The State Department and Center for Disease Control list recommended and required vaccines for each country. At this time there are no required vaccines. If necessary, there are multiple hospitals in Buenos Aires that can treat minor injuries.
- Team Preparation: All participants will be trained in three areas: cross-cultural communication and sensitivity, Spanish, and presentation of the gospel in a Catholic context.
- Contact Information: For more information you may contact the team director, Mr. Brian Trainer at btrainer@mbbc.edu.
Thank you for praying for us during this week. We enjoyed our final week with the group from Maranatha Baptist Bible College. It was another very busy week, and one that was greatly blessed of God. The team helped our missionary colleagues James and Amy Greenwood to take the first steps toward establishing a church in the town of Pilar which is a part of greater Buenos Aires. The team passed out 4,000 tracts and flyers in Pilar, did several musical presentations in the central plaza and then presented a concert for 24 first-time visitors who attended at a rented facility near the plaza. Two of those in attendance made professions of faith! On Thursday the team was allowed to present a concert in a local school. In addition to the musical presentation, four evangelistic testimonies were given, clearly presenting the gospel to the students, teachers and parents in attendance. Later on Thursday, the team passed out thousands of tracts and flyers, this time in the community of Escobar. This effort was concluded with a concert in the Municipal Cultural Center. There were 25-30 first-time visitors at this event!
The team`s ministry was concluded with a painting-project at our church in Don Torcuato, and a great youth rally with our young people and the Maranatha Team together. On Saturday, after a wonderful 2-hour testimony time together with the team and missionaries, the team headed to the airport to return to the U.S. I believe that in three weeks the Maranatha team gave 24 full concerts, passed out about 15,000 tracts and flyers, held multiple Basketball Clinics and sessions of "English as a Second Language" and was greatly used in many different communities and churches in Buenos Aires and Uruguay. There were over 30 professions of faith, and many others who expressed some interest in hearing more!
Thank you for yoru prayers during these three weeks. Please pray for us as we follow-up on the people that made professions of faith, and on the many contacts that were made during these days. Pray for the team members as they return to the U.S. to their summer activities and then another year of college for most of them, and for those who recently graduated, to take the next steps in their ministry for the Lord. Pray for many of the team who are strongly considering the possibility that God would call them into full-time ministry, possibly even in Argentina!
To God be the Glory,
Ron & Chris