Chile Report
by Brian Larsen SOC Director
We had the privilege of being with Pastor Edwards Villena in Santiago, Chile from June 10 through June 13. Pr. Villena who was a student and later an assistant in the School of Christ that was once in Chile. He has since then taken the materials that was left with him by the director and is using it in Night Schools and has made it an actual part of a local seminary.
Our first night there, we had the opportunity to visit with twelve students in the School of Christ that has been taking place in the Assembly of God Church in downtown Santiago. The students included Pastors and also sons and daughters of Pastors, which have all been affected by the messages of the School. After a prayer meeting of about 20 minutes, I was asked to preach a message as a "final thought" as they had already finished all the lessons by video.
During the 35 minutes of the message, it was evident that the brothers were listening and soaking in every word. Some began to cry as God shed His presence in aspecial way in the small classroom where classes had been held as well as the graduation. We then spent some more time in fervent prayer as God moved. It is worth noting that this particular group of students spent almost two years to complete the School as they had to interrupt classes because of the earthquake in the first part of 2010. The next night we were able to participate and share in the graduation service.
On Sunday we had the opportunity to be in service with the brothers of the church that was founded by Pastor Edwards. There too, I was also asked to preach the Word; brothers and sisters responded and came to the altar, where they spent time being broken and ministered to by the presence of God.
We had a similar experience in the service at a church located 60 km. south of Santiago, in the town of Melipilla. It is a local Church of God that has also taken the School of Christ and is using it within the Church. The Pastor of the Church, Pastor Pedro Jelves, presented the brothers and sisters that would be participating in the next class of the School of Christ. During the preaching of the Word it was evident that the brothers heard and received everything that was said. That was also shown at the altar where some remained on their knees being touched by the Holy Spirit.
After the wonderful service, we spent time fellowshipping with brothers and the Pastor and his wife who shared with wonderful testimonies. For example the wonderful experience of three months in the School of Christ of which he and participated in 1999 when Pr. Clendennen personally taught. He also told how he had great difficulty in presenting the school to other ministers in his city, and how the School of Christ is the doctrinal basis for the church planted five years ago. Pastor Pedro's wife who attended the school right after him stated that when she attended the School of Christ she felt that the teachings were not of this world but of another world and how true that is.
Pastor Edwards Villena has been promoting and establishing schools throughout Chile and part of western Argentina. Now he has been living for less than a year in the city of Iquique in the northern part of Chile. He went to establish a church there and to take the School of Christ to several cities in southern Peru and Bolivia. The testimonies of brothers and ministers who have gone through the school in recent years speak of lives changed and a message that they are still living. Churches are expecting revival to come through prayer, fasting and knowledge of the Word of God. With the help of selfless voluntary churches and brothers that have given, Pr. Villena has been able to continue with this task.
He has even had the opportunity to take the messages of the School of Christ to Pastors in the Chilean Patagonia who are living in cold isolated areas where they do not receive visits or help from other ministries. To them, this message is encouraging and strengthening. Among those brothers that help Pr. Villena with the work of the School of Christ is Pastor Francisco, who accompanied us on most of our visit, and whom Pastor Edwards named his School of Christ assistant.
I counted this trip as a blessing and privilege to see the fruits that have come as a result of the School of Christ having made its way to Chile over twelve years ago. We will continue to pray for Pr. Villena and the work that continues there throughout that country as God gives us the opportunity to invest in the building of His kingdom in these last days. We ask your prayers also for the students that are giving themselves in preparation to become the ministers that God has called them to be. What a wonderful opportunity to see the work in action. Truly the vision that God had placed on Bro. Clendennen's heart for the natives to continue touching their nation is what I witnessed on my visit to Chile. May God continue to bless them for their all they are giving and doing for the Glory of God.
Yours in Christ,
Brian W. Larsen
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