Latin America: From Mission Field to Mission Force

Allan Matamoros traces Latin America’s transformation from a mission field to a mission force, highlighting the region’s unique contributions to global missions. With the evangelical population growing to 27%, Latin America has emerged as a significant player in sending missionaries. Matamoros reflects on the 1987 São Paulo Congress, where 3,000 Latinos united under the theme ‘From a mission field to a mission force’. He emphasizes the integral mission model, where the gospel is incarnated in various cultures, and Latin missionaries resonate with local communities through shared experiences of imbalance and suffering. Despite challenges like sustainable support systems and the need for updated training, Latin American missionaries are welcomed in diverse regions. Matamoros calls for increased prayer, church involvement, and support for doubling the number of workers in unreached areas and diaspora communities. Looking to the future, he urges the Latin American church to invest in the next generation of young leaders who will carry the missional mandate forward.

Talk Outline

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
01:28 Historical Context of Latin American Missions
03:40 The Rise of the Latin American Missions Movement
06:42 Cultural Connections and Challenges
08:27 Current Obstacles and Future Aspirations
09:09 Call to Prayer and New Generations

This recording is from the Fourth Lausanne Congress, held in Incheon, South Korea in September 2024. This gathering brought together global church leaders to collaborate on mission strategies for advancing the gospel. Through plenary sessions, table group discussions, and collaborative workshops, the Congress focused on addressing critical gaps in global mission today.

Speaker's Bio

Allan Matamoros

As Fields Director of COMIBAM and chairman of Vision 5:9, Allan Matamoros serves the unreached in Latin America and the Muslim World.