PRAY
Latin America
Please pray for the nations in Latin America where Missio Global is active. The vast majority of the nations speak Spanish or Portuguese.
They are located below the United States on the continents of North America and South America.
ARGENTINA
COUNTRY PROFILE
Argentina, the second-largest country in South America, has a population of about 46 million people and a GDP of approximately $650 billion, making it one of the largest economies in Latin America. Its territory comprises much of the "cone" of lower South America. Buenos Aires, the nation’s capital and largest city, is a leading cultural and economic hub often described as the “Paris of South America.” Argentina’s economy has long been based on agriculture and livestock, with exports of beef, soybeans, and wine. However, the country is also known for recurring cycles of economic crisis, hyperinflation, and heavy debt.
Spanish colonization began in the 16th century, with Buenos Aires founded in 1580. The struggle for independence culminated in 1816, when Argentina formally declared itself free from Spain. The 19th century was marked by civil wars, power struggles between centralists and federalists, and conflicts with neighboring countries. By the early 20th century, Argentina was one of the world’s richest nations, fueled by agricultural exports, but political instability gradually eroded this prosperity.
The 20th century was characterized by alternating periods of democracy and military rule. Most notable was the military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, which launched the “Dirty War,” a campaign of state terrorism against political dissidents that left tens of thousands dead or missing. The return to democracy in 1983 restored civil liberties, but the nation has continued to grapple with corruption, populism, and economic instability.
Religiously, Argentina has been historically Roman Catholic. Although the constitution supports religious freedom, Catholicism retains cultural dominance. Today, about 70% of the population still identifies as Catholic. Tamanha é a tradição católica na Argentina, que inclusive foi o primeiro país da América a eleger um papa, a saber, Jorge Bergoglio, o papa Francisco. Contudo, essa influência vem caindo, uma vez que em 1900 os católicos representavam 97%, mas agora 78%, em 2020. Meanwhile, the percentage of evangelicals in the 1900 's that was 0% is now 20%. Most of the evangelicals identify themselves as pentecostal or charismatic. It’s also interesting to note that Argentina has the largest Jewish population in Latin America, and consequently has the largest Messianic Jewish Community in the region.
MISSIO GLOBAL ACTIVITIES
Information here.........................
PRAISE REPORT
Os resquícios do avivamento de discipulado Argentino dos anos 1980 ainda são vistos até hoje, através de diversos ministérios. O movimento produziu centenas ou milhares de evangelistas, mestres, missionários e líderes. Agradeça a Deus por essa colheita maravilhosa que Ele promoveu.
PRAYER NEEDS
> A Argentina continua sendo o maior devedor do FMI, acumulando bilhões de dólares em compromissos financeiros. Como consequência, o país enfrenta taxas de inflação persistentemente altas, que afetam diretamente a estabilidade econômica e social da nação. Ore para que Deus traga renovação e esperança às finanças e ao futuro do povo argentino.
> A sociedade argentina é considerada uma das mais liberais da América Latina, marcada por visões sociais progressistas. Um exemplo disso foi a legalização do aborto em 2020. Ore para que, em meio a esse contexto, o padrão moral de Deus seja revelado por meio da fiel pregação do evangelho no país.
> Graças à universalidade do ensino superior público, a Argentina apresenta uma das maiores taxas de estudantes universitários da região. Além disso, milhares de estudantes internacionais escolhem o país para sua formação acadêmica. Ore para que novos ministérios universitários se levantem e alcancem essa geração com o evangelho.
> Ainda há remanescentes indígenas não alcançados na Argentina, especialmente na região do Chaco. Ao mesmo tempo, existe também uma igreja indígena atuante nessa área. Ore para que os cristãos indígenas amadureçam na fé e para que a Igreja argentina reconheça a importância de investir no discipulado desses povos.
> Um número crescente de judeus argentinos têm reconhecido Jesus como o verdadeiro Messias de Israel. Ore para que, assim como em Efésios 2, haja engajamento e unidade entre judeus e cristãos na Argentina, testemunhando juntos a reconciliação em Cristo.
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BRAZIL
COUNTRY PROFILE
Brazil covers almost half of the land surface of South America. It borders all other countries and territories in South America except Ecuador and Chile, and its Atlantic coastline is 4,655 miles long. It is the fifth largest country in the world in land mass, and the seventh largest in population, with almost 216 million people. Brazil has vast natural resources, a huge labor force, and a stable economy. Its national language is Portuguese. Brazil is a melting pot of nations, with much intermarriage and blending of the many immigrant ethnicities. Most Brazilians have at least some mixed ethnic heritage.
Brazil is a federal republic, with three branches of government: executive (with a president); legislative (with a house and senate); and judicial (with a supreme court and lower courts). It is divided into 26 states and one federal district, which contains the capital city of Brasilia. Other major well-known cities are São Paulo (metro population of 21 million) and Rio de Janeiro (metro population of 13 million). There are thirteen additional cities with a metro area population that exceeds 2 million.
There has been a strong anti-corruption stance in the government, but since the last presidential election in 2022 corruption seems to have increased. State ownership of large parts of the economy often fuel corruption by politicians. The current President, Lula da Silva, served 8 years as president from 2003-2011. In 2017 was found guilty of money laundering and corruption. In 2021 his conviction was annulled on the grounds that he did not receive a fair trial. He ran for President again in 2022, and was elected amidst accusations of fraud. Many journalists since his election have had their passports revoked and their bank accounts frozen. Former President Bolsonaro (who lost to President Lula) also had his passport revoked. Inflation has skyrocketed and there is a push to make abortion legal in the country.
