CMS missionaries Martin and Julie Field leave Sydney in February to help in a strategic push to train and equip the future leadership of the Latin American church.
Only a handful of part-time Christian staff workers currently serve over one million Argentine university students.
"The church is growing in Argentina," says Martin Field. "It's not pioneer work, but the evangelical church needs confidence in God's word, and to grow in their understanding of the Scriptures."
After 12 months of language study in Buenos Aires, the Fields will be posted to a university to work with the evangelical student organisation ABUA (Asociación Biblica Universitaria Argentina), most likely in a provincial city.
"There's so much work to do," says Martin. "Every province has a university, and many have small groups, but there are no staffworkers alongside them."
"We hope to be involved in raising up a new generation of gospel workers " not just fulltime workers " but a generation who love Christ and who will serve in their churches for the rest of their lives."
Both Martin and Julie have worked with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students in western Sydney, and for both student ministry played a key role in their Christian growth.
"At high school I had been a "wimpy' Christian," says Martin.
"Things changed at uni where I was challenged to think about what it meant to give up my life for the gospel. Uni is a great place for the gospel to shape the decisions that Christian students make about the future."
Julie met Jesus as a first year university student.
"I reaslied that being a "good' person was not what God required," she says. "God kindly placed many Christians in my path who introduced me to Jesus."
She says that as well as family and friends, she will greatly miss Cadbury chocolate.
"Apparently they do have it over there, but it's really awful!" she laughs.
