.

TfVR HORIZONS 736 6/1/78

TITLE:

KKHKK CHILE
PHILLIPS REPORT

"The church In El Montijo is on t^e

move!" report Woody and Nelda Philllpg,
missioners in Santiago, Chile, in their
i

March newsletter.

"Anticipation mixed

with problems best describes the new|

church at El Montijoj where I have worked

since its beginning last May.

|
"The group has grown from nothing|to
a group of 20 to 25,and we're looking
for property where we can construct A
building. Baptized Chilean adults niw

number 14, witlj^hree more baptisms sit

for Saturday. Members are growing ii
the Lord, and the presence of Christ'is
I

known to the church. This year promises

to be a good one for the congregation,

and the plans made will produce continued

results.

We believe we'll have a fiim

I

group of at least 50 by year's end. '

"All of this is not without problems,

however. Marriages are damaged by yiars
I

of poor communication, previous marital

relationships, and lack of commitment,

and my marriage counseling skills art
I

being put to the test weekly. Cultutal

tradition and social norms clash witt
I

the ethic of Jesus, and the adjustments

are not made overnight.

'

Type within the lines. If short, lengthen the next line that number of char
acters. If long, shorten the next line that number of characters.
Do not
hyphenate words on this copy sheet.

page_L

.TOR HORIZONS 736 6/1/78

PAGE.

TITLE: CHILE

"But the stronger of the two

I 1

characteristics is not the problems,

because they have solutions through ^d*s

/apK

.Mii-

power. |It-is the joyful anticipation

and present satisfaction that the church
is operating in the Spirit's power and
the Father's timing."

dHao
//OTicc

CCIZ.I )\J(h

Type within the lines. If short, lengthen the next line that number of char

acters. If long, shorten the next line that number of characters.

hyphenate words on this copy sheet.

Do not

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Non-profit Qrg

2555 Meridian Avenue

U.S. POSTAGE

San Jose, Ca. 95124

--PAID-San Jose, CA

CHILEAN CHALLENGE

PerniLt No. 999

Woody & Nelda Phillips

H02*l30ns EdltOi'ial

Missionaries to Chile

0v

X77

IN

46049

Field Address:

Casilla 21119
Correo 21

Santiago, Chile
Forwarding Agents:

Bryce & Jo Jessup

6188 Lean Avenue

San Jose, Ca. 95123

March 6, 1978

Update

Newsletter #9

Anticipation mixed with problems best describes the new church

at El Montijo where I have worked since its beginning last May. The
group has grown from nothing to a group of 20-25, and we*re looking
for property where we can construct a building. Baptized Chilean
adults now number fourteen, with three more baptisms set for Saturday.
Members are growing in the Lord, and the presence of Christ is known
to the church. This year promises to be a good one for the congre
gation, and the plans made will produce continued results. We believe
we'll have a firm group of at least fifty by year's end. All of this
is not without problems, however. Marriages are damaged by years of
poor communication, previous marital relationships and lack of com
mitment, and my marriage counseling skills are being put to the test

weekly (you should try counseling

people

in another languageJ)-

Cultural tradition and social norms clash with the ethic of Jesus,
and the adjustments are not made overnight." But^tTTe stronger of^tHe
two characteristics is not the problems, because they have solutions
through God's power. It is the joyful anticipation and present satis
faction that the church is operating in the Spirit's power and the
Father's timing, and that His will is for each believer to reach out
and touch others with His love.

A building will help us by giving a sense of permanence to the

church. The midweek meetings in two locations feed the people from
the Word.

A ladies' class and children's classes (for 60!) fill in

some gaps in the total church ministry. Evangelistic teaching and

pastoral calling continue to bring in new people and encourage them
in the faith. A couples class will bring needed stability and lost
communication into several tired marriages. The prayer time before
church invites God's power and helps us praise Him, as well as ask
His special blessing on the important preaching and worship time on

Sundays.

And, the weekly planning meeting for the leaders will keep

us coordinated and sensitive to needs, and well as allow special time

to further train the leaders.

It makes a full week, but there is a

real joy in working for Christ with firm plans and a sense of direc
tion. The church in El Montijo is on the move!

Christmas visitors
My parents and fellow-ministers in Christ, WOODROW AND MARJ
PHILLIPS, arrived for a three-week visit in mid-December. After lots

of catch-up talk and news-sharing, we took off for a five-day vacation

in the beautiful South of Chile--the region of lakes and rivers and
waterfalls and volcanic mountains blanketed with last winter's snow.

It was really gorgeous, especially in Villarrica.

Rising sharply

from the clear blue lake the volcano towers over the southern shore

with an incredible beauty. The wisp of smoke still giving evidence

to smoldering lava below contrasts with the snow covering the top
(over)

half of the mountain and the bright blue heaven above.

God's match

less artistry speaks to me of His interest in the affairs of men.

And His attention to detail reminds me of the close relationship I

can have with Him through Jesus.

We enjoyed the visit immensely, and their enthusiasm and rich

ministry was shared with the rest of the team in a week-long retreat
at the camp. Our blessing was doubled there as we also enjoyed the
lives and experiences of DON AND ELSIE DEWELT (Chris' parents). All
of them shared in the Biblical and
everyone went away fed.

ractical input given us, and

My Dad has never been wild aboiit children ("I like them better
when I can talk sensibly with them."'), but you should have seen him
gooing and clucking over his brand-new granddaughter, Sara. She won
his heart (and of course, Grandma's too;, and they both confessed to
tears on the plane trip taking them from Santiago. It was a good
visit in every way.

