This is the list of current priority financial needs of the diocese. Please see the make a donationlink if you would like more information about making a financial contribution. Whenever possible, the diocese is prepeared to match received funds by way of fund-raising in Argentina. Funding which the diocese will attempt to match is noted on this list.
1. Funding for this ministry - 2006 - $4,000.00 U.S. Carrying out this ministry comes with several expenses, including: a.) the cost of frequent travels to S. America and b.) administrative costs (printing brochures, doing mailings, website maintenance, etc.). Traveling to S. America is necessary for two reasons. First, although teams are assisted in preparation for a trip while in N. America, they also require assistance in the mission field. The role of a diocesan representative working in both N. America and S. America allows for assistance in training in the U.S. as well as in-field assistance so the hassle often associated with foreign missions can be minimized. The result is that teams can focus entirely on the work put before them in furthering the Kingdom of God. Second, having the familiarity with the mission field necessary for being able to assist teams in the capacity described above requires travels in S. America without teams to become familiar with the most current needs. Typically, a month long trip in January allows for the necessary preparation for the summer trips of that year. Please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry so that it will not only continue, but also grow for the sake of strengthening Christ's Church and spreading the Gospel in needy areas. The total funding needed for traveling in 2006 is approximately $4,000.00 U.S.
2. 2006 documentary - $2,000.00 U.S. One of the greatest causes of the challenges facing the Church in S. America is a simple lack of awareness on the part of people in other parts of the world. We are very grateful that a small team of Christian documentarians affiliated with Biola University, Los Angeles, agreed to volunteer time to make a documentary about the social problems in both urban and indigenous areas of Argentina. A Christian anthropologist and current head of ASOCIANA (the social arm of the diocese), Cris Wallis, assisted the team while traveling in indigenous areas in 2006. Although the documentarians were willing to donate their time (roughly 1 month), funding (at least $2000.00) is still needed to cover the cost of film developing, editing, etc. A presentation in DVD form, printed form and material for a gallery exhibition are hoped to be among the final product of this work.
3. 500 Wichi Bibles - $2.25 U.S. each The late Bishop Mario Morino served as the auxiliary Bishop of N. Argentina and worked primarily with indigenous churches. He was always concerned that so many of the Christians in his diocese were without Bibles they in their own language. This fund has been set up in his memory and out of a realization that his concern was highly warranted. The Wichi Bible is 7 pesos each ($2.25 U.S), or roughly $1,250.00 U.S. for 500 copies.
4. 570 pew bibles for urban congregational use - $5.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds Although many believers own bibles, few churches in the diocese have bibles for use during church services. 30 bibles are needed for each of the 19 urban churches, requiring a total of 570 bibles. The approximate cost of each bible is $5.00 U.S., requiring a budget of $2,850.00 U.S.
5. 200 Wichi translations of the BCP - $2.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds The Book of Common Prayer has been translated into the Wichi language, but many are currently without a copy for use in worship. The last printing was done in the 1970's and the lack of availability has caused this important aspect of Anglican identity to suffer in recent years. Printing the Wichi BCP will cost $2.00 U.S. each, requiring $400.00 U.S. for 200 copies.
6. 50 copies of the Spanish BCP - $17.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds Very few urban clergymen own a copy of the Book of Common Prayer in Spanish. Due to the inability to make liturgical training a priority, this element of Anglican identity has been overlooked and undervalued. Presently, there is not one copy of the BCP in any of the urban churches. Church publishing (www.churchpublishing.com) has come out with a Spanish language verison of the BCP which is available for $17.00 U.S. each, requiring $550.00 U.S. for 50 copies.
7. Annual subscription to the "Apuntes Pastorales" magazine for urban clergymen - $12.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds "Apuntes Pastorales" is published by Desarrollo Cristiana Internacional for Christian leadership in Latin America. It seeks to develop evangelical leaders professionally through informative articles, reflections and interviews. The Desarrollo Cristiana Internacional is linked to "Christianity Today" in the U.S. Twenty subscriptions are needed for the 19 urban clergy, plus one for the diocesan office. No priests or deacons in the diocese receive payment of any kind, meaning that the likelihood of owning Christian books or magazines is not great. Given the need for pastors to be able to not only affectively minister in their congregations, but also help raise the next generation of pastors, the need for provision for resources such as this magazine is great. The annual cost for 20 subscriptions is $240.00 U.S.
