Great News from Argentina!
Karen and I recently spent 18 days in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Northside’s Missions Oversight Team (MOT) sends two members to each mission site every other year for a site visit. Part encouragement/exhortation and part information gathering, we were excited to return for a follow-up visit. Our first trip to Argentina was in October 2023.
On Sunday, September 28, right after morning worship at Northside, we’ll give a short slide presentation and report, but in this space, I want to highlight four conclusions from our trip.
Jonathan, Chema, and Vanessa are doing good work. Jonathan Hanegan has worked in Argentina for 14 years, after serving in Venezuela for five years. Chema & Vanessa Izarra started their full-time ministry with Jonathan two years ago. God has blessed the Redentor (Redeemer) church with these faithful, hardworking Christians.
These brothers and sisters love the Lord deeply and serve each other daily. After two site visits and a personal trip in April 2024, we love these good people, and they are a blessing to us. Eighteen months ago, sisters in Buenos Aires were the first to comfort and grieve with Karen at the news that her mom was nearing her death. This church family knows us, and we know many of their stories. When we see their love for Christ in action, when we see their heartfelt fellowship and service to each other in tough living conditions, we thank God for these brothers and sisters in the faith.
Daily financial pressures do not negatively impact their faith. Two years ago, most of the Redentor members lived at or below the poverty line. Today, things are much worse. Almost every cost has 
skyrocketed, especially rent and food, with very modest wage gains. In this visit, we learned of a three-generation family (See photo) with four working adults who had been forced to downsize their apartment, and the new home had no heat. We used private donations from Northside to purchase two space heaters for this dear family.
Our God is alive in Argentina. Already in 2025, the faith and daily walk of individual sisters in Buenos Aires have brought two husbands and other extended family members to the Lord! The men had been faithful in their attendance and participation in the work of the church, but they were not baptized believers. The deep faith of their wives was a big part of their decision to obey the Lord.
We have many stories to tell about the Lord’s church in Argentina, including church volleyball, late-night dinners, biscuits & gravy, and love and gratitude beyond measure.
Please plan to stay for our brief presentation after September 28 worship.