The middle of January brought u]s CRAIG AND SHIRLEY WOOLSEY,

future Chilean missionaries presentl|y ministering in Eldon, Missouri

They brought two of their four children for a survey trip and we
invited them to stay with us for half the time (twenty days in all).
Not only did they get to see the wof< and affirm their plans to come.

but we had such a good visit with thlem in our home. One weekend
Craig and I took a trip to San Carlos, five hours south, where I
preached and he sang.

They loved hi.s music, even though it was in

English, and he sang ten times throu ghout the three days! I preached
six times and about used up my file of sermons in Spanish. The
fchurch there is so alive and growing and we were greatly encouraged
and blessed.

Family
Sara celebrated her three-month birthday recently by turning
over between giggles--from front to Dack. Her proud parents are

happy to announce that she is more beautiful every day. The doctor
told us in December that she was awfully puny and that he wanted her
on a formula.

We balked, and he all 3wed another month to fatten her

Well, it worked with more frequent feedings, and she
considerably. We plan to surprise the doctor this week.

up naturally.

hds grown

Jeremy has been the proud and protective big brother, and^has

quickly developed a special relatioriship with his baby sister.

Today is his first day in his new scihool. The Grange, and Nelda has
prepared his clothes so he'll be all set. We snapped a photo of
him just before he left in his mandatory uniform of grey shorts,
white shirt and tie, blue knee socks

blazer with the school emblem on th3 ^

we can hardly believe he's entering I kinder today, but after prekinder last year, he's ready for thiis big step. The school is a

good one--a mixture of Spanish and English--and we are happy that

he was accepted. Now we only hope hej accepts the school, but with
his native adaptability, there should be few problems,
left him today he didn't even look back.

"Disneyland South" is the name ;given in the ads to Santiago's

expensive rides and lots of popcorn,j but didn't quite measure up t
own Fantasilandia". This new amusement park features about eight

the advertisements. Nevertheless, Jf^iremy enjoyed on"r visit last

^aturda^

now^wants n:o go every day. His favorite was the bumper

cars which he drove alone while we cheered him on from the sidelines.
His numerous crashes almost knocked Ijiim
I
out of the car, but he held
on while we and he laughed ourselves silly.

We'll have to go back.

Economics
Support has been good the past everal months, and we give thanks
The 1977 financial report is ready
and is sent to our supporting churche s. If you'd like a copy, it's
available on request. Just drop a n:c>>te to Jo Jessup, our faithful
(and, thankfully, accurate) financial agent. And write us when you can
to you and praise to the Father.

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Non-profit Qrg.
U.S. POSTAGE

2555 Meridian Avenue

--PAID--

San Jose, Ca. 95124

San Jose, CA
Permit No. 999

CHILEAN CHALLENGE

lyVoody & ^da^Phi/iips^

Mtssi^aries to Chile

Field Address:

Eo:ir'iOil

CasU/a2iii9

Office

Bo:: 5.77

Corrao 21

COTi ^

Santiago, Chile
Forwarding Agents:
Bryce & Jo Jessup
6188 Lean Avenue

San Jose, Ca. 95123

TTPriAT'Tr

May 23, 1978

Newsletter #10

The church in El Montijo is in a holding pattern now as we

look for property. The government owns the entire neighborhood,
so we have applied to receive a lot on which we can construct

an adequate building. Red tape surrounds our request, and cut

ting it may take several more weeks. In the meantime we continue
to meet in a home with the 20-25 people we have, but we're not

able to grow. So we're working in a nearby area, making con

tact in the neighborhood market for teaching in homes.

The

Bible Study Course is offered, and graduates are approached

for further teaching.

More than sixty have enrolled, and some

are now starting to finish the seven-lesson course.

If all

works out as planned, we'll have two groups instead of one by

year's end.

We've had six baptisms in the last couple of months, with

three or four more lined up. One or two will be baptized this
week, ^r^Qther whenahe_gelLsher mind fully set^^ and theother

when he gets out of jail. (Some people resist the Lord until
something serious happens, and this is the case with Mario.

We were teaching him, he was thinking, was arrested for some

previously-committed misdeed, and gave his life to Christ behind
bars.)

I m turning most of the responsibility of the church over

to Juan, the Chilean leader with whom we began the group, and he

is fully capable of continuing. I will more and more be turning

my efforts to team administration, publications, family seminars,

and visiting and supporting the different congregations. In
this way my ministry will be expanding, and I think I'll be
more effective. Of course I'll continue strong contact with
the El Montijo church through Juan, and visit often. But it's
time they began to make it on their own.

JUST LATELY
Jim and L5mn Adams and I sang for a weekend meeting at the
San Juaquin (Santiago) church May 12-14.

The church had bor

rowed a club in the neighborhood for the meetings since their

building is small. God blessed with twelve conversions, and

the church is continuing rejoicing. I heard they were really

jamming the people in now--and they had just enlarged the place

where they meet!

The next weekend I visited a meeting at
a brand-new church in Recoleta (also Santiago). Manuel Nunez
began the church there about April 1, and had baptized 31 people
before this weekend. They alsp rented a neighborhood sports
club for the three nights, and Attracted hundreds each night

with Christian films, lively singing and good preaching. I

went on Saturday, and after a short greeting to the large
crowd, retreated to the back to watch.

A short but pointed

sermon brought more than twenty adults to the front to accept

Christ.

