Conferences

 

April 4,5, and 6 is our Annual Conference in Río Cuarto, March 20, 1947. I come back to this note in my parent's last letter in my possession. 

     I have so many fond memories of la conferencia over the years. They led me to research and record all I could learn about those yearly gatherings. 

    The annual event took place toward the end of summer, usually during the Carnaval holiday weekend, in the central church in Río Cuarto. The property itself holds a special place in my heart. I can still mentally amble through the building and grounds and conjure up sweet memories. 

     The Schrock family and Johanna Nielsen lived there and, of course, bore most of the hosting responsibilities. Mrs. Schrock wrote a note in anticipation of the big event.

    The annual conference will soon be here. Arrangements have already been made to make use of every nook and corner. The gallery of the house is very large, so that this year we will be making use of it for sleeping quarters for more women. Now it is Miss Nielsen’s and my job to figure out what to do with all the plants and the bird house. We realize that for the believers this is the highlight of the year. Here they meet old acquaintances, see new faces shining with the light of the Gospel, and feast upon the Word of God. Many times we missionaries become weary of this extra work which really tasks one. But the Lord is blessing in a wonderful way and thus we see that He does work out all the details so that the believers can take advantage of these extra blessings from Him. (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 3.06.48)

      The next year, Mother wrote an article for the denominational magazine and highlighted the blessing and growth of the annual conference.

    Although there are several factors which influence the attendance at the General Conference, it is a pretty fair means of measuring the condition of the work. In our first Conference, which was in February of 1946, we saw comparatively few (probably not more than 40) from outside Río Cuarto. I mean few in comparison with the following years—I know nothing of the attendance before.

    The tent used for a dining room seemed quite vacant, even when all were seated around the one long table. As sleeping quarters for the men our smallest tent was used, together with the garage. The women were comfortably located in the house.

    A short time ago we experienced our fourth Conference. Just from last year the attendance nearly doubled. But comparing it with that of 1946, this Conference four times as large, with an attendance of 185 from other towns. The women were crowded to the limit, and this after making temporary divisions for the large gallery which has never been used before. Instead of pitching the smallest tent for the men, the largest one was put into use. The dining-room tent had three times as much seating space, and there were two seatings for each meal.

    Speaking of La Carlota alone, in relation to the Conference, the change has been just as great. The first year there was one of the believers who went to C. This year there were 20 including the children. (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 7.30.49)

    Growth was happening among the missionary families as well. The Schrock twins' first birthday was well celebrated December 2, 1947.

 

    Not long after, came an announcement, supposedly by the Dowdy boys, Jimmy and Roger: "We must take time to tell you that the Lord sent us a little brother at 6:00 a. m. April 26th, 1948. His name is ROBERT LUIS, and he is nice and plump, and weighs 8 pounds!”

     Important sessions took place during or in connection with the General Conference. One of those was the Field Council which involved all the foreign missionaries on the field at the time. This photo of the five North American workers present in 1948 is one of my favorites--it reflects the joy and camaraderie of serving together for the Kingdom of God.

Schrock, Maconaghy, Hoyt, Dowdy, Sickel

    I was especially interested in the first and foremost resolution of that year's meeting (2.10.48)

1.  . . . each believer feels the responsibility of the work, so that It may become the work of the Argentine Republic, united by common faith and the headship of Christ Jesus to the Brethren of the North, but not depending upon them financially.

Further resolutions included:

--express appreciation to all those who in one way or another contributed to the fine success of the Conference. [Followed by a long list of people, services, and specific ways in which they would be recognized.]

--presented a gift to Pastor Sickel, with best wishes for divine blessings on his mission to Brazil.

--fraternal greetings to the Brethren in North America and Africa and the church in Rosario, pastor Caramuti, the Immanuel Baptist. 

--common effort in evangelization, constant prayer for different missions, and for the Bible Institute. 

--try to acquire our own camp grounds in the Sierras where youth of different congregations become better acquainted. 

--pray for next year's conference; fund for better facilities; duration extended so delegates (one per 25 members from each church) may meet at the beginning and last day to consider new ideas.

    Johanna Nielsen, in her report, noted the significance of this years' delegate participation--the first effort of the Argentines themselves! 

    After one of the earlier council meetings, Dad wrote in one of his letters, From the discussion which took place we will have a Brethren Church of the Argentine before we know it. 

