"Gospel Opportunities in Latin America." The June 19, 1943, issue of
the Pentecostal Evangel shouted this headline, informing readers of
the thriving Assemblies of God churches in Central and South America.
H. C. Ball, pioneer missionary to Latin Americans, reported that "God is
blessing" evangelical churches in countries where Protestants had
traditionally been viewed as cults. Ball noted the numerical success of
Pentecostals in Brazil (60,000 adherents), surmising that "Brazil will
become one of the leading [Pentecostal] nations in world in years to come."
Ball's prediction came true, and the Assemblies of God in Brazil in 2011
claimed more than 23 million adherents, the largest national fellowship in the World
Assemblies of God Fellowship.
Ball also encouraged readers to pray for Argentina, explaining that "the
Pentecostal forces there are small and inadequate." Beginning in the
1950s, a series of overlapping revivals brought great Pentecostal growth to
Argentina. In 2011, the Assemblies of God in Argentina claimed more than one million
believers.
"This seems to be the special day of opportunity for the Assemblies of God
in [Latin America]." This observation by Ball, written almost 70 years
ago, certainly continues to be true today.
Read Ball's article, "Gospel Opportunities in Latin America," on
pages 1, 10-11, and 13 of the June 19, 1943, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel.
Also featured in this issue:
* "Voices from Eternity," by Wesley R. Steelberg
* "The Basic Unity of Evangelical Christianity," by J. Roswell Flower
And many more!
Click here to read this issue now.
Pentecostal Evangel archived editions courtesy of the Flower Pentecostal
Heritage Center.
For current editions of the Evangel, click here.
