⭐1976 - 2025 • 50th Anniversary⭐

Latin America Mission

50 Years of History, A New Vision for the Next 50 Years

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth”— Acts 1:8

Countries

Chapters

115

Missionaries

Years

Since Missionary Jose Ahn first set foot in Guatemala in 1976, UBF Latin America Mission has grown to 39 chapters in 19 countries under God's guidance.

Key Milestones

1976

First Pioneering in Guatemala

Missionary Jose Ahn (Diplomat) Sent - Beginning of Latin America Mission

1982

Mexico City Pioneering

Established Foothold for Central America Expansion

1984

Argentina Buenos Aires

Beginning of South America Expansion

1988

Simultaneous Pioneering in 3 South American Countries

Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay

1991

Brazil São Paulo

Pioneering South America's Largest City

2000

Panama Pioneering

Strategic Hub Connecting Central and South America

2005

Ecuador, Dominican Republic

Caribbean Region Expansion

2025

Costa Rica Repioneering / 50th Anniversary

39 Chapters in 19 Countries · 115 Missionaries, 674 Local Shepherds

⛪

39 Chapters

Established in 19 Countries

👥

115 Missionaries

Sent from Korea and Locally

🎓

674 Local Shepherds

Raised as Disciples

The Gospel is being shared in 19 Latin American countries. Countries marked with 🏷️ are places where missionaries are especially needed.

Latin America Coordinator

Mr. Isaac Park

Mexico, Iztacala UBF

🇲🇽MexicoNeeds Missionaries

Chapters: 13Missionaries: 28

Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and 10 other cities

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🇧🇷BrazilNeeds Missionaries

Chapters: 2Missionaries: 14

São Paulo, Campinas

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🇻🇪Venezuela

Chapters: 4Missionaries: 8

Caracas, Merida, Maracaibo

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🇦🇷Argentina

Chapters: 2Missionaries: 8

Buenos Aires, La Plata

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🇧🇴Bolivia

Chapters: 3Missionaries: 7

Santa Cruz, Cochabamba

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🇬🇹GuatemalaNeeds Missionaries

Chapters: 2Missionaries: 6

Guatemala City, Antigua

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🇨🇱Chile

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 5

Santiago

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🇨🇴Colombia

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 5

Bogota

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🇪🇨Ecuador

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 3

Guayaquil

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🇵🇪Peru

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 4

Lima

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🇵🇦Panama

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 3

Panama City

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🇺🇾Uruguay

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 3

Montevideo

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🇨🇷Costa RicaNeeds Missionaries

Chapters: 1Missionaries: 2

Santiago

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Other Mission Fields: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Paraguay

The tears and dedication of countless missionaries have created today's Latin America mission history. A new generation is rising, following in their footsteps.

🕊️

Missionary Jose Ahn

First Pioneer of Latin America (1976)

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness"

Sent to Guatemala as a diplomat, he opened the door to Latin America mission. After 10 years of discipleship training, he dedicated himself as a lay self-supporting missionary.

✝️

Late Missionary John Lee

Paraguay (1988-2008)

"Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds"

A missionary who served young people in Paraguay for 20 years before going to be with the Lord.

🕊️

Second-generation Missionary Joseph L.

Paraguay (2025) — Passing the Mission Down

"Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies..."

The third son of missionaries John L. and María L., Joseph embarked on a mission to Paraguay on January 25, 2025, with his wife, missionary Siwon L., and their daughter. From a young age, Joseph made a promise to serve as a missionary in Paraguay. Through God’s extraordinary guidance, he has now arrived in the country. We pray that he can make a valuable contribution to the ministry at the UNA Paraguay campus, that the two families collaborate strongly, and that Siwon and their daughter become proficient in Spanish.

🌱

Late Missionary Hannah Cooper

Argentina

"One soul is more valuable than the whole world"

An American missionary who sowed the seeds of the Gospel while serving young people in Argentina.

🕊️

Missionary Pablo Oh

Costa Rica — Going Forth at Age 71 (2025)

"Here am I. Send me!" — Isaiah 6:8

When I resolved to go forth as a missionary in obedience to Isaiah 6:8 at the National Adult Shepherd Conference in early June, God gave my heart peace and hope. Some were concerned, saying, "You are 71, going out alone." But I had faith that the Holy Spirit would guide me, just as He guided the Apostle Paul. Three months later: "I thank God for this precious opportunity to share His Word and love with these students. Your prayers and support are deeply appreciated as the seed of the Gospel continues to grow in their hearts."

“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” — John 12:24

Remembering the late Missionaries Priscilla Chung, Teresa Han (Brazil), and other martyrs

❤️

Spiritually Hungry Young People

Young people in Latin America are searching for spiritual truth. They are longing for the true Gospel, moving away from the formalism of Catholicism.

📖

Severe Shortage of Biblical Leaders

There is a serious lack of biblically trained spiritual leaders. Raising disciples through 1:1 Bible study is urgently needed.

💼

Effectiveness of Self-Supporting Mission

As lay missionaries with professional skills, it is possible to take root in local society for long-term and stable mission work.

🌍

Potential for Reverse Mission

Trained local shepherds are being sent as missionaries to other continents. Latin America is now transforming into a mission-sending continent.

Express Interest

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Consultation

Meet with coordinator

Training

Mission preparation

Commissioning

Field assignment

✅ Eligibility Requirements

•Have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior
•Have received or willing to receive discipleship training at UBF
•Have a profession or skill (self-supporting mission)
•Have a calling and passion for Latin America mission

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and has received discipleship training at UBF for a period of time can apply. A special theology degree is not required, and we welcome lay self-supporting missionaries with professional skills (teachers, engineers, medical professionals, business people, etc.).

You don't need to be fluent from the start. There is a language training period before commissioning, and you can continue learning on the field. Passion for sharing the Gospel is more important than language ability.

Like Paul as a Tent Maker, it means having a job locally and supporting yourself while doing mission work. Working as a local employee of a Korean company, Korean language teachers, business people, or professionals, you can take root in local society for long-term and stable mission work.

Yes, most missionaries serve together as families. Guidance and support for local life including children's education and medical care are available.

Missionaries are needed in unreached nations in Central America and the Caribbean, as well as in One Family Ministry sites. However, ministry workers are needed in major cities and on campuses in all other 19 countries. Central America and the Caribbean — Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Suriname, etc. One Family Ministry Sites — Dominican Republic, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, etc.