As lockdown measures were announced here in Panama, I for some reason recalled the famous line by Shakespeare, “Beware the ides of March.” I must say, the timing is interesting. We know that in all circumstances the Lord is faithful. Not knowing where this crisis we now find ourselves in will lead, we are thankful for some very productive months leading to this new season under lockdown. In January, February and early March, Drake and other… Continue reading
Ongoing armed conflict and extreme geography make for a very difficult missionary field among Colombia’s indigenous tribes. Today, of 105+ tribes in Colombia, only nine are considered “reached” with the gospel to the extent that there are any mature churches among them. At least 14 tribes, mostly in Colombia’s Amazon jungle region, are TOTALLY UNREACHED—meaning no believers at all. Some of these are nomadic tribes living in complete isolation. Over 60 tribes in Colombia are unreached in a more general sense, in that… Continue reading
The purpose of ALTECO is to equip tribal Christian leaders of the Amazon and lowland regions of South America to effectively make disciples within their own communities and among other unreached tribes. We accomplish this by partnering with the local church (or churches); they are expected to lead while we assist them as necessary. Given the vastness of the region, local churches can be few and far between. Finding them is an arduous process, much… Continue reading
In the Darien region of eastern Panama along the Colombian border, we have developed a relationship with a ministry that equips indigenous missionaries with practical skills that enhance their ability to make disciples in off-grid settings. Such skills include field sanitation systems, water access and filtration methods, and similar appropriate technologies that enhance the chances of accessing remote communities otherwise closed to outsiders. Our friends in this ministry it has become a fantastic way to… Continue reading
Video footage was released recently by FUNAI (Brazil’s National Indian Foundation) of a formerly hidden tribe emerging from the jungle in the State of Acre near Brazil’s border with Peru. This tribe has been living in voluntary isolation, possibly since the Amazon rubber boom of the late 1800’s, perhaps longer. Speaking a language from the Panoan linguistic family, interpreters brought in by FUNAI were able to communicate with the group of three young men. Transcripts of… Continue reading
Last week, Dave and I traveled into the neighboring Chiapas state. As I sat down to write about this intense trip, I realized that it was too much to cram into a single post, so I have broken it down into bite-sized segments. Our purpose in Chiapas included teaching Spanish-speaking believers how to make disciples, mobilizing future missionaries, and assessing the Evangelical Christian movement among indigenous people groups within the far reaches of the state;… Continue reading