    That was always the goal, and indeed it was so. There are no longer any foreign missionaries from the Grace Brethren Church in Argentina. The growing fellowship is totally autonomous.

    Now, more about the conferences of those early years. Miss Nielsen wrote a personal letter to a friend about the 1949 conference. The news was so encouraging that it was shared openly in the magazine.

    We had the best conference ever, probably from any standpoint. There were 172 here from out of town and at least 150 of them slept and ate right on the property. The room formed by the partition was somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 by 35 feet. Some women had cots, but more just had mattresses on the floor, and practically every foot of floor space was used. Lois had Mrs. Caramuti and her little girl and the twins in with her. In another room was Mrs. Hoyt and children and another woman and baby. The other two rooms were just as full as the patio. Up here [Miss Nielsen lived in an upstairs apartment above the salón] I had Mrs. Wagner and the three girls and Dorothy Maconaghy. The men slept in a tent and truck and the garage. But you can hardly imagine the spirit that prevailed. It was really wonderful. When it looked as though everything was full, some more folks arrived, and Lynn went in to see if they could be accommodated, and the women began to try to move their cots and mattresses over a bit more and actually succeeded in making room for all and gladly, without a bit of complaint. . . . Quite a number were cared for in homes, but most of our people have no accommodations to offer.

    Friday was a blistering hot day, and that night a storm came and lowered the temperature so much that the mornings and evenings were chilly, and the daytime just right. So the Lord even took care of the weather. At Sunday School we had 232, I am quite sure an all-time record. In the evening there were 260 counted. You can guess it was no small job to feed all this crowd, but the Lord has provided us with a wonderful cook, from another town, who has been with us for three years. . .  One of the men from Cabrera (not yet a member) brought 2000 peaches, pears, and apples from his orchard as a gift to Conference.

    It was a strange coincidence that Mrs. Caramuti and Herminia Siccardi both attended their first Conference 19 years ago, and this is the first time that Mrs. Caramuti has been here since. The two compared notes and then called my attention to the difference between that one and this. Both were quite sick at heart at the other one and felt this one was really a foretaste of heaven. In fact, Brother Caramuti remarked at different times that if such a time could be had on earth, what will it be in heaven?

    Carnaval is on, but we hardly know it. The scheduled dance tonight in the boulevard was moved to the Plaza. We saw the Lord’s hand in so many details.

    The meeting of delegates: assumed the deficit and plan to build a large room over the garage to be used for men’s dormitory. Some offered labor, one getting cement at discount. Roof is to be made of reinforced concrete to serve as the ground floor for another story above that and the garage--a wonderful addition to the property. [Note: years later I taught in the Christian School in that addition.] A committee is going to the Sierras to see if they can find a campground good and reasonable. These are things that these laymen, not the missionaries have proposed. (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 4.02.49)

    Angela V. de Martin, a new believer from Corral de Bustos, wrote: IMPRESSIONS OF MY FIRST CONFERENCE

    After awaiting the long anticipated conference, the moment finally arrived, and with great joy I prepared to go to Río Cuarto, where it would be held.

    Arriving there, I met other brethren and sisters, who, as I, had been awaiting the time when the believers from the various congregations would meet together to glorify and honor the name of our Lord and Saviour.

    From the first moment I felt as though I had known them all for a long time. During that day and the following ones, others arrived. Everyone had only words of thankfulness for what the Lord had done, for they, as I, had been freed from sin.

    The messages, inspired by the Lord, were a blessing. Our hearts were filled with joy—that joy that only His children experience. One afternoon we had a meeting of women and girls. Each one had the privilege of giving her testimony. Truly one could appreciate the blessings that He sheds abroad in the lives of His children. The message given by Miss Nielsen increased our faith.

    The last day there were baptisms. I was very happy to be able to fulfill the command of the Lord. Also my husband and other believers were baptized that afternoon. That night the pastors and believers of the various congregations presented Mr. Sickel with a gift and an album signed by all.

