home »  IM people »  Missionaries »  C. Dwight and Barbara Bolick
Missionaries Profile

Chile

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages: Spanish

Ethnic Groups: Native American, European and other regional ethnic groups

Location: South Pacific coast of South America

Size: 292,132 square miles, 756,626 square kilometers, slightly larger than Texas

Population: 15,328,500 (2001 est.)

Bolick, C. Dwight and Barbara Bolick C. Dwight and Barbara

The Convention of Baptist Churches-Chilean Mission invited Barbara and Dwight to serve with them in ministries of economic and leadership development. Their primary focus is with Mapuche churches in southern Chile.The Mapuche are the indigenous people of Chile and Argentina. Most of them live on small farms in isolated rural communities called "reductions." They struggle with severe poverty, lack of sustainable livelihoods, and the debilitating, culture-eroding effects of centuries of domination.

The goals of the Bolicks' ministries with the Mapuche churches and communities are, first, recovery of identity as a people made in the image of God; and second, discovery of vocation as productive stewards of God's creation.

Barbara and Dwight, with the Mapuche churches, pursue these goals through various programs, such as promoting the use of the native language, Mapudungun, in worship, evangelism, and service; entrepreneurship training in a rural context (beginning with the production of traditional weavings, and beekeeping/honey production); and sustainable agriculture (introducing alternative income crops, such as quinoa).

Rooted in Bible study and reflection, these programs equip Mapuche leaders to serve their communities through economic development fully integrated with a proclamation of the Gospel grounded in their culture and context.

The Bolicks also serve in equipping leaders among the Convention's other churches. They both present leadership training in churches from Santiago to the Lake District. Barbara's ministry has focused on strengthening Christian education programs in the local church. Dwight's focus is on training in stewardship and strategic planning, helping churches grasp their potential to create and sustain Christ-like ministries in their communities.

Languages used in Ministry: Spanish and Mapudungun