The 20 million people of Chile are on the move, hoping to improve their quality of life. As men and women seek safety and a place to raise their families, some Chileans are moving away from large cities. They move to the south or to smaller cities like Pichilemu in Chile's Sixth Region. This Region – with 33 cities/communes – is economically significant for its agriculture, world-class wine, and El Teniente, one of the largest underground copper mines in the world.
Demographically, the 2024 census shows the Sixth Region has the second-highest percentage of Roman Catholics (63%) in the country, though the secular population has grown fivefold since 2002, with 20.6% claiming no religion.
The city of Pichilemu, home to 20,000 people, is a place of great natural beauty where the forests meet the beaches.
Pichilemu's thriving coastal culture makes it Chile's and Latin America's surf capital. Yet without a faithful gospel presence, this idyllic setting will offer only a fleeting hope to the people of Chile. As the first Evangelical Reformed Church in Pichilemu, El Faro (The Lighthouse) seeks to be that faithful gospel presence, sharing the beautiful message of lasting, eternal security through Jesus Christ.
El Faro also seeks to support existing churches, church planting and revitalisation in Chile's Sixth Region. El Faro needs help as she establishes church officers and forms pastoral teams to reach this goal.
The Guerrero family will join El Faro – a 40-member church – to serve their people and, together, by God's grace, become a Gospel hub to help churches in the Sixth Region.
In summary, it is key to work and serve in El Faro, a gospel-centred church that seeks to glorify God by becoming a gospel hub for the Sixth Region of Chile.
To see God glorified in Pichilemu, Chile, through building up the local church so that it becomes a regional Gospel hub for planting and strengthening new churches.
To serve, equip and support El Faro, the first Reformed church in Pichilemu—the surf capital of Chile —, through pastoral ministry, theological training and development of a culture of care as she pursues future church planting in the Sixth Region of Chile.
Through pastoral ministry, theological training and developing a culture of care.
We believe in a pastoral ministry focused on the ordinary means of grace - the preaching of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and the administration of the sacrament - for the edification of the church and to be sent to reach the lost. We believe that discipleship is healthy when it is rooted in the gospel and marked by fellowship and community.
To support church planting and revitalisation, theological training is key. However, there is a lack of adequate theological training for people who can't attend seminary due to time, money, or lack of educational qualifications. We believe that every believer should receive a good theological formation to serve in the diversity of vocations.
Israel will assist in creating a curriculum to provide high-quality, free theological education for everyone in the community—men and women who want a theology applied to everyday life. This last project is called Reformados y Conectados (Reformed and Connected). The vision is to learn Reformed theology alongside friends from the local church and other churches in the Sixth region.
Through the insights that biblical counselling can provide. This is an area that needs further and serious work in evangelical churches that are becoming Reformed due to deep wounds that previous church experiences had caused. This culture of care will be developed by structuring and equipping the church in ways that enable people to be well cared for in their needs (pastoral team, one-on-one, discipleship, and weekly meetings).
Rev Dr Israel Guerrero (37), Camila Venegas (35), and their children (Emma (7) and Eilidh (5).
After 8 years of ministry and academic study in Scotland, the Guerrero family is returning to Chile with a unique set of skills. Reverend Israel Guerrero, who holds a PhD in Systematic Theology (University of Edinburgh), and Camila, who is certified in biblical counselling (BCUK), have served in the Free Church of Scotland and launched a Spanish-speaking ministry in Edinburgh. This combination of theological training and practical pastoral experience has prepared them, by God's grace, to strengthen the Reformed faith and missional outreach within the Christian Chilean church.
The Lighthouse — A growing community of faith in Pichilemu
Pastor John Palma preaching on the Lord’s Day.
By God’s providence, we are going to join the work that Pastor John Palma, Suamy Latín (his wife), and many others have been doing for years to serve the people of Pichilemu. We are thrilled to work alongside people whose passion is to glorify God, edify the saints and reach the lost!
From June 2026 to December 2031
Settling in in Pichilemu, getting to know the city's culture, starting the theological training curriculum, and doing pastoral work (preaching and discipleship).
Focused on the formation of church officers and a pastoral team with the goal of joining a presbytery.
Focus on preparing people who want to serve and plant churches in the Sixth Region of Chile.
We want to invite churches, families and individuals to be part of a vision and mission that seeks to glorify God in the surf capital of Chile and Latin America. We believe that Pichilemu can become a key Gospel hub for the 33 cities/communes that form the Sixth Region of Chile. For this, El Faro is calling the Guerreros to be part of them.
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