    When the conference ended, we bid farewell to many until next year. I saw the believers leaving, full of joy, with the purpose of serving more faithfully, and the desire increased to take the message of salvation to others. Then came our turn to say “goodbye” and leave that beautiful place. I returned home with the desire to dedicate my life to the service of the Lord, and am anxiously awaiting the next conference in order to meet again the many Brethren and enjoy the fellowship with them and the Lord. (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 3.12.49)

Herminia Siccardi, wife of one of the Argentine pastors, wrote about the history of two outreaches to women: La Sociedad Misionera de Señoras and La Sociedad de María y Marta for the younger girls.

    In telling you, the sisters of North America, of the work of our church among the women of Argentina, I could not help but think of the first meeting of women and girls in my town, about the year 1928, a short time after my conversion from Catholicism to the Lord.

    The message that day was on the 23^rd Psalm, and we learned to sing the beautiful hymn, “Jehová es mi Pastor, me apacienta con amor.” We lovingly keep a snapshot of the group that met on that occasion. The meeting was led by our beloved Señorita Johanna Nielsen, who was the initiator of our women’s work in our district beginning with meetings for girls and women in the different towns.

    Later, when there was a group of converted women in each town, she, with the valuable cooperation of our much-loved Señora Loree de Sickel, made a simple constitution and by-laws, adequate for our needs, as a basis of what we call La Sociedad Misionera de Señoras, and La Sociedad de María y Marta, de la Iglesia de Los Hermanos. Thus organized we work among the women of our churches.

    Usually we have a monthly meeting of mostly devotional character, though some places they meet oftener. The offerings are disbursed according to the need, sometimes going to the Bible Coach, sometimes to help pay light and rent in some branch mission, or for traveling expenses of some of our women who go out to distribute our literature and tracts, and occasionally to help some poor person. Sometimes we meet and send out literature through the mails.

    For more than a year we have wanted to support entirely our national worker, Señorita Nélida Núñez. She is our representative personal worker. We have not yet reached that goal, but we are hoping, by God’s grace, that the societies will respond satisfactorily.

    The Day of Prayer on the 15^th of each month is one of real blessing and fellowship. 

    We thank God with all our hearts for you dear friends in North America, who by your prayers and definite help in the Lord’s work made it possible for the Gospel to reach us.(The Brethren Missionary Herald, 3.12.49)

    These sociedades held special sessions during annual conference. I remember reading that Mother had a part in one of them. The missionary wives also wrote occasional letters to the Societies in North America. 

    In 1950, Mother wrote one titled MISSIONARY CHILDREN, especially for the Sisterhood of Mary and Martha. Interestingly, years later, when I went to Grace College feeling very alone, one of the first class mates I met, told me she had grown up knowing my name and praying for me in her church.

RITA DORENE HOYT

    While we were still in Seminary. May 18, 1944, we received the first little life entrusted to us. She behaved rather well so that we could finish our training in order to make this long trip down to Argentina to serve the Lord. Before reaching this land, she said very few words; however, she did learn to say some difficult ones such as “Argentina.” She also learned to tell the people where she was going by saying, “far away” and making the proper gestures with her hand. She was the first of our family to touch Argentine soil—and she has touched it plenty since. As a result of one fall, she has a scar on her forehead where she fell against a brick in our patio as she was chasing a little hen.

    Rita is tiny for her age. She has brown eyes and blonde hair. She loves to read and be read to. She has already read three or four books in English, but as yet we haven’t taught her to read Spanish. She also likes to help Mama (when there is no one with whom to play). She wipes the dishes, shines the faucets, makes her bed and even tries to iron and scrub. She loves Jesus with all her heart. About a year ago she let Jesus come into her heart and in December 1949 she manifested publicly her love for Him. She speaks Spanish better than we do—at least the pronunciation is better.

    Some months ago they had the story of Daniel in the lions’ den in the Sunday-School class. When she came home we asked her why the lions didn’t eat Daniel. She said, “But Mama, the lions were made of paper.”

 

LYNN ARTHUR HOYT

    When this little one came into the world, he had hair which was decidedly red, but now it can scarcely be called red hair. He was born January 3, 1948, in Río Cuarto, Argentina. He would well be called “perpetual motion.” Needless to say, he keeps us busy. But the sad part of it is that because of his limitless energy he receives bumps continually and destroys many things in the house. He just goes from one to another—dumps the liquid glue, then dumps the ink, then pulls out the buttons, after that he is into the china closet, and then breaks the fountain pen.

