Apoyo (support)

One of the SIM ministries here is Apoyo. Apoyo is all about helping the pastors of Bolivia, and will do all that they can to help them. One thing that is drastically different for pastors here, is that most of them do not get paid for their ministry. They spend their lives moving from here to there, in whatever is available for them to live in. There are even some pastors who are paid in potatoes and rice!

One of the many facets of this ministry includes three year interest free loans given to pastors for one of either three things: to buy land, construct a house, or rent a house.
Since pastors are always moving, this helps those who are ready for retirement and provides a place for them to live. Pastors are unable to loan money from the banks here because of their low salaries and the high interest loans. Bolivian pastors are paid $30-40 per month.


Through this ministry we met Pastor Gregario. We were able to spend all morning with him on Friday morning, and we were definitely blessed by it. He had such an incredible story from being given up by his parents, to running away, to being found by his family, to entering the military, becoming a Marxist, to being invited to church and the rest is history. He has been a Christian since 1964, and a pastor shortly after. He has planted several churches, and is planning on retiring after next year.

On Sunday morning we were able to go to Pastor Greg’s church. We just loved it. The people were incredibly warm and welcoming, and didn’t mind as we wandered around taking photos, which always helps.






Towards the end of his teaching, I heard my name being called. Now SIM prepares us in training to be ready to “preach, pray or die at any moment.” Well the pastor was asking me to share about my time in Africa and share how the church is doing there. They were looking at missions and persecution in the sermon. So I went to the front and spoke for about 10-15 minutes on the church in Ghana, Liberia and Niger. And then my favorite
thing happened since being here... All of the Bolivian church members stood
up, bowed their heads and prayed for the Christians and churches in
Ghana, Liberia and Niger. It was quite a moment for me... To see the world
and Christians coming together not only from my home country to Africa, or
home country to Bolivia... But Bolivia to Africa. It was the natives that I wasn’t expecting to pray for these other countries, yet it was one of the biggest blessings to be a part of.