Altogether the three nights saw 33 come to know the

Lord. Followup calls and teachi.ng will precede baptism of most

of them in the next two or thrde weeks. This church is looking
for property also
This morning I met with several of the
Chilean pastors and two of the missionaries to discuss the work.

One Chilean pastor told story after story of people who have
come to Christ in recent weeks.

He added, "Now is the time of

harvest, brothers!" He should know. He baptized 19 last month,

and started a new daughter church. We began adding up baptisms
and conversions and came up wit
:h at least 100-120 baptisms in
April and May, plus another 80 or so pending. And these represent only the churches here in

^antiago.

One pastor remarked

that three years ago, all the churches in Santiago didn't have
120 menbers!.....One way we try to help the churches is to buy
property for constructing building. This is usually out of their
reach, but with the lots, they can usually go ahead and handle
the construction. (Lots are $1C 00-1500.) We made this need

known to some in the U.S. and w^ere recently blessed with gifts
of several thousand dollars to help buy more lots.

Praise the

Lord! We're now looking into the best way to spend it, and have
eight locations in mind where buildings are needed yesterday!

FAMILY
Sara is now half a year ol^ and has finally started on food,
Mother's milk brought her to thi rteen pounds, but she's ready
for a supplement now. Her actijv e intelligence is readily seen
in the way she shakes her rattlte up and down, and she has deve-

loped a system of letting us kn^w when she's ready to eat (loud

and persistent crying).

Two tiny teeth have appeared in her

lower gum--further evidence of advanced cranial development.

At least we're convinced.

Jeremy is enjoying school and is learning, At a parentteacher night last week, one of his three teachers told us that
he does his work and follows instructions well. He is highly
social, and too much talking dur ing story-time has gotten him
into trouble occasionally. His teacher added that he speaks

and understands English and Spanish equally, and is at home in

either. (Nobody says that about his parents!) Much of Jeremy's

class is in English, and he gets a little bored sometimes wait

ing for his Chilean classmates to get it. We saw his art work,
and are ^ure we have a budding Rembrandt on our hands. He says
"hi" to all^his Stateside friends.

We won't leave for furlough until December, but our minds

often wander to what awaits us in the U.S.--family and friends.

McDonalds, people interested in and praying for the work, Dr

Pepper, our home churches. All Things Wise and Wonderful, the
Rose Bowl, shopping centers where the clerks speak a recognizable
language, and on and on.

three-month visit.

We'll be glad to be back for the

In the meantime, keep us informed by letter

so we won't be too far out of touch (the chronic fear of the

missionary).

Please accept our thanks fop your solid financial support

and faithful prayers.

We need bioth to continue in Chile.

June 271, 1978

Mr Woody Phillips

Ch&lean Challenge

Ooppeo 21

Ca^lla 21119

Santiago# Chile

-/
j
an

Dear Woody#

Thank you for the very Informative letter and material on your
work# organizational structure and economic program for mlssloners*
Bncloaed Is the material you requested* It may he helpful hut
It seems to me you have done your homework In the program you
have set In motion.

I think It Is one Z could live with If Z

were to he a mlssloner on the team.

X*ll he glad to consider yoiuc* article for puhllcatlon on the

roll of missionaries. So send It when you have It ready.
You are hlessed Indeed to have a good financial hase for yoxsr

work. Z really feel for those mlssloners ^o have difficulties

In getting support. They are so deserving hut may not have the
right contacts or personality to appeal to churches and
Individuals.

Zt*a not so much that the mlssloner needs help

In seeking support hut the church needs help In evaluating

and sending support. They want to he responslhle contrlhutors
hut don't know how to go ahout It. So much hinges on financial
reports. That shouldn't he neglected hut churches also need to
evaluate caiaaes they give to from a time report and Involved
skills report. If they could come to understand how a mlssloner
udes his time and how he Implements his talents Into the work
and difficulties he encounters In the cmltural situation# they
could hotter know how to support and how much. The 30th parallel
seems to he the dividing line between reeeptlve and resistive
mission fields. Or it seems educational and economical aggreslve*
ness and retardation make the difference In receptivity.

Kuch could he said ahout these things hut In search of aneers

we keep praying for you and others serving In forlegn areas.
Hay God he glorified In your life and In your work.
Sincerely#

Blohard Xi. Bourne

CHILEAN CHALLENGE

iVoody & Nelda Phillips

Missionaries to Chile

Field Address:
Casilla 21119

Forwarding Agents:
Bryce & Jo Jessup

Correo 21
Santiago. Chile

6188 Lean A venue

San Jose, Ca. 95123

June 16, 1978

Richard L. Bourne, Editor

Horizons Magazine
Box 177

Kempton, IN 46049
Dear Brother Bourne,

We were pleased and interested in what you said concerning mis

sionary salaries in your editorial of March 15, 1979. As a team
we have recently struggled with this issue and came up with our
policy concerning LATM salaries. I am including a copy so you
can see what conclusions we came up with.

Our salary policy is

provisional, and comes up for review in October, so we would

appreciate seeing the plan you have. We would also be interested
in the ORC cost of living statistical information.

We were aware

of it through talking with other evangelical missionaries here in

Chile, but did not have access to it. I think it would help a
lot in making adjustments needed. The only comment we received
about it was that it was not always up-to-date on every country.