    Well, we are just praying that the Lord will give us grace to direct this energy into the right channels that he may be a servant of the Lord. (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 8.12.50)

    Needless to say, I was surprised to discover this article and read what my mother shared. I don't remember the occasion she refers to of my public declaration of faith. The story of my very literal interpretation of Daniel's rescue from the lions was oft repeated and passed down in our family. 

    We are long past the days of Bible stories told with the aid of flannelgraph figures. My understanding of Daniel's example has deepened and become relevant to my life today.

    Daniel was among the exiles carried away to a foreign country at a young age, groomed and trained to serve the king. By now he was old, had served several succeeding rulers faithfully. His loyalty and wisdom earned him the highest leadership positions in the empire, as well as the bitter envy of other officials. They could find no fault in him so came up with a deceitful scheme to bring him down. Daniel's first allegiance was to God. No king's decree was going to keep him from worshiping his God. So he quietly continued his daily prayers even though it meant death. 

    So, why did the lions not attack Daniel? His answer to the distraught King Darius who realized too late that his officials had tricked him, "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty (Dan. 6:22 NIV)."

    Daniel was blameless and he trusted in his God, in life and death!

    This is a strong message for all of us who live in this corrupt world as “exiles” awaiting our heavenly home.

Tents and Temples

The big tent and don Pedro Olthoff

 

    The story of my family's early years in Argentina moves on even as one source, my parents' correspondence, is drying up. Articles from the denominational magazine, The Brethren Missionary Herald, help me put together the puzzle of the next years in La Carlota. 

    These were still pioneering years for the Grace Brethren Church in Argentina. Dad reflected on those times in a 1947 article:

    Many are the thrilling experiences of a new missionary—his first opportunities to converse in the new tongue, his first time to pray, to lead a meeting, and to preach. Among these also is the first daily vacation Bible school. For my wife and me this joy came rather early in our ministry. We entered the work in November and began our Bible schools the following month.

    The first was held in La Carlota. With our little experience and our very limited vocabulary we could not have done it alone. Three of the believers aided wonderfully; in fact did most of the labors, we expected a better attendance. Our little experience was one of the big impediments, but Satan was also at work as evidenced by one mother coming to the door and very angrily forbidding her son to come with these Evangélicos.

    The next Bible school in our smallest town, Los Cisnes, was excellent. The attendance was from 23 to 33 each day. There also we had help—a believer from La Carlota and two believers of Los Cisnes. The Gospel was presented so clearly that surely fruit shall be seen from those efforts.

    In Santa Eufemia we were fortunate to have the help of Nélida Nuñez, who now is a full-time worker in the mission. The first day there were only seven. The second it rained and there were nine. Changing our methods from waiting to seeking we saw wonderful results. Forty-five children were reached for Christ and thirty-five were present at one time.

    The final Bible school was held in Alejandro. We were completely alone. Starting with four children, at the end of six days there were sixteen. In all, about one hundred twenty children heard the Gospel and carried it to their homes. The next summer we are expecting even greater results." (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 8.09.47)

     A general update from the Argentine field in the 1947 November issue stated, "The summer is upon us with its tent meetings, young people’s camp, daily vacation Bible schools, and the conference." These annual events belong in my memories like favorite pieces of furniture in a family home.

    The big tent is one of those memorable "characters" in my life story. Researching the ministry of la carpa, added history and texture to my memories.

    An earlier report from the field written a year before my family's arrival, told of the four tent campaigns that summer, the blessings and the tribulations. Two new towns were now open to the Gospel. In the first one, held in November of 1943, sixty people responded to the invitation to give their lives to Christ. 

    In another town with an eight-year-old Gospel witness, there were eleven responses despite great opposition of all kinds. The worst came January 31, 1944, when the lights were cut and the the tent was stoned with people inside. Some rocks were big enough to cause serious injury or even fatally wound a person.

      Johanna Nielsen, a single missionary lady from California, had now returned to Argentina after a lengthier home stay to care for her ailing father. She was assigned to report on the different mission points. About her stop in La Carlota, she wrote:

". . . we find Brother and Sister Hoyt thrilled to the depths of their hearts. The Lord is blessing their ministry in a special way—men and women, boys and girls taking their stand for the Lord in almost every Sunday service. Believers are growing in the faith, and they are now looking forward to a building campaign. At present, they are making plans to purchase a lot. (The Brethren Misionary Herald, 9.06.47)"   

    This earlier photo of the meeting hall was taken in our first year in La Carlota. My parents had plans to decorate it with mottos or Bible verses. But in their letters, I soon detected hints of its inadequacy and then in 1948 they were asked to be out of the salón, it was to be sold.   

