The number of clergy in Chile's Anglican Church has grown by almost 30 per cent in the last five years, but Michael and Jo Charles say their work is only just warming up.

The Charles' returned to Sydney last week after serving for three years as CMS missionaries in Santiago where they will return in six months' time.

Michael has been working as a lecturer in the Centre for Pastoral Studies, the college set up four years ago to train pastoral workers from across the social spectrum.

He says that the college's work is beginning to have a big impact on churches: the Anglican Church in Chile had just 30 pastors four years ago.

Now there are 37 and the number is set to increase.

This year they hope to see three Chileans graduate from the two-year course, but there are seven full-time students in first year and ten more will begin studying in 2007.

Amongst her work at home, school and church, Jo has lead Bible studies and run parenting seminars.

They say that the last three years have been challenging but fruitful.

"It's been good to see that God isn't dependent on us," Michael says.

After training as an architect, he has found teaching stretching.

"We're beginning to understand how God works through his word," he says.

"What's exciting is that if I can help them understand the Bible, God uses the Bible to transform their lives, and through them, their churches."

Six-foot fences and fervour for God

Chile was not quite what the Charles' had expected.

"What shocked me was the different between rich and poor," Jo says.

Michael describes his surprise at arriving back in Sydney and seeing bikes left out on peoples' front lawns.

"In Santiago, everything has a six-foot spiked fence" even the council garbage bins come with a chain to lock them to it," he says.

The Charles' say the rigid Chilean class system is often just as pronounced in Christian circles: lower-middle class Chilean Christians can feel very uncomfortable in an upper-class church.

But Jo is amazed by Chilean people's openness and fervour for God.

"They really want to know God better, they long to meet him and feel him.  People are so much more expressive."

After six months strengthening their partnerships with Sydney churches, the Charles' will head back to Chile for another three years.

Michael's language skills have improved greatly and he is excited about returning and being able to teach more clearly.

"I love the fact that God's word works in Spanish!" Jo says. "He's changing their hearts, changing the way they live."

"God's been so kind to let us experience some of that in our first term: it makes me even more keen to go back!"