Argentina, for instance, was rated 20-25% higher than D.C., while
Chile was rated around 90-95%. This does not appear accurate to
some people. However, you have to consider that D.C. is a pretty
expensive place to live, and few missionaries come from there.
Most of us come from areas where costs are considerably lower.

So, if a person reads the stats to say that the missionary salary
should be 90% of what he would receive in the U.S., this is

inaccurate.

Receiving 90% of the cost of living scale in D.C.

is another story, and would represent a big difference.

But, in

spite of possible confusion, this information would be helpful

to many people, and we encourage you to make it available to your
readers.

Boy, Gorden Patten's article in that issue was a zinger!

So much

of what he said is accurate and needed to be said, but it repre

sents only his view as a missionary in the Orient. It appears that

it has always been difficult to raise funds for that area of the
world. I would guess that the slowness of the work discourages
possible supporters, and they would prefer to put their money
where things are moving a bit faster. I have to disagree with his
statement, "It is next to impossible to get money onto the mission
field." I believe that is his experience, but not a generality
for every field. In Chile, for example, our support has always
been good, and sometimes outstanding. Our ten team members average

about $1875 per month each in total income (figures compiles in

March covering the previous year or so). And, when we have a

page two

special need and let it be know, the response has been terrific. ,
For example, Just in my case, I asked for help in paper purchase
for our El Encuentro Bible Course last Fall, and received over $1600.
In March, I needed to make a trip to Costa Rica. I asked one of
our supporting churches in the States if they could help, and they
sent a check for the entire amount of $850. That same church last

year responded to two other requests of $1000 each, in addition to

a very generous monthly check. More recently, we have needed to
purchase property for several new growing churches, and we sent
letters to various churches about it. Within a month, I had

received gifts of $2000 from a church and $4000 from an individual.

I hear the pain Gorden is expressing, but cannot report that his
experience is also ours. I surely do appreciate his courage and
"guts" in writing the article for publication, and I hope it will
cause some churches to re-evaluate their use of money. He is so
right in saying that many churches are incredibly selfish. But
there are also many who are not.

Richard, I am not writing any of this for publication in the maga

zine- -Just for you. I am interested, however, in submitting an
article before long on the role of the missionary for your consi
deration. And, we are going to try and keep Horizons better informed
on our work here. One step is seeing that you get our quarterly
LATM newsletter--the first one included here, and the next one to

go out right away.

We're sending the copy to be printed today.

By the way, LATM (Latin American Team Ministries) is the name we

have chosen for the team. We have kind of unique set-up, in which
we retain the direct-support idea and the sending elders, but add
the benefits of additional advice and more careful organization.
I'll also include a paper I Just finished describing this in detail.
Again, this is not for anyone but you, as we want to be careful in
how we move on this. We're not interested in fighting with anyone,
and we know that some may be opposed to some of our plans.
I'd appreciate hearing from you if you get any time, and knowing
some of your observations on what I've said. But, don't feel
obligated, except to send the salary plan.
Best wishes to you. We appreciate receiving the magazine and your
fine work in putting it out. It takes so long to get a good LATM
newsletter together, I can't imagine producing 24 issues a year!
Yours in Christ,

Woody Phillips

(writing as a representative of LATM in requesting

the salary plan, but individually in the rest.)

LATIN AMERICAN TEAM MINISTRIES

THE WORKING STRUCTURE

BRIEF HISTORY

When Ed Holt arrived in Chile in 1970i he brought with him the

dream of a team ministry. He began work on a correspondence course

and was joined by Mike Sheffield in 1971. The conrse was completed
and first offered in early 1972, and the response was good.

Jeff
Myers, who had worked in Northern Chile since 1969, began talking
and praying with Ed and Mike, and in early 1973 joined them in the
nation's capital of Santiago. The course had taken off, with over

7000 .Iitollcd in I II.' I'i isi V".ir, .inO thcrr. were over 2 5,000 .students

bv 1976.

A l.irc.c ol l icc^ Oui ldinr, w.i.s piiich.iscd joinl ly, liuusmt', .i

full ijriiit, .shop iind piovidinr, work sp.icc for the mi ssi onari o.s and
several secrctari os. More help was needed, .and six new couples
arrived to ioi n Uk; work in 1976. By tli.it l ime cl.a.ssos were boiipj
taujdit in homes, and there were scores of conversions. Die ground

work for several churches was laid, .and some existing cliurches wet e

The challenge to work in Chile was answered by six more couples,

who arrived in 1977. By then the team concept was becoming a reality,
as larger numbers called for greater coordination of the work, in
mid-1978, LATM numbers ten missionary units, with five more making

final preparations for joining the work in 1^8-79.

phrist

There was, from tlie beginning, a desire to reach Chile for Christ.
But along with that was a frustration in working alone. Hence the
original Holt/Myers/Shelfield union was made so that work was not
duolicated, finances could be pooled for common projects and joint

goals and plans could be laid and carried out. The addition of new

units to this original team brought with it the promise of more

rapid expansion and a greater specialization.
DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS

Along with the growth of the team came some inevitable problems,
aie, the inexperience of the new units and several Personal and
linguistic problems slowed the work considerably in 1975-76. Holts
and Myers found themselves temporarily alone with the

half of 1976, as for various reasons, people returned to the btates.

The new wave of recruits arrived in 1977, swelling the team to its
nresent number.

New help was certainly needed, but Lnexperi.ence

was ag^in a problem. Two, definition of team goals and role identi
fication had not been made carefully, and each unit worked somewhat
separately from the others.

