Life seems completely pleasant as people stroll along La Rambla, a 13-mile promenade on Uruguay’s coast beside Montevideo.

Bicycles cruise the sidewalk as flags flap and palm trees sway in the breeze. But Dave Roberts said the stable, safe country has challenges few share: Uruguayans have many mental health needs and higher rates of suicide than most South American countries.

 “There’s a need to reach people here in Uruguay,” the Converge global worker said. “There’s a need to see churches planted.”

All kinds of family problems

Dave and his wife, Beth, moved to Uruguay in September 2021 to be part of Converge’s Southern Cone Initiative. The team aims to create a gospel movement among millions of least-reached people of primarily European descent who live in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

The country has a lot of social isolation and negativity. Uruguayans also handle conflict by cutting off the relationship rather than apologizing and forgiving. They are a more closed and private people group than most in Latin America.

“People get offended and never talk again,” he said. “That contributes to all kinds of family and relational problems.”

Evangelism on state properties or universities is illegal in Uruguay, where people often look down on evangelistic Christians. These factors combine to create a least-reached people group. 

Related: The Hui people in China face many legal and cultural barriers, but Christ is present.

 

There’s a need to reach people here in Uruguay. There’s a need to see churches planted.

Dave Roberts

One completely effective spiritual solution

However, there is hope: God’s people are praying and going as Christ works to save people.

The Robertses are part of a local church led by a missionary pastor. Dave is on the pastoral team, helping to counsel people, plan events, train volunteers and preach sermons. Beth focuses on discipling women, including outreach to moms. 

Soon, he will focus on leadership development of seminary students and working on projects to reach people outside the church. Empowering locals in ministry is a strategic move for the city of 1.5 million.

The Rambla region has a population of 400,000. But it’s the least-reached region of the Western Hemisphere — less than .5% of the people identifying as evangelical, Dave Roberts said. There are very few churches in La Rambla; only two in that region have more than 50 worshipers.

There is power for a gospel movement through building relationships as disciples help people. Uruguayans struggling with addiction have been finding Christ.

“People with no Christian background are coming to faith because, in the process of trying to overcome their addictions, they’re getting to know people who are believers,” he said. “They’re opening up to the gospel and hearing about it through those relationships.”

Converge is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.