Brazil has freedom of religion and separation of church and state. While it is considered the largest Catholic country in the world, a significant percentage of the people adhere to a spiritist underlying worldview that is often mixed into their practice of Catholicism. The Catholic church has gone from 95% of the population in 1950 to 64.6% in 2022. 70% of ex-Catholics are now evangelicals, whose adherents have grown from 2.9% of the population in 1960 to 26.6% in 2020.
MISSIO GLOBAL ACTIVITIES
> The first Missio Global School of Ministry outside the United States was in the city of Garanhuns in northeastern Brazil. Scott and Sherri Dalton started the School in 2013 in a church they attended when they were missionaries there. The first graduation of the three-year diploma was in 2015.
> Missio Global is established as a legal non-profit organization in Brazil with our Latin American Regional Co-Director, Nicolle da Silva, serving as the President.
> In mid-2025, Missio Global had 28 Schools of Ministry.
PRAISE REPORT
> The evangelical church has continued to grow, making Brazil one of the largest evangelical populations in the world.
> The Brazilian missionary movement has grown and matured and Brazil is now ranked second (behind the United States) in the largest number of missionaries sent by any nation.
> Prayer movements and meetings are a strength of the Brazilian church. Large gatherings, women’s networks, youth movements, and events like the March for Jesus all bring masses together to pray and celebrate Jesus. These gatherings also build unity in the Brazilian church. Praise God for Brazilian prayer warriors!
> Missio Global continues to partner with more churches who have a vision to train leaders and plant churches.
PRAYER NEEDS
1. The nation and government:
> Corruption and cronyism is still a problem. Pray that there would be greater accountability and economic transparency at all levels of government, and justice for those who engage in the corruption.
> Poverty – a large portion of those who live in large cities live in crime-ridden shanty-towns (called favelas) where education and health care need improvement. Street children and indigenous peoples often suffer discrimination and exploitation. Pray that the church would reach out to these populations with the love of Jesus, help pull them out of poverty, and offer help with their many needs.
> Crime – In 2015, Brazil had the world’s second highest rate of firearm homicides (despite it being illegal for citizens to own guns) and the second highest consumption of illicit drugs in the world. Police are often corrupt and the prisons are overcrowded and violent. Pray that God and His church would break the stronghold of violence over this nation. Pray that the church would minister to the prisoners and the needs of their families.
> Racial differences – while blacks/morenos make up about 40% of the population, they make up the largest majority of Brazil’s poor and only 3% are college graduates. Pray that as people are reached with the love of Jesus, these inequalities would be overcome.
2. Religion:
> One-third or more Brazilians regularly visit spiritist priests or guides. The ecstatic experiences and emotional mysticism appeal to the Brazilian mindset. Pray that spiritual falsehoods would be exposed, God would deliver those in spiritual bondage, and Christ would be exalted.
> Pray for emphasis on spiritual growth rather than numerical growth in the churches. Faith is often based on emotion, legalism, and personality of the leader. As a result, there are many immature believers and much spiritual error, church hopping without commitment, and backsliding.
> Pray for a right balance between the expectation of blessing and daily sanctification. Prosperity theology has those on top enjoying celebrity status and lavish lifestyles, several of which have resulted in financial scandals.
> Pray for biblical leadership models of sacrifice and service, humility and faithfulness, instead of high profile leaders known more for their wealth, power, and celebrity status.
> Pray for effective training (like Missio Global). Rapid growth, especially among Pentecostals, has resulted in a shortage of trained leaders.
> Pray for unity in the body of Christ.
> Pray that more missionaries would be sent from Brazil. Mission agencies have requested more Brazilians for two reasons: their darker skin allows them to blend in with many of the world’s population (like Arab nations), and they have little political “baggage” like Americans may have.
> Pray for recruitment, support (financial, emotional and spiritual), and effective training and preparation for long-term survival and fruitfulness in the field for missionaries.
> Pray that sending churches would increase their long-term commitment to pray, send, and support missionaries.
3. Missio Global:
> Pray for Pastors Fred and Nicolle da Silva, our Regional Directors for Latin America that they would have sufficient finances, safe travel as they visit Schools, and wisdom to strategically increase the number of Schools.
> Pray that churches would make it a priority to disciple new believers and bring to maturity older believers using Missio Global discipleship materials.
> Pray for the spiritual and numerical growth of the churches currently using Missio Global discipleship tools and training curriculum, and that more churches would use Missio Global resources.
> Pray that the students receiving leadership training would become spiritually mature and more active in their church and other ministries.
> Pray that 1 out of 10 three-year School of Ministry graduates would plant a church.
> Pray for Nicolle da Silva, Missio Global's Brazilian board president, that she would have wisdom to lead Missio Global Brasil to greater growth and financial health.
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FAQS
How many people are being impacted by Missio Global?
At the last count, there were 61 church-based Schools of Ministry in 13 nations with nearly 1,100 students. These students have reached over 400 people with the Good News of the Kingdom in just this year through their project assignments. Also, 29 new churches have been planted by Missio Global School of Ministry graduates. Plus, several churches are using only our discipleship materials. So more disciples are being made through those churches as well.
Can I host a School of Ministry in my church?
Absolutely yes, even in the United States! Many churches choose to first implement our discipleship material before they launch a School of Ministry. Please contact us and we will connect you with the Missio Global representative in your region so you can learn more. Missio Global is here to partner with you!
What is the best way I can partner with Missio Global to empower more churches around the world to bring transformation to their communities and nation?
There are three main ways you can take action -- Pray, Give, Go:
PRAY - There are a couple very practical ways that you can pray for the growing impact of Missio Global.
GIVE - We have some key ongoing special projects to which you can contribute, especially Translations of material and Church Planting. We also always need ongoing financial partners to help us establish more Schools of Ministry in more nations to reach more people.
GO - We want to help you go and make disciples right where you are. But if you are truly adventurous, talk to us about going on an international trip with us.