This is the salón in La Carlota.
 At the right front is the organ,
in the middle the pulpit,
at the left the flannel board. 

    Miss Nielsen mentioned a building fund, among other things, in her report the following year:

This is a windy country, but that week [of the tent meeting in La Carlota] it outdid itself, with wind and dust and then cold that kept folks shivering and reduced attendance greatly. However, when the weather was not too bad, we had quite good attendance, and even when it was bad the believers were very faithful in attendance and there were always some from the outside.

The vacation Bible school that was held in the tent during this same ten days was also handicapped, but the children did not seem to mind the dust too much. They seemed to have a good time. One member invited her sister’s three children to come from another town to visit her in order that they might attend the school and services. They went home happy, with awards for memory work and attendance, and, we trust, with a greater love for the Lord and His Word.

On Sunday, the 21st, the Christmas program was given in the hall, with a full house. This hall is not very adequate either, and this little group is laying aside a fund for building a church. The Hoyts brought me to Río Cuarto on December the 22^nd, and remained here, only returning to care for services until the new son arrived January 3^rd. Lynn Arthur had to be modified to Arturo Lyn to conform with Argentine law, but it does not seem to worry him in the least. (The Brethren Misionary Herald, 3.06.48) 

    In 1950, Dad wrote an article entitled "My! How That Man Preaches!"

    The days were hot and dry. There was so much dust and wind that one preferred staying inside and suffering from the heat to going out to be blown full of dirt. Our home was full of visitors. We were in the midst of tent meetings and daily vacation Bible schools in La Carlota. When I say the house was full, I mean just that, for besides the four of us, there were two fellows from the Bible Institute directing the D.V.B.S. and a preacher and his two children from Rosario. In all we were nine. This may not seem like many, but when there is only one to do all the cooking and cleaning besides caring for the children and washing the clothes, then it becomes almost a superhuman task. But the trials did not end there. There was such a scarcity of water that we had to fill the bathtub and use it as a storage tank. We therefore did our bathing in the wash tub. 

    At 9:30 a.m. we arranged our powerful public-address system and began to play hymns and call all the children to attend the Bible school at 10 a.m. The children came running to discover what new thing had come to town. Great joy filled our hearts to see the two Bible Institute boys take charge of the classes. Truly they won their way into the hearts of these little children. 

    In the evening again we turned on the loudspeakers and called all the people to the tent to hear the blessed message of freedom through Christ. In order to reach a greater number of people with the Gospel, we used the loudspeakers during the whole service. Each night the messenger brought a clear Gospel message, calling upon the people to repent and believe the Gospel. Although he is an Italian, he has been in the country 40 years and commands the attention of the people by his way of speaking. 

    Rich and poor attended these meetings, but the most remarkable of all is that everybody heard the messages. The most interesting part has been the comments throughout the town after the meetings. While buying vegetables at a certain place all the way across town, I spoke to them of the meetings and they revealed that they sat on the front walk each evening and heard everything. Another day I was in a certain store when the owner, a very devoted Catholic, said, "My! how that man preaches!" 

    While in the grocery store, one of the owners, always very friendly, admitted that he knew where to go for the truth, but because of the business, the relatives, etc. he could not do it. He also mentioned that he and his wife stood for over an hour listening one night and his wife remarked, "They aren't like our priests. These folks don't attack anyone."

    Some three or four weeks later, I had occasion to go to the home of a certain German who lives close to our lot. He voluntarily mentioned the tent meetings and the messages. He said that he liked the music, but especially the messages. "I see you are going to build," he added "You're going to shut yourself in so that we can't hear any more of those fine messages."  I assured him that he would hear more, for we expect to use the P.A. system the year round.

     That was the beginning of my father's first building program. Throughout his life and ministry he was not only a church planter but also a hands-on builder of meeting places.

