The journey began in a small room at the Adventist University of São Paulo (UNASP) with a vision to take the gospel of Christ to places where it is rarely if ever, heard. Since then, AFM South America has steadily expanded over the years, and we are approaching our 10th anniversary of bringing together dedicated missionaries to reach some of the world’s most unreached communities. My own missionary experiences in Africa and Eastern Europe as a short-term and career missionary reinforced my belief that God works through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things in cross-cultural settings.
The Call to Go
When we first opened our office, we had only a few resources and a handful of volunteers. Yet our deep conviction to act upon the Great Commission resonated with students and church members, many of whom felt God stirring their hearts toward missions, either by serving in distant lands or supporting the mission through financial gifts. Interest spread and churches from across South America reached out, eager to send missionaries.
My personal journey with AFM showed me just how essential proper preparation is. In Africa, I struggled to navigate unfamiliar dialects and cultural norms. In Eastern Europe, centuries of religious history meant sharing the gospel required patience and sensitivity. Yet, in both places, one truth remained constant—genuine friendships and acts of service often open doors in ways that programs or presentations cannot. I learned that when people trust you, they naturally become curious about what fuels your compassion and resilience.
Therefore, with guidance from the AFM home office, we developed training programs that cover language learning, cultural sensitivity, and health protocols to thoroughly prepare AFM South America missionaries. By the time a missionary boards a plane, they are equipped to adapt to new cultures, form meaningful relationships and remain steadfast in challenging environments as they enter some of the world’s most difficult regions.
Moving Beyond Comfort Zones
Our team of six full-time staff members provides unwavering support to prospective missionaries from the moment they answer their calls until they return home. We handle everything from travel logistics to spiritual mentoring, including document preparation, praying for missionaries, offering a listening ear, and providing hands-on guidance for those adjusting to life in a cross-cultural setting. As missionaries face numerous challenges, from language barriers to homesickness, our team walks alongside them every step of the way.
One powerful lesson we have learned is that small, consistent gestures can have a profound impact. One missionary family started teaching basic literacy to children in a remote village that had long been resistant to outside influence. Over time, their kindness broke down barriers of mistrust, and community members began asking why they had come so far to help. These moments of genuine connection created opportunities to share the message of faith, showing how love and compassion can plant the seeds of spiritual transformation.
This spiritual impact goes both ways. Many returning short-term missionary volunteers share how their experiences deepened their relationship with God and sharpened their empathy. Witnessing both the physical and spiritual needs of others often awakens a profound sense of purpose. As a result, several families have transitioned into full-time missionary service, realizing that their skills and passions can bring hope where it is desperately needed.
Of course, none of this would be possible without a strong support network. Partnering churches across the Americas uplift missionaries through prayer, encouragement and financial contributions. Likewise, believers in the United States generously support our efforts, ensuring that we meet travel, training, stipend, and other project-related costs. This unity across continents demonstrates our shared responsibility to reach those who have yet to hear the message of Christ.
A Glimpse of the Road Ahead
In many places, open evangelism is restricted by legal or cultural barriers. Even so, time and again, we have witnessed how practical initiatives—such as health seminars, language classes and humanitarian relief—help break down skepticism and reveal the love of Christ.
Looking ahead, AFM South America aims to strengthen our training programs, expand pastoral care and eventually establish a permanent facility to meet our growing needs. Our vision is to cultivate an environment where missionaries develop the resilience, humility and cross-cultural understanding necessary for effective ministry. Through online learning and mentorship, we also hope to train those in remote areas of South America who feel a call to serve.
Ultimately, what matters most is the testimony of changed lives. We have seen firsthand that no effort is wasted when done for the glory of God. Across deserts, bustling cities and rural villages, lives are touched, relationships are built, the gospel takes root in places where it was once unknown or unwanted, and people begin a life of faith because a caring stranger walked alongside them. That many of these missionaries are South Americans is a powerful reminder that God calls people from every nation to serve in every nation. Though their backgrounds may differ from those they serve, their commitment to sharing Christ bridges cultural divides.
While we give thanks to God for guiding us thus far, we remain focused on doors still opening in places of spiritual darkness. Every new mission, every new missionary and every new believer is another chapter in God’s unfolding plan. May we all—whether we go or support from afar—remain faithful to the calling until the whole world knows of Christ’s redeeming hope. Each story of connection and transformation reaffirms our purpose—to be vessels of God’s love wherever and however He leads.