8. 200 Wichi copies of revised biblical & theological materials - $6.50 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds Having obtained permission from the original publishers (FIET), a simplified version of the materials from the course, "The Life of Paul and his Travels", has been translated into the Wichi language. It is material for guided self-study, biblical reflection and filling in the blanks. Checking of the lessons is done as a group by a tutor approved by the clergy and lay training dept. of the diocese. At the end of each lesson there are tests and the final evaluation is an exam. Each manual has 70 pages. 200 copies for use in indigenous churches will require $1,300.00 U.S.
9. 5 bicycles for indigenous evangelists and clergymen - $100.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds The committee in charge of the rural churches recognizes the office of evangelist and these men and women have been formally commissioned to bring the "Good News" to indigenous communities. Clergymen also use bicycles for pastoral visitation to remote communities. One of the most common modes of transportation used by the indigenous is a bicycle. With a bicycle, one can cover great distances and travel the dirt paths that crisscross the shrubland. Maintenance is low cost and spare parts are readily available. The bicycles in question have a reinforced frame of 26" and come with a maintenance kit including 1 extra tire, 1 extra inner tube, 1 extra front axel with ball bearings, 1 extra rear axel with ball bearings, 1 pump and a puncture repair kit.
10. 12 boxes of assorted Sunday school materials for indigenous churches - $200.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds Sunday school work has been developed in very few of the indigenous parishes in the diocese. In the Nov. 2004 synod, it was decided to make children's ministries a priority amongst indigenous believers. Although in the past and in an oral culture the telling of a bible story and a group talk were sufficient, due to influences of state run primary education, the children now demand a more varied and interactive didactic approach. The resources for this, however, are lacking. Whatever the childrens' activity, in a Wichi community this attracts large numbers. Groups of between 50 and 80 little participants are anticipated. In November, 2005, a training course for Sunday school teachers was held and a large part of the program was taught in the Wichi language. It is hoped that these 12 trained teachers will be able to be given a lockable box with the following contents: 1 blackboard and easel, 2 packages of chalk (white and colored), 80 pencils (regular and colored), 80 scissors, glue, 3 reams of white paper, 3 reams of assorted color paper, 1 stapler and staples, 160 notebooks with 48 lined pages each, 80 erasers, 80 pencil sharpeners, colored paper (poster format), colored cardboard and two bags of lollipops. 12 boxes with the above contents will require a total of $2,400.00 U.S.
11. Sheets of corrugated metal for the roofs of 3 indigenous churches - $570.00 U.S. each - diocese will match donated funds The number of parishes in the indigenous portion of the diocese is growing and each new congregation longs to construct its own building. Although the indigenous communities can cut trees for wooden beams and manufacture mud bricks, the sheets of corrugated metal for the roof are the most expensive items to purchase. A good roof provides welcome shade in the suffocating heat and keeps the congregation dry in the rain season. An average indigenous church building requires a roof of 6 mts. x 12 mts. 3 roofs will require a total of $1,710.00 U.S.
12. Funding for episcopal visits - $.13 U.S. / mile - diocese will match donated funds The diocese stretches over seven federal states of the Argentine republic. At present, there are parishes in five of those provinces. The two furthest parishes on opposite ends of the diocese are roughly 800 miles apart. Although one can visit the urban parishes by means of public transportation, visits to the rural parishes demand the use of a pick-up truck. The bishops are expected to tend to confirmations and look after the 150+ clergymen dispersed in the cities and shrubland. Both the diocesan bishop and assistant bishop have the use of a pick-up truck. The vast majority of the roads are unpaved and in the rainy season those roads become almost unpassable. These sorts of conditions demand much from drivers and their vehicles. The annual total of mileage that both bishops clock is approximately 37,300 miles. For this amount of traveling and for the upkeep of the trucks, we have calculated a need of $.13 U.S. / mile. This figure includes maintenance, gas, oil, and depreciation. The total amount needed to cover annual travel costs for both bishops in N. Argentina is$4,849.00 U.S.
