Leave Chilean work in good hands

      After 40 years serving as foreign missionaries, Terry and Mary Sue Fattig have been approved to work with the Hispanics in the BBFI United States Language Groups (USLG) ministry of the Mission Office.
     When Terry had a major heart attack in 2005, it became evident they needed to be in the states due to health issues and at the same time God provided a pastor so the work in Chile could continue.

God has answered their prayers and the work will continue under the competent leadership of the new pastor. Fattig said, “Fernando Escobar came to our church in Chile for the first time as a young person. He had served as an altar boy and worked toward a ministry in the Catholic church. But after attending three services in our church, he received Christ as his Savior.”
     Fernando and his wife Marly, both grew up in the church and were the first couple married there. “They began faithfully serving the Lord, first as teachers and Fernando as deacon. Then three years ago, they surrendered their lives to full-time service.” Last year the church called for Fernando’s ordination and on October 10, 2005, Fernando was ordained and called as their pastor.
     When Terry and Mary Sue graduated from BBC in 1966 and 1967, they completed their internship and were ready to be missionaries to Chile, South America.
     The Communist government shut the doors to new missionaries and they were suddenly without a field. They were asked to come to Mexico and help with the Institute in Mante. While in Mexico for 12 years, many churches were established and their grasp of the Spanish language was expanded.
     In 1983 they arrived in Chile and had a four-part ministry goal for a work. The Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Chillán was started with the prayer: 1) That God would give them dedicated families grounded in His Word; 2) that from these families He would call church workers and Sunday school teachers; 3) that from the Church’s membership He would call the pastor; 4) that the church would be strong, faithful and dedicated, able to support its pastor and carry on the work of the Lord. It appears these goals were realized.
     The Fattigs were settled in Chile, but during each furlough to the states, they noticed the growing Spanish population in the U.S.
     Their hearts were not ready to leave Chile, but today they see this move as God’s timing. They have begun this new ministry in the States as they did in Mexico and Chile. “We are making contacts and establishing relationships with Spanish-speaking people that have bought homes and own businesses. When we have gained their trust, we will also be able to minister to the migrant Spanish people.”
     Several pastors have contacted the Fattigs for help with Spanish ministries in their communities. “We would be happy to help churches assess the need of the Hispanics in their communities and see many people reached through new Spanish works.”

Article by Donna Braymer taken from the Baptist Bible Tribune | May 2006  Page 10