VISION
What happens if you take a plant, no matter how fruitful and thriving, and plunk it in a new place, where temperatures, rainfall and soil bear no resemblance to those of its native land? Even if it did survive, the plant is highly unlikely to yield much fruit. Likewise, theology, publications, models of church life and Christian discipleship need to grow out of local soil if they are to engender and nourish new life.

Having grown up in Argentina and served with Christian Reformed World Missions for several years in Ecuador and in El Salvador, I have seen first hand the tremendous growth of Christ’s Church across Latin America. I have also become increasingly aware of rampant violence, injustice, poverty, corruption, family breakdown, ecological degradation, and hopelessness. I believe, however, that even in the midst of it all, there is Good News for Latin America! I am convinced that God has not abandoned those beautiful lands God created or the wonderfully diverse people that inhabit them. God yearns to work through the integral witness of the Church far beyond the walls of its buildings: in personal lives and communities, homes and streets, markets and businesses, universities and rural villages, rivers and mountaintops!

But in order to grow as a witness of God’s love, the Latin American Church, as all others the world round — needs to grow not only in width but mainly in depth, striking deep roots in God’s Word and in their corner of God’s world. Theology, publications, models of church life, discipleship and service must be generated locally, out of the dirt and nutrients of the Latin American context, so that God’s people can contribute relevantly to God’s re-creation of all things in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In addition to the two previous responsibilities, I am also serving as General Secretary of the Latin American Theological Fellowship and as Director of Ediciones Certeza Unida, the publishing house of the Spanish speaking member movements of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. I'm also working on the completion of my doctoral studies in Missiology and Social Ethics at Boston University School of Theology, with the help of Langham Partnership International.

MISSION
My ministry out of Costa Rica focuses on two main ministries: the Institute for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education and on-going support of Seeds of New Creation (El Salvador). Both are ways of walking with the Latin American church as it strikes roots and God gives fruit.

Institute for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education:
I serve as a catalyst for the creation and consolidation of a learning community of students, professors, administrators, institutions and alumni in Latin America that contextualize a Kingdom worldview in the area of higher education and in their professions, and intentionally connect to their local churches for the transformation of their societies. Building on existing programs and projects and in partnership with IAPCHE, UNELA, the Latin American Theological Fellowship and others, the Institute hopes to help bring Christian faculty together for mutual support and development, to foster the publication of books by Latin American authors, to contribute to the strengthening of Christian universities, to encourage able people to rethink curriculum so that educational practice contributes to transformation, and to facilitate South-North exchange and learning.

Seeds of New Creation - El Salvador:
I continue accompanying the team in leadership training and networking for transformation. Seeds of New Creation is acquiring legal incorporation in order to operate as a local ministry in El Salvador with certain independence. As the team continues their valuable ministry with pastors, leaders, youth ministers, churches and communities, and as they focus on reconciliation processes, they are ever open to partnering with the CRCNA.

As we enter into this new phase of ministry, and our family adjusts to and learns to enjoy yet another country, version of Spanish, local church, neighborhood and school, we are grateful for your partnership in prayer, fellowship, service and financial support.

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8.38-39


CONTACT INFORMATION
Ruth & Jim Padilla DeBorst
Email: rpadilladeborst@gmail.com