13. 2 sets of sports equipment for camps and retreats - $? - diocese will match donated funds 2 sets of sports equipment is needed, in the pursuit of a balanced youth training program (spiritual, social, mental and physical). One boxed set will be located in the diocesan conference center in La Caldera. The center has several fields for games and sports, but lacks any equipment. The vast majority of people who use the center are families from church groups, youth groups and childrens' groups. The other set of equipment will be located at the diocesan office in Juarez in the province of Formosa. This set will be under the supervision of Renee Pereira, the diocesan coordinator of youth ministries. Each year Renee organizes at least 5 camps in various places, and many weekends he travels in order to visit rural parishes and lead workshops. The boxed set will accompany him in his truck. The physical activities will add an attractive element to his holistic discipleship programs. The contents of each lockable box will be: 1 soccer ball, 2 volleyball balls, 1 basketball, 8 tennis balls, 8 plastic hoops, 4 paddle rackets, 4 frisbees, 2 badminton nets, 1 volleyball net and ropes, 2 pumps (1 manual and 1 electric), 8 plastic cones, 8 marker flags, 2 reels with 60 mts. of white tape to mark the lines of the playing field, 12 colored vests, 1 indoor hockey set, 4 whistles, 1 stopwatch, 1 first-aid kit. Please inquire about cost if you are interested in funding this need.
7. Funding for theological education materials - $2,000.00 U.S. The diocese is currently developing an education model for training a new generation of pastors. The dioecse will need a good library of theological materials to help train up a new generation of godly people for leading the Church. Funds raised for this purpose will also be used to pay for the translation of many quality materials available only in English. The Spanish titles we hope to acquire include: El Verdadero Pensamiento de Pablo by N.T. Wright, Teologia del Nuevo Testamento by G. Ladd, Como Llegar a ellos?Defendamos y Comuniquemos la FeCristianaa los no Creyentes by M. Green & A. McGrath, Jesus Bajo Sospecha by Michael Wilkins & J.P. Moreland, Jesus es el Cristo: Estudios en la Teologia de Juan by Leon Morris, Monoteismo y Cristologia en el Nuevo Testamento by Richard Bauckham, Comentario a la Epistola a los Galatas by F.F. Bruce, Revelacion Biblica: el Fundamento de la Teologia Cristiana by Clark H. Pinnock, Son Vigentes los Dones Milagrosos? Cuatro Puntos de Vista, Wayne A. Grudem, ed., Comentario de 1 Pedro by Peter Davids, Comentario del Evangelio de Juan by Leon Morris, Renueva tu Corazon: Se como Cristo by Dallas Willard, Mujeres en el Ministerio: Cuatro Puntos de Vista, Bonnidell Clouse & Robert J. Clouse, eds., Tres Preguntas Claves Sobre Jesus by Murray J. Harris, La Seguridad de la Salvacion: Cuatro Puntos de Vista, J. Matthew Pinson, ed., Jesus, el Mesias: Un Estudio de la Vida de Cristo by Robert H. Stein, Comentario de la Epistola a los Filipenses by Gordon Fee, Discipulado que Transforma: el Modelo de Jesus by Gregory J. Ogden, Manual del Discipulado: Creciendo y Ayudando a otros a Crecer by Gregory J. Ogden, El Libro del Apocalipsis by Robert H. Mounce, Alegrense las Naciones! Soberania de Dios y las Misiones by John Piper, Pasame otro Ladrillo by Charles Swindoll, Pablo el Lider by J. Oswald Sanders, La Familia Autenticamente Cristiana by Guillermo Taylor y Sergio E. Mijangos, Iglesias Peregrinas en Busca de Identidad by Juan F. Martinez y Luis Scott, Es Bueno o es Malo by Josh McDowell, Reflexiones Eticas by Enrique Stob, El Secreto de la Vida Cristiana by J.C. Ryle, Verdades que Transforman by D. James Kennedy, Dinero, Sexo y Poder by Richard Foster. Please inquire for more information.
