GENERAL INFORMATION

Our college and career group exists to help college-age people connect to the St. Matthew's community in a comfortable environment. Many, although not all of us, have moved away from our families, and we want to experience the Church as the family of God. We also desire to help each other through the many transitions in this period of life, and especially to learn with others what it means to bless, and be blessed by, the Church body. Every Sunday morning after the 10:30 service we make lunch at the church and spend some time getting to know each other. Additionally, we are always glad to help out where we can, so if you have an odd job for us, please let us know!

If you would like more information, please contact Nick Mizer at Nicholas.J.Mizer@gmail.com.


SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer 2006
Argentina Missions
June 30th-July 17th, 2006
Buenos Aires and Northern Argentina
Our Itinerary: www.argentinamissions.org/25.html

This summer, six college-age people traveled to Argentina. We assisted the diocese of Northern Argentina in their efforts to build and grow into a self-supporting diocese. Most of our work, and contact, was through John Bothwell, who is currently the diocesan representative for the Anglican Diocese of Northern Argentina, and is now acting as the diocesan site coordinator for SAMS (South American Missionary Society), which is a branch of the Anglican Church.

The Problem. Over the past hundred years, Anglican missionaries, from England, have consistently trained and supported over one hundred and fifty parishes in the diocese of Northern Argentina (roughly the size of California). However, in the fallout from the Falklands War (1982), many of the missionaries have left, and their support dried up. As it stands now, these parishes are dying: their priests are aging and they do not have adequately trained replacements; in the more indigenous areas, many drink standing water from a nearby pond; and often many convert to Mormonism or Islam, as those missionaries continue to grow in number in this area.

The Need. However, there is a great movement currently underway to preserve historic Anglicanism in this region. Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Southern Cone of the Americas, and diocesan Bishop of Northern Argentina, has been regarded as one of the most powerful voices defending Biblical Christianity. John’s work with Archbishop Venables, and other Anglican leaders in South America, has led him to ardently seek laborers back in North America to serve the broader Anglican Church. Already, John has watched the near-completion of a conference center, which will be used both for local Synods and as a temporary Seminary, and the beginning of a water-drilling project that will efficiently provide a dependable water source for rural parishes. Yet, although growth is evident, it is also slow – the biggest need in this diocese is people.

The Solution. In this way, I am asking the members of the St. Matthew's Community to consider supporting this on-going mission. There are many needs and ways to get involved. For example, John estimates that there are only five Prayer Books for the entire diocese (only a few more have Bibles), and the annual budget for the diocese is a meager $30,000 (US), which includes the priest’s salaries. (Please visit John’s website for more information about the growing needs: www.argentinamissions.org.) Lastly, I encourage you to pray for this region, for the workers, leaders, and people who are striving to live for Christ not only with their lips, but also in their lives.

If you are interested in participating in any way, please contact either Gavin Fort (gavin.fort@gmail.com) or John Bothwell (john.d.bothwell@biola.edu).