    This thought led me to look up all the Bible references to tent of meeting or tabernacle, and temple -all names of a place to meet with God. I learned much of interest. The pre-temple tent was central to everyday life for the nomadic Israelites. The tribes set up their encampments around the tabernacle and it always led the march and in their many wanderings through the wilderness. God had laid out detailed instructions for every aspect: its construction and furnishings; assigned servants and rules of conduct; and regular sacrifices and rituals. 

    The prominent purpose of this place where God met man, was reconciliation. God's heart longed for restored fellowship with His chosen people. 

    The big tent I remember served in many roles: to draw people to hear the message of salvation for the first time; to host different age groups during summer Bible schools; and provide multipurpose spaces for camps and conferences to further teaching and discipleship. Always the message remained, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you (James 4:8 ESV)."

The Bible Coach

    

    The beloved Coche Bíblico stands out in my memories like a favorite character. As I traced its ubiquitous presence, I arrived at a fuller understanding of the history of the Brethren church in Argentina.  

    Colportage, traveling about selling and distributing religious tracts and books, became quite common at the time of the Reformation, but goes back centuries before that. The term, from the French, combination of comporter (to peddle) and col (neck), meant “to carry on one’s neck” indicating the early method of transporting literature. Colporteurs’ means of travel have varied throughout the centuries.  

    In Argentina, other Bible peddlers had gone before, some on horseback or sulky (horse and buggy). An early challenge to the Brethren in the USA exhorted parishioners to share in the purchase of a Bible Coach for this new mission field. It  read: “We have only talked Bible Coach while our missionaries have walked. If we thought less of auto-riding and more of ought-to-giving. . .” A plea also went out for workers to be the colporteurs. 

    In 1918 The Brethren Foreign Missionary Society authorized the purchase of a Bible Coach. A fund toward the project had begun in 1917 in North Manchester, IN. The 1919 Easter offerings from the churches provided the rest, with the Muncie Mission being the first to send in its contribution of 25 cents per member.

    A Ford Truck frame, purchased in La Carlota (the same town where my family´s missionary journey began!), served as the chassis. The top, designed by an expert from Barcelona and built in Río Cuarto, cost approximately $2,000. It was a model of compactness and convenience, suited to the ministry, and so well made it could last a lifetime.

    The back of the front seat folds down and a front piece comes up, forming a bed which can be prepared in a moment. Below is the space for books and tracts, while above on one side is the wardrobe and on the other the kitchen outfit. The wardrobe doors open revealing a side seat. A blue-flame kerosene stove serves splendidly for the cooking. At the rear, a narrow tier of shelves and drawers make room for toilet articles, etc.

    Over the side steps on the outside there are cylindrical tanks for water, gasoline, carburo [carbide], and tools. The carbide makes a satisfactory light for the interior of the coach or for a meeting around the coach. The side windows are reversible, and one side is a blackboard, which bears the notices on each side of the coach. The front windows are removable. When they are on, the coach is entirely closed and can be locked up and left like a house. The center is high, to permit standing upright, and windows at each side of the high part give light and ventilation. Three or four persons can live comfortably in the coach but there is a small tent which can be taken along when necessary. The coach has proven its ability to go over all kinds of bad roads where an ordinary auto can go and has carried as many as twenty-five people through mud and rain. (The Brethren Evangelist, July 21, 1921.)

    The Bible Coach was dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1920. 

    Three workers aboard, el Auto Evangélico left on its maiden trip. Their first destination was La Carlota, “my” town. 

    Clarence Sickel was the new missionary commissioned for this unique ministry. Clarence and Loree had arrived in the country in November of 1919 and were still learning the language and ways of Argentina. Two seasoned workers, Yoder and Edwards, accompanied them. Clarence proved to be a model driver, could sing stirring solos, and even had mechanic skills. Loree remained in La Carlota with the resident missionaries to help them pack for their return to the US.

    As one writer put it, “There’s muckle adae when cadgers ride." (“There is large much ado when carriers ride.” The Brethren Evangelist, October 6, 1920.) A whole lot of preparation took place before the couriers set out--to stock the cupboards with provisions (cold cuts, eggs, tea, etc.), and bed clothing; to load an abundant supply of Bibles, New Testaments, scripture portions and tracts; to fill the fuel and water tanks.

    Then the real work began.

    We find that the auto behaves beautifully with the load it carries. . . people everywhere come out to see the auto that looks more like a streetcar. We can stop most anywhere and have people to talk to from morning to night. (The Brethren Evangelist, June 23, 1920.)

