Charismatic Evangelicals in Latin America: Mission and Politics on the Frontiers of Protestant Growth

Abstract

‘God is, therefore he thinks’, proclaimed posters in Oxford. The New Life Christian Church, recently arrived in one of the ancient seats of learning, advertised the visit of an Argentine evangelist, stressing that ‘we belong to a family of churches from the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and South America’. The South American connection was the important one. Under the name of Ríos de Vida, the church had begun in Argentina in 1967 with young people newly baptized in the Spirit. Now with 40 churches in its homeland, it has spread to Europe (15 churches). Its apostolic leadership, predominantly Argentine, is international in composition. Two-way international contacts abound in the church’s history: American missionaries played a facilitating role early on, and British Restorationist Arthur Wallis later collaborated in campaigns; in Europe, the Argentine leaders have preached in many countries. Another characteristic has been social work amongst the disadvantaged. Now, under a lay English university-educated man and his Argentine wife, Ríos de Vida takes its first steps in Oxford’s competitive religious marketplace.