[NOTE: This item expresses the views of the individual to whom the item is ascribed and does not necessarily reflect the position of the WRF as a whole. ]

Latin America is not known as a bastion of Reformed thinking.  Woody Lajara and I were in Costa Rica at the end of January for a week of teaching Pauline epistles in San Jose.  For the past three or four years we have been using  III Millennium study courses produced by WRF member Richard Pratt in Orlando, Florida,

using DVD courses translated into Spanish.  Dr. Pratt has graciously given us permission to use the III Millennium Ministries materials.  We have taught many of these in Colombia, Guatemala, Spain, and other countries.  We started with “God Gave us Prophets” (on the Old Testament Prophets) in the Fiji Islands to a group of Evangelism Explosion International  leaders from around the world, for a program which Woody has entitled “Advanced Studies on the Great Commission.”

By the very nature of the E. E. contacts, most folks are not of a Reformed persuasion—many are pentecostals, Arminians, dispensationalists, etc.   The courses are on DVD and with printouts of the lectures together with questions for revision and questions for application after every lesson are enhanced by our presence.  We give additional information, illustrations from our own experience, and we address questions which the students have.  The personal interaction adds cohesiveness to the studies and adds flesh to the bones.  The materials and the personal presentations seek to let the Reformed perspective arise out of the Scriptures rather than trying to prove the Reformed faith from the Scriptures.  We meet for a week, four or five days at a time.    In Colombia we have met in a convent, where we have been very graciously served by the Sisters of Mercy.  In San Jose, we have met at a Salvation Army Training Center where we have been hosted most wonderfully.  In Guatemala we met at a Presbyterian seminary facility and another week in a Bible Institute. 

We have served people with various levels of education.  In some places, participants have a rather high level of formal training, some even with masters or doctors degrees, while others have very little formal education.  But what has impressed me with practically all of the participants is their desire to learn the Scriptures.  They are like sponges in drinking the Word from a Reformed world-and-life view.  They ask serious and insightful questions.  And from the responses we receive, not only while there, but later through correspondence, it is clear that they have been seriously impacted with the Reformed perspective which we present.  For example, one writes:  “Thanks for serving God and teaching us and encouraging change in our lives.”  Another writes: “Many thanks …for bringing us all these studies, every one of the studies which you have given are very valuable ‘treasures’ which have impacted our life.”  One pastor, from the second largest city in Costa Rica and a leader of a group of non-reformed churches was so impressed with the two weeks he and his wife had that he has asked Woody to present the whole curriculum over the next two or three years to his constituency of some thirty pastors and field workers.  Lord willing, we plan to begin in July 2013.

The Director of the Salvation Army Center in Costa Rica, a Chilean himself who has served the Salvation Army in many countries of Latin America, made an interesting observation to us.  He has spoken to denominational leaders throughout Central and South America and has an ear to the ground of what is happening.  He said that the day of Pentecostalism (which includes all kinds of churches) as a religion of emotionalism is dwindling.  Church leaders are now looking for “what you Reformed people are teaching.”  If this is true, and we suspect it really is, what a great open door is there for us in World Reformed Fellowship, both churches and missions and educational institutions, to reach out and graciously promote the doctrines of grace to a world crying out for what we have to offer.

Dr. Gilchrist is Executive Secretary Emeritus and a Present Board Member of the WRF.  He may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.