The cooperation consisted in

fmding vLious projects (purchase of the office building, the course,

office staff salaries, campground, etc.) and the newly-formed

TrilninR Institute.

Three, a system of recruiting and preparing

potential missionaries had not been set up, and the problem of unpre
pared workers coning to the field needed a solution. I'Otjr, tlie goals

and future plans for the Chilean ministry were vagiae, and specific
clarification needed to be made. Five, a system of responsibility and
accountability for team members had not been developed, and this too
called for correction.

page two

ADVANTAGES OF TEAM MINISTRY

The idea of working together was fairly entrenched, and the

advanla/^es wore becoiiii n/', clear. As l.AFM sees i i: now, there ai (j

several distinct advantages to team mi iii .slry, and I hoy arc l)a;:('d in
the belief that Christ's church functions best when each member

is using his God-given abilities to contribute to the good oi all.

A team effort allows each member to celebrate and utilize his own

giftedness, thus freeing and encouraging others to do the same in a

coordinated endeavor.. Work efficiency is increased as duplication
is avoided through clear communication and an organized work plan.
In Chile, missionaries have shared voluntarily in joint projects,
but the team has been careful to preserve the independence ol each
member. Each individual raises and administers his own funds. Heis selected and responds to his own sponsoring church. He decides
and directs his own area ol service, carelully l/aLmioiii/u iig In s el I m is

with team goals and national strategy. He participates fully

decisions and policy, thus helping to frame the overall goals and

methods the team employs. Through working together the team promotes

a more unified national work. Missionary families enjoy rich intrateam fellowship. Working closely with one another points
portance of accountability for use of time and finances. This promotes
needed responsibility and avoids the possibility of,misuse of funds.
Sharing is the greatest advantage--sharing ideas, materials mid books.
Sharing problems and frustrations. Sharing dreams, plans and goals.
RECENT TEAM DEVELOPMENT

By 1977 theChil pan-mission a

-wereeenviiiued

the

team ministrj^L,b^ife^Jaad also become aware of the need for further clari
fication and development of the team idea. Out of regular weekly
meetings and much additional discussion came the development of se-

virai deftnitTve steps: a) Guidelines for new recruits was drawn

up to supplement a booklet prepared rn 1-975. Care was taken to

encourage only prepared workers to come, and to grve specific written
assistance to the sponsoring church as to their responsibility in
selecting and preparing their candidate. A questionaire was developed
Ind testing and counseling was required, thus helping potential
m^ssiSnarils to better assess their ability to serve cross-culturally
and to further prepare them for the field. Language training in Costa
i?ca was m^e a^requirement for coming, b) Team goals were written
up, and coordination in their fulfilment began to be more specifi .

Each unit geared his work into overall team goals, and each made his
contribution to the team's general direction for the year, c) The
missionary units on the field covenanted to continue as a team, and to
set up procedure for arriving at policy decisions affecting the over
all work. To date, policy has been set concerning purchase of church
property, missionary salaries, team goals and the monthly filing o
work and financial reports, d) Most importantly, and on a subjective
level, team unity was becoming a reality for everyone. Diversity
was apparent in abilities, ideas and personalities, but unity grew

in strength each month. A stronger spiritual base was built through

the team meetings and several retreats; close friendships were being

formed; working through some tough problems brought a closeness to

the relationships; problems were solved instead of avoided; planning
for the future committed the team to each other and to the plans
laid jointly.

page three

LATM STATESIDE

In 1978 the development of the team idea contiiined with the

decision to produce a LATM newsletter quarterly, and the desire to
aLLrauL supporl for I.ATM apart from wl iar each i eaiii iiieiii])er reeeived

through his own supporters. LATIN AMERICAN TEAM MiNlSlKlES (LAIM)

was adopted as the team name, and its use has increased in all cora-

cunications and promotional materials. By midyear the decision was

reached to Incorporate LATM in the U.S. and to select an Advisory
Committee. This decision paralleled the DeWelt's announcement that

they were returning to the States in September, 1978, to work with

College Press in Joplin, Missouri. Chris* desire to continue to
help in LATM brought about the arrangement that he would help as
Stateside Coordinator--a link LATM needed in Che States.

HOW LATM WORKS

In order to fully understand LATM, one must see the relal.i onship
beCween the sponsoring diurcii , the Learn on tlie Meld, the Advisory
Committee and the Stateside Coordinator.

AiH)NSO||
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Cl/URCIIE
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M1M

TEAM ON THE FIELD

ADVISORY
COMMITTEE

STATESIDE
COORDINATOR

Essentially, the relationship btsOiis with Lire sponsoidn;' church

whose elders approve and send out tiie missionary. They receive

reports on his work and progress, and retain lull authority over him
The team on the field makes plans and carries out the work, but has

all policy decisions ratified by the sponsoring churches. The Ad

visory Committee looks out for the team--giving advice, worning and
support from their wisdom and experience. Ihey Iiave no authority
over individual missionaries, but recommend, approve, amend and

strengthen LATM's plans and directions. The Stateside Coordinator

is the team's financial agent in l!u^ U.S. and chief proiiioi or of the
work.

More specifically, each body is defined as follows:

1.

Tlie Spoiisori ng Churcli

LATM's understanding of Biblical

missions centers on the relati tMiship between the missionary and his

sponsoring church.

