Latin America Mission, Inc.

Summary

Latin America Mission, Inc. ("LAM") encourages and assists Latin churches to evangelize the world and to spread the message of hope - that new life can be theirs in Jesus Christ. Founded in 1921 by Harry and Susan Strachan, LAM is a multi-national organization, committed to networking with all evangelical churches and organizations and open to innovative methods of sharing the Gospel. Almost 80 percent of Latin Americans are in cities. So most of LAM's workers minister in these Latin American cities. LAM combines evangelism and discipleship with practical expressions of God's love, meeting the needs of the whole person through medical attention, counseling, literacy education, job training, etc. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Latin America Mission, Inc. ("LAM") encourages and assists Latin churches to evangelize the world and to spread the message of hope - that new life can be theirs in Jesus Christ. Founded in 1921 by Harry and Susan Strachan, LAM is a multi-national organization, committed to networking with all evangelical churches and organizations and open to innovative methods of sharing the Gospel. Almost 80 percent of Latin Americans are in cities. So most of LAM's workers minister in these Latin American cities. LAM combines evangelism and discipleship with practical expressions of God's love, meeting the needs of the whole person through medical attention, counseling, literacy education, job training, etc. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Latin American Mission uses the following to communicate its purpose:

The Latin America Mission is an international community of men and women, who motivated by their love for the Lord Jesus and in obedience to His commands, encourage, assist and participate with the Latin church in the task of building the church of Jesus Christ in the Latin world and beyond.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Latin America Mission Project List - 2004

• Economic Development - micro-credit and job creation programs for poor families in Columbia, Venezuela, Honduras, Costa Rica and Argentina. Consulting assistance welcome through short or long-term commitments. Technical assistance needed in production and marketing. Revolving loan funds and start-up capital also necessary for new projects in Mexico and Peru.
• Children's Programs - children at risk are the focus of programs in Mexico, Columbia, and Costa Rica. Sponsoring funding is sought, and all programs have monthly support plans. Visitors are welcome, and short and long-term assignments exist for those willing to help.
• Camping Programs - evangelistic camping outreach in Honduras, Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Scholarships are needed for participants. Construction crews are welcome.
• Missionary Orientation - June ten-day preparation for new missionaries held in Miami. Scholarships are needed for people who are called to missions, but who do not have resources to attend.
• Seminary Training - Biblical training for pastors in Venezuela, Columbia, and Costa Rica, with impact throughout the region. Scholarships are needed. Full-time professors are being sought for programs in Peru and Argentina.
• Leadership Training Conferences - held for Latin American leaders on critical topics such as development of boards, local funding sources, management, etc. Scholarships are needed.
• Administrative Costs - Oversight of ministry projects. The Mission assesses a low 13% service charge and requires approximately $250,000 per year additional to meet operational costs for services to missionaries.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Latin American Mission uses the following to communicate its values:

We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of the universe, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for the sins of the world, was raised bodily and exalted to God's right hand, where he makes intercession for His own. He will personally come again.

We believe that God created humankind, male and female, in His own image. However, everyone has sinned and is guilty before God. As a result, all creation suffers the consequences of the fall and is under God's judgment.

We believe that because of His love, God sent His Son Jesus Christ, who inaugurated His Kingdom, provided atonement for sin, disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross, reconciling the world to Himself. He will consummate His Kingdom in righteousness, power, and glory.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who glorifies Jesus Christ, working in all peoples to bring them to believe and obey Christ. The Spirit dwells in those who believe, equipping and empowering them for lives of holiness and fruitful service.

We believe the Bible to be the divinely inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

We believe that all who repent and believe in Christ are born into life eternal, delivered from condemnation, and as His Church are called to communicate the Gospel, proclaim the Kingdom, make disciples of all nations and seek to be instruments of righteousness, justice, and healing, all to the glory of God.

We believe in the resurrection of the body, the eternal blessedness of believers in the presence of Christ and the eternal separation of unbelievers from Him.

History [ Back to top ]

Since 1921, when Harry and Susan Strachan founded the Latin America Mission, LAM's goal has been to evangelize the Latin world. Over the past few decades in North America, the march has been away from the cities and into the suburbs. Precisely the opposite flow has occurred in Latin America. Across Latin America today, big, mind-boggling cities of 5 to 25 million are overwhelmed with masses of humanity. People are streaming to the cities from the countryside in search of jobs and a better way of life. But many of those living in Latin cities today exist in a quagmire of poverty, unemployment and loneliness. It is their pain, hopelessness, and especially their lost state without Christ that moves LAM missionaries to set aside comfortable lifestyles to share Christ's message of hope.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

LAM has communicated the following needs:

There are many projects that are in need of funding. The following is the Latin America Mission Project List for 2004.

Economic Development - micro-credit and job creation programs for poor families in Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras, Costa Rica and Argentina. Consulting assistance welcome through short or long-term commitments. Technical assistance needed in production and marketing. Revolving loan funds and start-up capital also necessary for new projects in Mexico and Peru.

Children's Programs - children at risk are the focus of programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Sponsorship funding is sought, and all programs have monthly support plans. Visitors are welcome, and short and long-term assignments exist for those willing to help.

Camping Programs - evangelistic camping outreach in Honduras, Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Scholarships are needed for participants. Construction crews are welcome.

Missionary Orientation - June ten-day preparation for new missionaries held in Miami. Scholarships are needed for people who are called to missions, but who do not have resources to attend.

Seminary Training - Biblical training for pastors in Venezuela, Colombia, and Costa Rica, with impact throughout the region. Scholarships are needed. Full-time professors are being sought for programs in Peru and Argentina.

Leadership Training Conferences - held for Latin American leaders on critical topics such as development of boards, local funding sources, management, etc. Scholarships are needed.

Administrative Costs - Oversight of ministry projects. The Mission assesses a low 13 % service charge, and requires approximately $250,000 per year additional to meet operational costs for services to missionaries.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

This ministry has not been rated