Europe as seen from Latin America

The Macedonian Cry is ringing in our ears… again!

If you recall from Acts 16, during his second missionary journey, Paul was visiting the churches planted by he and Barnabas during their first journey. During that time, they realized that those churches were strong in their faith, so they decided it was time to continue advancing into new areas and territories to expand the light of the Gospel.  The neighbouring territories of Phrygia, Galatia and Bithynia looked like the natural places to go, so Paul started moving but, as we read in the Bible, the Holy Spirit forbid them to speak in Asia and to go into Bithynia.  So Paul came to the edge of Asia and waited...

During the night, he had a vision, and he saw a Macedonian man urging him: “Come over to Macedonia and help us..” What a cry Paul heard in Acts 16. It was a loud cry, an urgency call to those missionaries to raise their eyes and see the needs in Europe, and to decide to do something about it. 

Almost 2000 years later, we can see again the same urgency to go and preach the Gospel and to plant churches in Europe.  Europe is moving very rapidly toward a spiritual bankruptcy.  Looking back once again in history: the result of the time, that Paul spent in Europe in response to this Macedonian Cry, caused the gospel to start spreading all over Europe.

We the Latin Americans believe that the last four decades of the gospel in Latin America might contribute to igniting the passion and to sharing hope for the church in Europe.  The reality of the church in Latin America has been transformed in less than 40 years, the church has been growing to become a vital and vibrant church and a growing number of missionaries have been sent out to everywhere.  Latin Americans are beginning to join hands with Europeans to see churches in Europe recovering the passion for the gospel and for global missions

Latin America and Europe have been linked for more than four centuries.  Since Columbus sailed for first time our lands both continents have been on a journey together.   Conquest and colonization left deep marks on our history, our culture and our blood.  Famine, war and intolerance in Europe led to the establishment of many European communities in our lands.  The descendants of these colonists are ours now, and part of our history and heritage.

For many Latin Americans, Europe is an obligatory destiny.  Some have tried to return to their roots.  Others want to discover places with which we share a history in common.  Now many go in search of promises of a better life and to escape difficult economic struggles in Latin America.

A growing number of Latin Americans are migrating to Europe, A one-way ticket and a lot of dreams in their backpack leaves a family, a history, and a country behind.  Seeking promises that they hope to fulfill they take with them the church and their Christian faith ready to be put to use whenever the opportunity presents itself in Europe

For some Latin American Christians, Europe is the new Dark Continent.  The place that took the gospel to our lands now needs missionaries!  Where once missionaries were sent to plant the church in many places of Latin America, the church is now declining very fast.  We suffer when we see that those who shared the knowledge of God with us have now forgotten that they forgot God!

For so many years we were hearing and almost believing that the church in Europe is about to die. Now we are learning that the church in Europe is only sleeping and that the Lord is about to awaken it.  And, in Latin America there is a growing interest and passion to send missionaries to Europe and to intentionally prepare those who are migrating to Europe to become unintentional missionaries.

The Macedonian Cry is still ringing in our ears. We are in pain looking at the urgently need of Europe to experience the power and the hope of the Gospel. We are committing ourselves to be part of the answer.   We are praying that the Lord will allow us the privilege to be there when He awakens the church.

David Ruiz

David Ruiz is Vice-President of Global Ministries for Camino Global (formerly CAM International) and as part of the leadership team of the WEA Mission Commission is responsible for developing movements of national missionaries in Central and Eastern Europe