It is the responsibility of the sending body of

page four

elders to know the candidate well enough to fully endorse him, and to
take financial and moral responsibility for him on the field. They
also serve as spiritual overseers for tlie mi ssi oiiary--gi vi ng advice,
< 'V.il I Mi i I I I', l lie work he does, iv-eei v i ii/*. rr'pori .s, and rf^laininr. at ilho-

rity over him. The candidate is exi)ected to maintain close Lies

with the church and report fully on his work to them. His accounta
bility to these elders takes precedence over his relationship to LATM,
and they are fully informed of team directions, plans and activities.
Furthermore, LATM policy must be ratified by each member's sponsoring
church before it becomes official. - In this way, the spiritual and
supervisory relationship between church and missionary is maintained

and encouraged.

(See supplement on "Guidelines for sponsoring church

es" for further detail.)

2. The team on the field. The hub of the ministry naturally
centers in the field. There LATM members together work out long and

short-range goals, methods for reaching them, and policy which affects
the overall work.

Coordination comes through weekly meetings and

periodic evaluation of progress and direction. Each team member is

expected to keep his sponsoring church fully informed, and their
approval and ratification of policy decisions is required. Because
of distance and impracticability, LATM does not expect that churches
will want to be involved in details of the work, or to approve in

advance the plans being made and executed. (Occasional visits to the
field are encouraged, however.) The sponsoring church watches the work
carefully, to be sure, anfl intervenc's wlum necessary. They do not
take part in day-to-day operations, but their' approval is imperative
to conti niii ng.

LATM believes that each team

member should be both responsible

and accountable for what he does and how he uses his mission funds..

They

recognize that U.S. churches are not geographically in a posi

tion to do this, so LATM has developed a system of self-regulation.

Team members must complete monthly reports of expenditures and these

are checked against bank statements and receipts before being placed
on open file with the team's bookkeeper. Also required is a monthly
work report which includes time expenditure, plans for the next
month, goals reached and self-evaluation. These are discussed with
another team member in detail, and also

inquiry is made into family

life, spiritual health. Stateside communication and use of work time.

These reports are also kept on open file. In addition to these re
ports, the weekly team meetings and other informal gatherings serve
to encourage each member to work responsibly and with an eye on the
overall goals of LATM.
3. LATM Advisory Committee. While the sponsoring church looks
out for'their individual missionary, the LATM Advisory Committee
looks out for the team as a whole. The sponsoring church has authority
over an individual, but the team is not her domain--except insofar as
it touches that particular missionary. The church can certainly
inhibit and even stop team policy and direction by restricting the
missionary under her autliority, but it is unreasonable to expect the
sponsoring churches to govern and evaluate the team as a whole. No
sponsoring church knows each team member, and none accepted the res

ponsibility of watching out for the overall work in Chile.

page five

The Advisory Committee, then, is the body which considers the

overall work of LATM.

They are kept fully informed of'all~activity,

plans, projects, directions and use of funds of LATM on the field,

and are fxpoctod to give inpur to the team. The Advisory Committee,

has the responsibi li ty to evaluate; |)ast and presenl leaiii pi op.rarss;

to advise as to changes needed ^ind trends noted; to evaluate propo
sals in the making; to give insight from their knowledge of missions
theory, church growth ideas and common sense; to warn of possible
danger; to support and encourage the team in their work in Latin
America; to assist in Stateside communication in ways that time

permit. The Committee meets annually with the Stateside Coordinator

and any missionaries on furlough. In this meeting, the members
would receive a report of the previous year's progress and the goals
and plans for the coming year. Their input would be extremely valua
ble as knowledgeable and objective outsiders looking out for the
interest of LATM's impact in Latin America.
Their actual authority over the team is minimal, and consists

only in the form of advice, evaluation and warning. For them to have
authority over LATM would usurp that of the sponsoring cliurclies, and
would confuso the lines of accoiinrabi 1i I y.

Their advice and lielp

will doubtless be heeded and is essential to the balance and ovei^all

direction of LATM, but they have a supporting role rather than a

directing one.
4.

LATM Stateside Coordinator.

Chris DeWelt will fill this role

initially, and serves as an important link between the team and the
U.S.

He is communications and financial agent for LATM, which includes

receiving and recording, funds Toi' LATM and lieading, i ij) Stalesidc pul)-

lic relations. In the latter role Chris will print and distribute
the quarterly newsletters, promote LATM in churches and conventions,
and field Stateside inquiries about the team. In addition he will

help to screen and prepare applicants, and serve as convener of the

Advisary Committee.

The relationship, then, is seen as a circle of mutual responsi

bility, with team members coming into the action and maintaining
approval from the sponsoring church.

LATM

SPONSORING

CHURCHES
iNOiVi QVMt-

It is a system with checks and balances, and one which tries to

maintain the best of "Direct-Support Missions" while incorporating
the advantages of team cooperation and outside evaluation. It is an
eclectic method of doing mission work--taking the advantages of the

synergistic process and balancing it with individual responsibility.

It is system which is still in a trial period, and which will doubt
less be modified.

But it seems to meet the need, and the work is

growing in unity and harmony because of it.

page two

6,

New arrivals should take an establishment fund of $1000 for

compensation of extraordinary differences in prices of household

items, (Refrigerators;, stoves^ and all'appliances are/much more
expensive in Chile than in the U.S.)
The new missionaries may
choose to use this to pay shipping and customs on these items sent
from the States^ if desired. This amount would only be repaid to
"works funds" if the family chose to return to the U.S. before
serving three years.

