I want to tell you a story about a Latin American pastor-teacher-musician and a recent Timothy Two workshop for pastors and ministry leaders that he taught just a few days before the nation of Chile shut down because of COVID-19. And don’t miss his music video at the end of this post.
Helmuth (center) with his mother Detelvina (right)
Helmuth Zalathiel Aguilar Navarro grew up in the Los Lagos (“Lakes”) region of southern Chile (South America) and completed his theological training at the Baptist Seminary in Santiago, Chile during the 1980’s. His mother, Detelvina Navarro Cárdenas, age 88, still lives in this region of Chile where she and her husband, the late Blas Aguilar, served as pastors for over 60 years. His mother, also known as “Pastora Nina,” hosted a radio program “Opening Scriptures” for children on radio Colonia for many years. Now retired, she is still serving the Lord by facilitating a weekly home Bible study.
You may have noticed, like I did, that Helmuth’s first name looks and sounds more German than Chilean. That’s because this region was settled also by German immigrants as part of a state-sponsored colonization plan between 1850 and 1875 after the German revolutions of 1848-49. “[T]he Germans of southern Chile retained much of their German culture or Deutschtum.” So over the course of time, many communities in this region developed a “dual Chilean and German sense of belonging.” So it’s not surprising that Helmuth’s parents gave him a German-sounding first name when he was born.
Please pray for Timothy Two Project International’s Latin American national missionary partner, Helmuth Aguilar (left). He is currently stranded in Chile [South America] trying to secure a humanitarian flight back to his home and wife, Hilda (center), in El Salvador [Central America].
Helmuth taught a workshop in Osorno, Chile in March, but became stranded by the COVID-19 lockdowns in Chile and El Salvador.
Each workshop trains a group of 10-15 church leaders in the fundamentals of the Christian faith including important topics of doctrinal theology, practical theology and teaching methods. Every participant receives a printed workbook in their own language. These workbooks contain the entire text, illustrations, review questions and application questions that participants can use for further study and for teaching others in their own church, small group or mission. Participants also receive a digital file of each workbook so that they can make fresh copies for their students.
In 2016, God opened the door to Latin America for Timothy Two. As the first Instructor, I (Dan) taught 2 workshops in 2 different countries – Colombia (1) and Haiti (1) – training a total of 24 pastors and church leaders.
In 2017, I taught 7 workshops in 4 different countries – Cuba (4), Belize (1), El Salvador (1) and Peru (1) – training a total of 45 pastors and church leaders.
My wife, Beth Sonnenberg, taught 1 workshop for children’s ministry and 1 workshop for music ministry leaders in Cuba – training a total of 18 leaders.
In 2018, I taught 10 workshops in 5 different countries – Cuba (2), Belize (2), Peru (2), El Salvador (2) and Haiti (2) – training a total of 60 pastors and church leaders.
Beth taught 4 workshops for children’s ministry leaders in 3 different countries – Cuba (2), Peru (1) and Haiti (1) – training a total of 40 leaders.
International Instructor Don Johnson taught 3 workshops in Cuba – training a total of 7 pastors and church leaders.
By the end of 2019, I will have taught 8 workshops in 7 different countries – Belize (1), Cuba (1), El Salvador (1), Ecuador (1), Peru (1), Colombia (1) and Dominican Republic (2) – training a total of 95 pastors and church leaders.
Beth taught 1 workshop for children’s ministry leaders in the Dominican Republic – training a total of 12 leaders.
0ur Latin American National Missionary Partners (indigenous pastors trained and funded by Timothy Two) will have taught 9 workshops in 3 different countries – Cuba (5), Chile (3), and El Salvador (1) – training a total of 65 pastors and church leaders.
Las Tunas, Cuba
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Cartagena, Colombia
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Llanquihue, Chile
Osorno, Chile
2016-2019 Grand Totals: 46 workshops, 10 countries, 219 participants
Summary: During the past four years, the combined efforts of International Instructors and National Missionary Partners will have completed a total of 46 workshops in 10 Latin American countries providing theological education to over 200 pastors and ministry leaders who would otherwise have no access to such training. And each of these leaders, in turn, is equipped to train others in their church, community and nation using the materials provided by Timothy Two. In this way, the Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” is being fulfilled in this region of the world. To God be the glory!
” …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also…”~ 2 Timothy 2:2
A number of participants shared their thoughts and feelings after completing the series of four pastors’ workshops in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
Francisco
“I give thanks to the Lord and to the brothers and sisters that are part of Timothy Two, God bless them all. And to the many collaborators and missionaries that are spreading this teaching around the world. I want to share what this workshop has done for us. It brings a lot of knowledge in the Word of God to every student. These are some of the things I have learned:
I have learned to worship God, to be in love with Him, and that causes us to be more willing to obey, and we praise Him.
I have learned how to guide a group of people under my charge. It has caused us to put in order the work of God, and it has taught me the requirements that every leader must have.
I have learned how to evangelize non-believers, and also about the spiritual gifts we have received from the Lord. This workshop challenges me with the help of God to serve others with love.
I thank all the sisters and brothers – my fellow participants in the class – because by being in the workshop together we have learned from each other.”
Rosa Lina
“In my personal experience, the Timothy Two seminar has helped me to teach my daughter’s father (he was not a believer). But now, by the grace of God, he attends church, he is now a member of the congregation with us and is receiving doctrinal studies in our church. Now he supports my every activity in the church I am involved in and he is participating, too. The seminars have been a great blessing to my life and my family. I have a lot to teach my little daughter, who is now 6 years old, about walking with God and about the work of the Lord. It has been a great tool to teach in my church with the young people. In fact there are new youth leaders that are being equipped with this knowledge though this material. I have been using it also to train teachers from Sunday school in our church. By this means we are spreading the teaching we have received and the teachers can share this with the children they have in Sunday school.”
