ECUADOR — The South American Church of God wants to come to a stop in order to pray, reflect and ask for God’s direction with the concrete objective of visualizing a clear, relevant and high impact missions vision for the next six years.
Under the theme “Together in Spirit and in Truth for a Lasting Change”, the South American Seminary (SEMISUD) in Quito, Ecuador, will gather the national bishops and directors of the Church of God in South America on March 17-20, 2009, as called by their field director, Bishop Dr. David E. Ramírez.
With a strong sense of urgency and with the spirit that now is the time to take action, the Church of God in South America is getting ready to live out one of the most important moments in its history. We are experiencing profound changes, dilemmas and crisis worldwide. A variety of elements and factors of great complexity challenge the very mission of the Church.
The South American Church of God wants to come to a stop in order to pray, reflect and ask for God’s direction with the concrete objective of visualizing a clear, relevant and high impact missions vision for the next six years.
This summit hopes to reach the following specific objectives:
• Analyze, understand and challenge the situation that the Church of God experiences in eight countries of the area (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia).
• Reflect about the current reality they live in and confront those countries.
• Identify the strengths, weaknesses and dilemmas, challenges that they have as churches with the aim of visioning a relevant and impacting mission.
• Deepen the ethical values that encourage the Church of God in its presence and public repercussions.
• Network and strengthen cooperation with the aim of developing a plan of unity and regional integration.
• Evaluate South American action within the global context of the Church of God.
Now is the time when the Lord expects the Church of God to make a change that will profoundly influence the mission and impact level of the Church. This summit of Church of God bishops in South America meets under that inspiration and expectation, making this a summit that decidedly looks toward the future, trusting in the grace of God and the strength of the Spirit.
–David Ramirez, Church of God South America Field Director
