Ben & Rachelle Metzger
Our Call
Rachelle:
I had the privilege of growing up in a strong Christian home of Baptist missionaries in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They taught me about sin and salvation at a young age. I believe this was what helped me to understand and receive Jesus as my Savior when I was young. I was baptized by my Dad when I was seven years old. Due to growing up as a missionary kid in Argentina, I saw the need that the Argentines have for the Gospel, but I struggled with God’s call on my life. I dedicated my life to Him when I was ten years old, but still held back a part of myself— the part that knew He wanted me to be a missionary. It was finally during a youth conference, when I was sixteen, that I completely surrendered my life to God. Since then I have attended Bible College at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota, and graduated in 2001. I then moved to Springfield to marry my husband, Ben. We have been serving in our local church, Cherry Street Baptist, before coming on as staff as missionary interns. Our internship has been very useful in growing and developing me, and I am glad we are beginning the next part that will get us closer to our goal of serving God in Argentina. I have questioned God many times through prayer to make sure Argentina is where He wants us. I know there is a great need there, and my heart is burdened for the Argentines but I don’t want to just “go home”. I want us to be where God has called us. He keeps confirming His call over and over, so we truly believe that is where He wants us to go. I am encouraged by knowing that Ben and I will not have to learn the language, and are already very familiar with the culture. I believe this will benefit our ministry so that we can win Argentines to Christ as soon as we arrive in the country. The need is great, and we desire to get there as soon as we can.
Ben:
Twenty-two years ago, at the age of eight, I set foot on Argentine soil for the first time. My parents, Dennis and Rena Metzger served as missionaries there for eleven years. I was saved and baptized at a young age, and grew up in a strong Christian home. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was able to not only see, but also participate in my parents’ ministry. In fact, several of my friends came to know the Lord and grew up along with me in our church. Unfortunately, I saw so many others that would not turn from their strong Catholic family traditions. The Catholic roots run very deep, and very often strangle any gospels seeds that are planted. Since my parents gave me the chance to be involved in their ministry, I grew to enjoy the Lord’s work and seeing lives completely changed by the Gospel. Being a missionary was great, but not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had my own plans, my own dreams and ambitions. While at a youth retreat at the age of 15, I fell under very deep conviction that I had not asked God what He wanted me to do with my life, but instead had made all the plans myself. During the next couple of years the Lord overwhelmingly pressed upon my heart I needed to use my life to share His love and forgiveness with those who have never heard, that He wanted me to become a missionary. I surrendered. Over the years the Lord has repeatedly confirmed this calling in our lives and given us a deep burden for the millions of lost souls in Argentina, many of whom we personally know. Today, Catholicism enslaves 4 out of every 5 Argentines and only 1 in 10 identify with any kind of Bible believing church. So many cults are growing at an astonishing rate. The highest concentration of Muslims is found in the country of Argentina. There are still millions who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ.
His Direction:
Since our call to missions we have regularly asked God to make clear where He wanted us, and Argentina has been the resounding answer to confirm His direction in our lives. Because of our own upbringing in Argentina, we have a rare opportunity. It will not be necessary to spend the time learning the language, and the cultural adjustments will be minimal. We will immediately be able to immerse ourselves in ministering to the people. However, we are not simply going home. God has given us the task of taking the Gospel to the millions of Argentines who have never been told. We are burdened for their souls. During our first year on the field we plan to work alongside a veteran Baptist missionary to become most effective in planting indigenous Argentine churches. This time will also allow us to seek out the specific area in which the Lord wants us to start planting churches.
Letter Update:
Family Retreat
Every Easter weekend our church joins our “mother church” (Iglesia Bautista Calvario, Isidro Casanova) for a three-day family retreat at camp. Even in the difficult economy, our church people know the need they have to fellowship and draw closer together. We always have a wonderful time listening to wonderful preaching, playing sports and games together, and of course, enjoying fellowship. We had new attenders come this year, who were able to enjoy their time, and as a result we had one woman and two teens recieve Christ as their Savior!
Little Children
We have a burden for the children in our church and neighborhood! As a result we began a monthly children’s Bible club to see souls saved and also help them grow in their knowledge and relationships with Christ. The first couple of months we had around 30 each time, but then in May we were down in attendance due to the colder weather. Please pray that we would still have many children come to hear the gospel even with the winter months coming up! Also pray for our teachers to be encouraged as they teach these precious children God’s Word!
Investing
As we mentioned in our last prayer letter, several national church planters have built or started to build their church buildings and have been met with the need to expand due to growth, or just need a little more help finishing building projects. A non-profit organization– Trailhead International- has funded 50% of the needed cost. The churches themselves are buying materials, doing the work, and saving up even in this hectic Argentine economy. You can help advance the spread of the gospel in Argentina! Will you please pray and consider how you too can participate to help these church plants finish these building projects? Thank you to those who have participated! See the post on our website to know how you can continue to help.
If you would like to stay updated with the Metzger family or feel led to give to help them on their journey, you can give your donations to Hickory Ridge Baptist Church. You can also stay connected with the Metzger family through their website or Facebook page. Click the button below.
