The Southgate family have the oversight of this new mission team which is locating in Tarija, Bolivia. Click here to go to the Tarija Mission Team's external site. Originally intending to go to Buenos Aires to work with an established congregation there, they were prevented by the outbreak of COVID The team decided to go to Tarija, Bolivia, just north of Argentina.
The city of Tarija population ,, continues to grow as people move out of the country but also because of the gas industry and its connecting industries. There are two main universities in the city of Tarija one state and one private with students averaging around , Tarija has always been a place of interest for those thinking about missions in Bolivia, but the Churches of Christ have not had a presence there more than visiting and encouraging people we know there.
We are excited to be moving to Tarija and planting a church there. The team is a group of unique individuals with a common serving heart. There are three families: The Cabrera family, the Myers family and the Torres family.
We are interested in seeing Jesus' church grow. We represent two distinct countries Ecuador and the United States and come from very different backgrounds. We have been fortunate enough to have worked together in a church planting mission in Sucre, Bolivia, where we worked together for over a decade. We love to worship together and firmly believe in the power and need to be in prayer. We trust God to provide, give the increase and walk with us on our journey.
The team plans to stay strong and focused by making unity in Christ our priority. Two families will be arriving in Tarija at the end of February and the Torres family will be arriving in May. We will be opening up a contact center as soon as we can. The university students especially are open to the Gospel and the community center helps us reach them.
