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UruguayThe CountryIn November 1948, Luis Marden wrote an article for the National Geographic about Uruguay; he opened his article with the following words: "Some three quarters of a century ago, W. H. Hudson, a famous naturalist, rode the rolling plains of Uruguay and later described them in his unforgettable novel The Purple Land....Today, this smallest republic of South America has become the most densely populated." Uruguay is located between Argentina and Brazil on the Atlantic Ocean and, unlike other South American countries, has no natural barriers to evangelism such as jungles, deserts, or mountain ranges. The fierce, nomadic Charrua Indians, indigenous to these rolling plains, were either slaughtered by the Spanish or absorbed into the conquerors' culture; consequently, the country is monolingual. Uruguay is wide open to anyone who can preach and teach in Spanish. The people are descended primarily from Spanish and Italian immigrants; however, since the World Wars, many Germans, Russians, and other displaced peoples have found a secure home in Uruguay. In keeping with tradition, the economy is based on cattle and sheep; there are few mineral resources. The three-and-a-half million people of this republic, half of whom reside in the capital of Montevideo, live under a democratic constitution and enjoy free, open elections. The government is officially non-partisan with regard to religion and supposedly treats all denominations equally, unlike the Roman Catholic-dominated governments of other Latin American countries. Religions of every shade and creed abound in Uruguay – from Moonies to Mennonites, from spiritists to Catholics, from Jehovah's Witnesses to Baptists. Evangelism, church planting, teaching, and limitless other ministry opportunities abound. Click here to view a detailed map of Uruguay. |
Horse drive in interior 
Gaucho 
Uruguayan countryside |
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EMU in Uruguay(In Uruguay, EMU is known as MEU, Misión Evangélica del Uruguay. MEU's Spanish-language site is www.meu.com.uy.) Training the Uruguayan nationals to reach their own people has always been the ultimate goal of EMU International (formerly Evangelical Mission to Uruguay). Since the first group of young Uruguayans received instruction and entered the "harvest field," they have carried on a ministry of diversified evangelism to reach people in all walks of life with the Gospel message and sound doctrinal teaching. This work includes mass evangelism through radio, Christian film, open air meetings in the markets and plazas, prison evangelism, child evangelism, house-to-house visitation, tract distribution, hospital ministry, Bible study, and personal work. As a result, a number of Bible-believing churches have been established in Uruguay over the years through EMU's national missionaries. Photographs of the Uruguayan missionary families are available at the Uruguayan National Missionaries page. Bible InstituteThe Bible Institute was founded in 1947, shortly after the Dabolds arrived in Uruguay. This school offers a comprehensive three-year training program incorporating sound doctrinal teaching and personal evangelism experience. Some of the graduates have become EMU missionaries and some are working with other conservative mission organizations, while most return to their churches to serve the Lord in their home community. Camp EmmanuelIn 1976 the mission bought property outside of Montevideo and built a camp facility – Camp Emmanuel. Camps for children, teens, and families are held each summer with speakers often coming from the USA. During the rest of the year our various churches use the camp for retreats or as a conference ground. EMU also sponsors several camping programs in other regions of the country. Child EvangelismIn the late 1940s EMU introduced child evangelism into the country. Through this ministry our missionaries have reached thousands of children and their families with the Gospel over the years. MarketEvery Sunday morning the largest open-air market in South America is held in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Since 1947 workers with EMU have held weekly meetings in this market, passing out tracts and preaching the Gospel to the throngs of passersby. HospitalPeople from all over Uruguay travel to the main government hospital in Montevideo for medical treatment. A group of EMU missionaries and church members visit this hospital every Sunday to sing, teach, and witness to the patients there. Many people have come to know the Savior through this work. A number of our interior churches also engage in regular hospital visitation in their cities. PrisonsOur national workers were the first to be given permission to preach the Gospel in various prisons around the country. For years Christian services have been held in both the men's and women's penitentiaries.
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A pastor teaching at camp 
Students in Bible Institute 
A game of "big ball" at camp 
Market evangelism in Montevideo 
Hospital visitation |
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