Charles Yoder, the pioneer with a decade of experience who went along for a few days on this first outing, continues: We sleep better in the coach than in a house and have it conveniently arranged for cooking as well. On the way from one town to another we can take all the quails, pheasants, rabbits we want and sometimes armadillos and ducks. [More importantly, however,] we distributed thousands of good tracts and portions of the scriptures and are quite enthusiastic over the work. (The Brethren Evangelist, June 23, 1920.)

It is our policy to confine our work to our district, and on account of the high price of gasoline (60 centavos per gallon, equivalent $1) to remain in a town until it is thoroughly canvassed before going to another. (The Brethren Evangelist, July 21, 1921.)

The district referred to, an area comparable to the state of Indiana, is in the province of Córdoba in the center of Argentina, with headquarters in Río Cuarto. This city was chosen for several reasons—the largest population (35,000), its centrality and its mild climate, but mostly it was still unoccupied, unreached, in a spiritually dark and hostile area. The idea was to expand out from there along the different lines of the railroad, and the plan for the Bible Coach was to canvass every town in each direction, even stopping along the way at country homes. One colporteur, who had been doing this kind of work for years with his horse and buggy, joined the new team in the beginning to reach remote country homes not accessible to the Coach. 

These colporteurs imitated the pattern Jesus gave the disciples when he sent them out. “Go your way, behold I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves . . . Whatever house. . . if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.” (Luke 10:3-4)

When a town is entered, if there are people already interested in the gospel, they soon make themselves known and thus form a group or center for further work. A record is kept of all persons interested in each town, so that the work can be followed up in subsequent visits. (The Brethren Evangelist, July 21, 1921)

    This “church on wheels” was entering the domain of the Roman Catholic Church which, at that time, had no competition. Sadly, it was not a robust and pure religion. Although it had lost credibility due to widespread corruption and immorality, it still held cultural and political control. Priests began to organize special events, festivals, dances, loud music, anything to distract and oppose the efforts of the “intruders.” Some resorted to threats, destroying the literature and inciting violence. School teachers could threaten and punish those who associated with the evangélicos. The level of opposition varied depending on whether the town had a resident priest or only a visiting monk. Nuns were considered the worst enemies. 

    However, a welcoming like-minded minority prevailed among the European-born immigrants. The great immigration wave (late nineteenth, early twentieth century) brought people who had been taught the Bible. These were among the first followers, helpers, and leaders in the mission points and churches established as a result of more than thirty years of colportage. Some had long prayed for a Bible-believing fellowship. A few had begun to teach the Bible in their native language until a Spanish helper came along. Interestingly, most of the evangelists who traveled with the Bible Coach had European roots: German, Chech, Spanish, Italian. Reasons for migration were as varied as the nationalities—to seek a better life, to escape hardship and oppression, to find or develop new business opportunities. In some towns, such as La Carlota, the Bible Coach workers conducted separate meetings for the English-speaking population, mostly British, earlier immigrants who played an important role in the development of the Argentine railways.

    The Bible Coach workers were sent out in pairs for a four-month tour and, when possible, spent the winter in one town involved in follow-up ministry. The routine was to first go to the police station and town authorities to inform them of the purpose of their visit and get permission to set up in a choice location for open air meetings or to find a hall they could use for indoor gatherings. Then they wrote the time and place on the reversible blackboard window and canvassed the town to invite people and peddle their literature. 

The advantages afforded by this unique vehicle were listed in an article by field superintendent, C. F. Yoder.

    This method allows for several colporteurs to work together, thus encouraging one another. Second, they remain in one place as long as they wish with little expense and continue the work whether the weather is favorable or not. Third, to follow up their selling by teaching. Fourth, makes possible public meetings. Fifth, to carry a larger variety of Bibles, tracts, and other books suitable. Sixth, to reach the small villages and country places which the colporteur cannot ordinarily reach on account of the difficulty and expense. Seventh, the BC attracts the attention of those who are interested in the work and brings gifts and offerings. (The Brethren Evangelist, July 21, 1921.)

    The beloved Coche Bíblico labored long and hard for more than thirty years, weathering storms of all kinds: médanos, sandstorms during periods of drought; pantanos, deep mud bogs during rainy seasons; and the spiritual opposition.