Those items which should be paid from the missionaries^ "work funds"
(as opposed to his personal salary) include the following;

1. Full payment of flight fares^ shipping of work and personal

items and any customs charges which may be acrued on said items.
The mission "work funds" should take responsability for all these

items but any customs paid by the mission on personal items should
be repaid if said items are sold within Chile,

2. Any and all transportation is paid for out of mission "work

funds".

This includes the purchase of a vehicle, maintenence, gas,

insurance, etc.
The only exception is when the vehicle is used for
a personal pleasure trip, in which case gas and tolls are paid for

by'the user.

Also included in transportation are trips within the

country, travel while on furlough, which includes meals, lodging,

ga;s, tolls, maintenance, etc.

3. Postage expenses and office supplies should be paid from mission

*Vork funds", unless the item or letter is exclusively personal,

4. All books in Spanish used in the work can and should be financed

by "work funds", and an exclusive allowance of $10 per month may

go to purchase English texts needed in the work (with exceptions
made in certain cases),
of the missionary.

5.

These books become the personal property

If the missionary.wishes to purchase a good quality camera, he

may-borrow up to $300 from his own mission "work funds". If he

then chooses to sell the camera or leave the field with the camera,

he repays the loan,

6. Planning meetings, whether with Chileans or other missionaries,
which involve food and/or other expenses, may be paid for from
"work funds".

7.

Mission

"work funds" should also pay the following; charges

for exchanging moneyj

costs related to legal papers and visas;

expenses incurred for retreats, camps and mission-related work

outside of Santiago; equipment needed in the work;
costs which are not exclusively personal.

photography

Additional note; A missionary who decides to return^Jto: the U.S.- on

a permanent basis should receive his regular salary for a period of
2^4 months while he seeks another avenue of service.

This should

be worked out clearly in advance with his sending body.

MISSIONARY

SALARIES

LATIN AMERICAN TEAM MINISTRIES

Santiago9 Chile
April 1, 1978.

Working together in a team means that a variety of people with

differing ministries and varied histories come together to labor
side-by-side. At times it can mean that a co-worker with a graduate
degree and ten years of experience in church administration^ preach
ing and teaching works right alongside a brother who may not have
had any previous experience whatsoever. Ministering as a teams is
effective, and we feel that God has blessed our efforts here. But
at the same time we believe that the monetary remuneration which a
worker on the field receives should be compensatory with his exper
ience. For this reason (along with the sharp rise in the cost of

living in Chile), we recommend the following as guideline for

salaries and benefits for those who are considering this area

of

the world as their field of service.

The cost of living in Santiago is at least equivalent to that

of the mid-westem U.S., if not a bit higher. A recent study has
stated that the cost of living for Santiago, Chile is 9% less than

the cost of living in New York City. (New York is considerably

hig;her in cost of living than the average mid-westem towii).

There is also consideration given to the salary a person would
make for similar ministry in the U.S., althoiigh we recognize that
this is relative. However, we present here a sincere and carefullyprepared proposal for setting missionary salaries in Chile. We
are encouraging each team member and sending church to consider it
carefully and adopt it, thus producing parity and fairness in this
delicate matter.

1. New missionary families coming to the field with less that^

three years fulltime experience either in missions or U.S. ministry
would begin with a base salary of $800 per month. Including housing.

2. After three years of experience (missionfleld and/or U.S), the

base salary would increase to $900 per month. After six years of
experience, the family would receive $1000 per month. For th?ose
with nine or more years experience, we prefer to leave latitude for
personal negotiation with the worker'^s sending body.
(Note;
missionfleld experience begins with language school in Costa Rica.)
3. Each family would receive a straight allowance of $50 per month
for medical expenses.

It may be used for insurance premitims, saving

toward future medical expenses, etc.

4.

One half of Social Security would be paid, or the equivalent in

caeh.

5.

Schooling for children would be paid, up to $85 per month for

each child.

This would include enrollment charges, also, which are

paid on a one-time basis upon entrance. An allowance is also made

of $25 per month per family if special transportation is required
for children up to and including the third-grade level. Books,
uniforms and school supplies would be paid from personal salary.

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Non-profit Org
U.S. POSTAGE
--PAID--

2555 Meridian Avenue

San Jose, Ca. 95124

San Jose, CA
Permit No. 999
CHILEAN CHALLENGE

Woody & Netda Phillips

..

^ I ""'

Missionaries to Chile
Field Address:

Casilla21119
Correo21

Santiago, Chile
Forwarding Agents:

Bryce & Jo Jessup

6188 Lean Avenue

San Jose, Ca. 95123

NEWSLETTER #11
AUGUST 23, 1978

CONSTRUCTId^; At long last work has begun on the church building in

El Montijo. After a long look and an equally lengthy wait for permis
sion, the church was turned down on her request for property in the
government-owned development. With no other choices for now, the
church decided to build on the property of the pastor, Juan Nunez.
His side yard is not large, but careful use of all the space will

result in a building which will seat about 70 comfortably, and crowd

up to a hundred with every inch in use. Besides the church members
themselves in El Montijo, help has come from a sister church in
Pudahuel in the actual construction. Proposed is a simple wooden
structure which will be easy to dismantle in the event of obtaining
a better location in the next year or so. The main problem right
now is that everyone expects that the building is too small, and we
will have problems right away. Upon completion of the structure, a
meeting is planned, and the results should bring in a good group of
new Christians. Well, we'll just have to cross each bridge as it

comes.

For now, we are very happy with a solid group of 25-30 adults

and with the start of the buiIding.

