Schedule | - 1:11 pm
The Universal Church’s evangelistic work in Argentina began in 1989 in the city of Córdoba, amidst the social chaos and hyperinflation that plagued the nation. It later expanded to the capital, Buenos Aires, with significant inaugurations in the Flores neighborhood (1995) and the city center (1996). This growth continued with the establishment of cathedrals in Mendoza and in the Almagro neighborhood of Buenos Aires (2004).
Today, faith reaches across vast distances in a country with approximately 46.5 million inhabitants. By July 2026, the country’s inflation had accumulated to 19.3% for the year, while the latest available poverty data showed that 28.2% of people in the 31 urban agglomerations surveyed were living below the poverty line. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses of the Republic of Argentina (INDEC), the July 2026 Consumer Price Index rose 2.1% for the month and 19.3% over the first seven months of the year.
Beyond financial crises, the hidden pain of Argentinians is also reflected in the 4,249 suicides recorded in 2024, according to Argentina’s national crime statistics. It is in the midst of this despair that the church and its volunteers take action.
The response to human and natural tragedies manifests in direct actions throughout the nation. During the Christmas season, “Navidad Solidaria por una Argentina sin hambre” mobilized donations in the Microcentro of Buenos Aires and in provinces such as Salta and Mendoza, distributing tens of thousands of food packages containing non-perishable food items.
In September 2024, when forest fires affected more than 40,000 hectares in Córdoba, the organization T-Ayudo provided immediate support to the firefighters of Capilla del Monte with water, food, and eye drops. In the city of Bahía Blanca, severe flooding prompted volunteers to travel 700 kilometers to deliver 42 tons of humanitarian aid to 1,500 homeless families.
Through its outreach work, the UEC (Universal Beyond Bars) project serves more than 16,000 inmates and their families, while the Love Therapy united 265 couples in 2026. Additionally, the Caminata HELP, a walk held as part of Yellow Month, addressed depression in the streets of the capital.
Donors to Ángeles de la Vida (Angels of Life) filled the National Headquarters on Avenida Corrientes in Buenos Aires to collect blood, and in the remote town of Pampa del Indio, in the province of Chaco, the Qom indigenous community received Bibles translated into their native language.
Viviana Luquez, a 58-year-old church volunteer assistant, has dedicated 24 years to serving God. After serving in Buenos Aires and at the Temple of Miracles, she desired to bring the Word to those suffering in remote locations.
Upon moving to Ushuaia, Argentina, she joined a small weekly special work, and she faced the desert of loneliness and hardship. As the first church volunteer assistant to arrive on the island, she joined local pastors to establish the first evangelistic group.
Not even the strong wind, ice, and snow prevented her from going out into the streets. Through this perseverance and faith, the church was established in the region.
“It is an enormous privilege to serve God here in Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), at the end of the world. No matter the snow or rain, our love for souls keeps us standing,” she says.
Bishop Júlio Freitas, who has been serving in the country since August 2023, emphasizes the true meaning of this effort:
“The mission to save is not ours; it belongs to the Holy Spirit. However, the responsibility of seeking the lost who are sincere and proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus has been entrusted to each one of us. Success in the mission of ‘Go’ depends on our personal communion with the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things.”
He adds:
“Do not commit the sin of spiritual selfishness. The call to proclaim the Gospel has been a privilege for a few in the face of great need.”
According to Bishop Júlio, Christians should be inspired by the attitude of the prophet Isaiah:
“God has transformed and saved us so that, through us, other people may also be transformed and saved. Do not consider the honor of serving the Most High as inferior to fulfilling your personal goals, dreams, and projects.”
Faith in Argentina remains steadfast in the face of crises. The inauguration of the La Plata Cathedral is scheduled for 2027.
• 7 bishops
• 410 pastors
• 319 churches
• 149 special works
• 5,442 servants of God, including volunteer assistants and those preparing to become assistants of the ministry
• 39,381 volunteers from the church’s various outreach groups
The Universal Church is present in 148 countries; to learn more about its evangelistic work in Argentina, visit its official Instagram (click here).
In Argentina, The Universal Church is located at Avenida Corrientes 4070, Almagro, Buenos Aires.