    After five years the motor broke down. In 1927 it was back in service with a repaired motor and repainted body. There were times when it languished in a garage. Changes, additions, and improvements were made along the way.
In 1928 a half-tent was attached to the side, and the need for a major overhaul was recognized. That same year, Mrs. Lowmann, from Roann, IN, asked that in lieu of memorial flowers, monies go to a fund for the “church on wheels.” She died September 3. The $43.50 that came in started the offering needed for the new chassis. The mission points born from the many visits of the Bible Coach also contributed their support.

    In the winter of 1929, the Bible Coach sat idle. There was a serious flu epidemic. Schools were closed for a whole month. In Río Cuarto alone, fifteen to twenty funerals were conducted daily. When spring weather came around, however, two workers set out with the old coach on a south westerly route. 

    Then in 1930 a new chassis was purchased with a “horse of the proper size which gives a sense of power and security.” (The Brethren Evangelist, January 4, 1930.) With a new coat of paint and the addition of a stereopticon projector and loud speaking equipment, the Coach was ready and loaded for its next tour. 

    A couple of years later a tent and folding benches for two hundred were added, allowing for overflowing crowds to meet inside and out.

    Seventeen years after the beginning of its travels, an annual report from the mission field stated: The high light of our work is, no doubt, the Bible Coach. With its present equipment of loudspeaker and balopticon, and the facility for giving outdoor illustrated messages, we have one of the most efficient ways in all of the Argentine of giving the Gospel message to the people as a whole. The music draws the crowds, the pictures hold the attention, and the message given through the loudspeaker cannot fail to reach the ears, not only of those who draw near, but many more who remain in their homes, refusing to be seen with the “heretics.”  (The Brethren Evangelist, October 9, 1937.)

    Numbers may better express the magnitude of the outreach. That year alone, the tour covered twenty-five towns and held eighty-three meetings (64 open air, 19 in halls) with audiences between 350 and 1200. The written Word went out by the hundreds--850 New Testaments, 175 Bibles, 500 portions. The Lord’s blessing was on the ministry despite a late start due to lack of workers. The late mild fall weather allowed the Coach ministry to continue longer than usual. Far beyond these quantifiable statistics, eternity will reveal the impact of the colporteurs’ visits to each home, their many contacts and conversations.

    The advantages of this ministry have been enumerated thus: each town had the opportunity to hear the Gospel; isolated believers found fellowship and follow up; believers began to meet to study the Bible; Sunday Schools led to mission points and then established churches; the colporteurs were blessed and grew in the process; each visit blessed, encouraged, and grew the mission points; and those who supported the work were blessed. 

    The statement, we have never done a better work in Argentina than to send out the Bible Coach (The Brethren Evangelist, August 3, 1935.) proved true after years of ministry and unnumbered tours that led to mission stations and later established churches. 

    This Gospel work impacted the culture. 

    Writing specifically to the effect on women, one missionary wrote:  

    Evangelical missions have no easy path to tread in Latin America, but they have left a trail of gospel seeds through tracts, leaflets, testaments, Bibles, and lives that have done more than anything else to keep the women of Latin America from the grave danger of swinging away from all religion, as her men did. (The Brethren Evangelist, March 12, 1938.)

    The intense persecution in the beginning and the amazing results years later, reminded me of the promise, “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. (Psalm 126:6)"

    The concept of vehicles as means to spread the Gospel has become a recurring theme in my life. 

    I married a man with a heart for God and the mind of an engineer. Convinced that, like Bezalel in the Old Testament (Ex. 35:30-33), he could use his gift for design and invention to help spread the Word,  he outfitted recreational vehicles with secret compartments to carry thousands of units of scriptures and literature to be delivered by dedicated Christian “tourists” to believers in closed countries. He also designed a remotely controlled airplane to drop packets of Gospel literature into Albania, at the time the country most closed to the Gospel. 

    Later, as a family, we lived five years on a missionary ship, yet another vehicle to penetrate many nations with the Good News. As a community of more than three hundred volunteers, our main goal was to make the message of abundant life in Jesus accessible in many lands.

    Jesus Himself took on a human body as a vehicle to dwell among us, reveal God’s nature, and even be delivered for our salvation and life abundant. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10b ESV)”