While there is a tremendous need for the gospel here in Latin America, and also immense potential, there is a great danger that is threatening the work of the Lord. What is it that motivates us to do more, and even things that we normally wouldn’t do? While there might be different things that motivate us, one of the main things that motivates me is “Urgency”. When something is urgent, we move, we sacrifice, and we get it done. If you saw a young child heading toward a busy street, you

would drop everything you had and run to stop them before it was too late. That same urgency is what motivates me, and I hope it might motivate you to pray for and help get the gospel to Latin America. So, what is the urgency? What is it that should compel us to work harder than ever and with more purpose to accomplish this goal? Now, I don’t want to sound like doom and gloom, and I am no prophet, but I see an enemy that is rising up in Latin America that could very well close the doors to the gospel. After living thirteen years in South America, I can honestly say that it is frightening to see the advances of this enemy and how many, if not most, have no idea what is happening.

The enemy that we are facing is Socialism.

Socialism is Advancing

While Socialism can take many forms, what we are seeing in Latin America is a movement that is gaining ground and affecting, in one way or another, most of the countries here. If I am not mistaken, almost every country in Latin America would either consider themselves some form of socialist or has recently had a socialist leader.
Most of us have heard of what is happening in Venezuela, but other countries like Ecuador, Uruguay, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Mexico, would be considered socialist. Others, like Peru, Chile, and Argentina, have been going back and forth between some form of socialist leader and capitalist leader in the past few years. So, the question might be made again: Why would we consider Socialism such a great enemy of ours in the work of the Lord? While I personally would not agree with socialist policies of government and economy, that is not why I think it is our great enemy. I believe it is our greatest enemy because of the effects that it can have on the gospel and the freedom of churches in these countries.

Socialism is Affecting

While I have not heard personally of any cases where it is illegal to preach the gospel, as in China or Muslim countries, I have seen how it has begun to hinder the churches and make it more difficult in the ministry. The most extreme case would be Venezuela, where almost all, if not all, missionaries were expelled from the country. I cannot speak personally for other countries, but I can speak for what I have seen here in Bolivia. While we have not been hindered directly in our churches or ministries, our government

has been, little by little, passing laws that affect what we do. For example, recently there was a law passed that was directed toward trafficking but mentioned that if anyone was inviting, competing, or transporting people for religious purposes, it could result in three years of jail time. While it was directly related to kidnapping or trafficking, it was not clearly specified that it didn’t include regular religious activity.

Thankfully, they cancelled the law and are rewriting it, but these are little steps that, if they continue, will hinder the work of God. Here in Bolivia, the government is trying to control many aspects of the church, such as asking for financial information, requiring social help activities, and forcing them to pay taxes. Recently, the government has made each mission agency here in Bolivia renew their paperwork, which has to include acceptance of their programs and avoid speech that is against homosexuality, etc.

They must also pay $5,000 each. So, these steps and others are moving closer to the governments’ controlling the churches, and even what they teach and preach. They have also changed the constitution so the president can perpetually run for office with no term limits. These are the same steps that were taken by Venezuela that eventually led to its rejecting missionaries.

So, I share these things, hoping that it might give you a sense of urgency to get the gospel to Latin America before other counties end up like Venezuela and the doors possibly close. I can say with certainty that Socialism in Latin America is not moving backwards, but gaining ground every year that passes. So, What can you do to help get the gospel to Latin America?

Realize the Urgency

I hope that you can see that the time is right and the harvest is ready here. I fear that, if we don’t move soon, it could be too late (or at least much more difficult) to reach Latin America with the gospel. We should imagine the millions of people that are dying and going to hell and ask the question, Who will reach them if we don’t?

Pray for the Many

There are more than 600 million people in Latin America, which is a harvest so great that we will never reach it in our lifetime. Jesus said, when He recognized the harvest, that we should pray for laborers to go into the harvest. Pray for the missionaries that are already working in Latin America, and pray that the doors will stay open in each country where many have not heard.

Go to Reap the Harvest

Not only should you pray for laborers, but you should also consider being a laborer in the harvest. Don’t wait for someone else to go when you can be the one that God uses to reach them. God has called all of us to reach the world, so we only have to consider where He wants us to be involved.

And what better place than Latin America?