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Fellowship of International Churches
of Latin America (FICLA)
President’s Comment:
Dr. Thomas Hill, an IBCM Director, is a tireless servant of the Lord, who
has a dream of bringing together the English-speaking baptistic churches of
Latin America.
Dr. Hill and his wife Connie have deep roots in Baptist mission work
throughout the world. To introduce the IBCM membership to the happenings in
Latin America, I conducted an interview with Dr. Hill at his home in Farmers
Branch, Texas.
Question: When did you first get involved with missions in Latin America?
Response: In 1956, Connie and I were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board
to Venezuela to serve in the seminary there. Before transitioning to
Venezuela, we were in language training in Costa Rica. There, the Lord
opened a new door, and we stayed in Costa Rica as resident missionary/mentor
for missionaries in language training.
Question: What meetings have taken place in Latin America and what has
been the outcome of the meetings?
Response: Several years later as result of my work in San Jose, Costa Rica,
as pastor of an English- speaking congregation, I realized that there was no
established relationship between English-speaking baptistic churches. The
Lord intervened and put in my heart the goal of bringing together
English-speaking churches.
The first step in fulfilling that goal was to bring together the pastors and
representatives of International Churches in the northern part of Latin
America (Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Dominican Republican).
Question: What is your dream for the future of FICLA?
Response: My dream is that the Fellowship be strengthened and that
additional churches join the Fellowship. As the dream matures, I pray that
the Fellowship places emphasis on starting new churches. There are over 30
cities in Latin America with populations of over one million inhabitants.
Question: What is the involvement of the IBC with FICLA?
Response: Dr. Jimmy Martin, General Secretary of the IBC, attended last
year’s meeting of Latin American pastors. He is a strong proponent for the
development of FICLA.
Question: How important is the upcoming meeting is Sao Paulo?
Response: I am real excited about the November meeting in Sao Paulo. Many of
the pastors have been in communication with me and are looking forward to
exchanging ideas.
Our keynote speaker for the conference will be Dr. Jim Denison of Park
Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. Dr. Denison is an excellent teacher and
preacher and will help bring us together.
Just imagine, pastors from Mexico to Argentina in fellowship together. The
outcome of the meeting should be a stronger FICLA with pastors enlightened
with new ways to develop their churches.
Question: What churches are partnering with FICLA?
Response: The following churches/fellowships are exhibiting interest in the
formation of FICLA.
United Church of Bogota
Bogota, Colombia
International Bible Church
Buenos Aires, Argentina
International Community Church of Curitiba
Curitiba, Brazil
International Church of Brasilia
Brasilia, Brazil
Faith Baptist Church
Panama City, Panama
International Baptist Church
San Jose, Costa Rica
International Baptist Fellowship (FBC in Curitiba)
Curitiba, Brazil
Sonrise Christian Fellowship
Puerto de la Cruz, Venezuela
Capital City Baptist Church
Mexico City, Mexico
Santiago Christian Fellowship
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Calvary International Church
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Christian Fellowship of Resende
Resende, Brazil For a complete list of FICLA churches and their
contact information: FICLA Churches. |
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