The LordJias_ledlus this far.

He'll provide what we need as we move along in faith.

ON THE GO:

I now know something about the length of Chile, having

visited in the South last December and having just returned from a

trip to the northern city of Antofagasta. The purpose of the lastest

trip was to conduct another seminar on "The Christian Family". The
trip north is 20 hours by bus, so I found it better to fly up and
back, thus saving about 15 of those hours. The seminar was profitable,
as several couples expressed appreciation and proposed changes in
their families as a result of the teaching. I stayed in a very poor
home which just had a dirt floor, but their kindness and sacrifice was

extended through generous and delicious meals and giving me their

own bed. (They must be immune to fleas, but I'm sure not!) Next
week I will be traveling South to Osorno to hold the same seminar, and
am looking forward to being with the healthy church there.

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Non-profit Org.
U.S. 'POSTAGE

2555 Meridian Avenue

San Jose, Ca. 95124

--PAID--

San Jose, CA

.v

CHILEAN CHALLENGE

1^

Bd:j 177

Woody & Nelda Phillips

Permit No. 999

^-5. Oxi.1C0

I ssHptoa^ IH 46049

Missionaries to Chile
Field Address:
Casilla21J19

o#

Correo 21

Santiago, Chile
Forwarding Agents:
Bryce & Jo Jessup
6188 Lean Avenue

San Jose. Ca. 95123

The building is up!

Newsletter #12
November 1, 1978

At last, services have begun in the recently-constructed building

in El Montijo. It isn't much, but it has walls and a roof, and
room for seventy adults. The church is very excited about it,
and ready for the expected growth. A five-day evangelistic
campaign is set for November 1-5, and the nearby church of Bar
rancas will help us with it. There will be preaching in the
streets, door-to-door witnessing and gospel films, in addition

to the nightly services.

We are planning and praying that many

will decide to walk with Jesus because of this effort.

The church is a solid group of believers with a very adequate

and capable Chilean pastor. Due to many other seminars and preach
ing commitments, I have been less and less a part of the El Montijo
church life. But they have continued to grow and learn under Bro
ther Juan Junez's able leadership, and will do just fine without
me. This^majces me very^happy, since a^roup dependent on the
missionary is one that will never experience spbntaneous^fbwth. ^
Praise God for what He is doing in El MontijoI

Survey trip
Just across the Cordillera range of the Andes Mountains, 35 min

utes by plane, is the Argentine city of Mendoza--Santiago's

closest Argentine neighbor. Ed Holt and I just returned from a
three-day survey trip there--made to gather information for fu

ture LAI^ missionaries working there.

We discovered a beautiful

old city of 700,000 residents, with tree-lined streets and side

walk cafes everywhere.

Evengelical work there is not large, and

the opportunities are enormous.

Pray with us that we'll be able

to prepare a team of workers to take Mendoza for Christ within the

coming years.

This will give us a foothold into Argentina, and

pave the way for work in the capital of Buenos Aires.

Family seminars
During the months of July throug

Family and Marriage Seminars in ^n

of Oklahoma City to Los Angeles,

October, I conducted nine

area that stretches the distance
The need for Biblical material

and practical help was more than obvious, and most people had
never really considered what God wants in families. I'm hoping
that many are making new beginniiiigs and that this will be a

foundation on which solid family life and marriages can be built.

Chile is a beautiful country. The stark and dry desert in the
north changes into a patchwork of farms in the Central Plain,
and this in turn gives way to the lakes, waterfalls and towering
volcanoes of the south.
And all of this is bordered on the
east by the snow-covered Cordille:i;ra which divide Chile from
Argentina. The opposite side of Chile boasts a 2500 mile beach
and thousands of tiny islands off the southern coast. It's

truly remarkable, and a gorgeous display of God's artistic

ability.

We're going home

But just for a short visit. Our furlough will bring us to the
U.S. on November 20, and we returp to Chile at the end of February. During that time we'll vi 3it our supporting churches,
interview and recruit new workers with LATH, attend the LATH

Advisory Committee meeting, and s]5end time visiting family and

friends. We are eagerly looking orward to it, and anxiously

checking off items on a long thin^s-to-do-before-we-leave

list.

We left the U.S. 26 months ago, a,nd we are surely looking forward

to this time.

Will we see you while we're in

the

itinerary so that we might be ablt

States?

Here's our confirmed

to get together:

Valley View, Dallas, Dec. 3

Gray Ave., Yuba City, Jan. 14, P.M.
Muskogee, First, Dec. 10
etaluma Christian, Jan. 21 A.M.
Muskogee, Riverside, Dec. 13
Redwood City, Jan 21 P.M.
Westwood, Madison, Dec. 31
OS GatOS Christian, Jan 28
LATM Advisory Committee,
irst, Ceres, Jan 31
Joplin, MO, Jan. 3
]?almdale. First, Feb. 4
Central, San Jose, Jan. 7
"irst, Anaheim, Feb. 11 P.M.
First, Orland, Jan. 14 A.M.
astside, Fullerton, Feb. 18 P.M.
Other dates are unconfirmed at this writing.
Our financial needs will increase

due to travel expenses during ^

our furlough, and we intend to C(j):htinue supporting the LATH wiorfcl

on the field.

We'd appreciate yo jr help especially during this time

Letters
Until Christmas, write us at:

From Christmas to Feb. 15, write

1306 Live Oak

2555 Meridian Avenue

Muskogee, OK 74401

San Jose, CA 95124