The LCMS began supporting mission work in Chile in 1960. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chile, now known as the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile, became a parter church in 1960.

The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI) partners with LCMS World Mission and other partner church bodies in Latin America to educate pastors and other mission leaders through a Mission Training School. LCMS World Mission also helps support their urban outreach in Santiago.

LCMS World Relief and Human Care has supported nutrition, sanitation and anti-drug education programs in Chile, and, in partnership with LCMS World Mission, responded to the 8.8-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck central Chile in February 2010.

The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile is a sister/partner church of the LCMS. It works closely with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, which operates a Lutheran seminary where many Chilean pastors are trained.

The church has more than 170 members.

LCMS World Mission continues to support mission projects in Chile that provide the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI) with resources to train its leaders and plant a new community of faith in the large capital city of Santiago.

Support of new mission work in Chile provides for an Argentinean pastor and his family to live and serve among the people of Santiago, in the hopes of starting a new Lutheran congregation there. Currently, there are no IELCHI congregations in Santiago. Support of mission projects in Chile also helps to provide for training of lay leaders and pastors through the Bible Institute. One important goal of the Institute is the development of a theological Lutheran faculty, with the purpose of training people as religion teachers and bachelors in theology at a high educational standard. With better-equipped leadership, the IELCH intends to increase their effort to spread the Gospel.

Chile Earthquake Initial Response
A destructive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the central coast of Chile February 2010 triggering tsunamis that damaged seaports along this coastal country.  Buildings and roads suffered heavy damage or completely collapsed. Leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI) assessed needs of those most heavily affected by this earthquake. Hundreds of people were living in emergency camps. The government provided materials for temporary housing but the camp residents have no electricity and little food, water or sanitation services. LCMS World Relief and Human Care awarded a disaster grant to the IELCHI to purchase and distribute food and water to the camp residents and provide light for each temporary shelter.

Managing a Mercy Response in Place of Disaster
The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI) was quick to respond to physical and spiritual needs of people affected by the February 2010 earthquake and tsunami even though no IELCHI churches were located in that area. Many of the families visited during this time expressed a desire to have a more sustained presence from the church. With a disaster grant from LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the IELCHI planned to place a qualified church worker to work with the local government to strengthen physical, emotional and material assistance and also address spiritual and holistic health. 

For more information on mercy work in the LCMS, contact LCMS World Relief and Human Care at 888-THE-LCMS (888-843-5267) or infocenter@lcms.org.

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