The Mission Efforts of the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the Chaco Province of Argentina

Abstract

Mark Aufdemberge’s essay, The Mission Efforts of the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the Chaco Province of Argentina: 1941–1953, explores the historical, cultural, and missionary journey of Slovak Lutherans in northern Argentina. Fleeing Hungarian oppression and economic hardship, Slovak immigrants settled in the Chaco province in the 1920s, drawn by Argentina’s offer of free farmland. In 1941, the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Synod (S.E.L.C.) sent Rev. Stephen Kostelny to serve these scattered communities. Kostelny ministered to six mission stations, enduring harsh conditions and limited resources. His work laid the foundation for a thriving church, which later transitioned to Spanish-language services under native leadership. The essay also reflects on the challenges of preserving Slovak identity amid cultural assimilation and the eventual integration of the mission into the broader Missouri Synod framework. Aufdemberge’s research highlights both the resilience of immigrant faith communities and the complexities of cross-cultural ministry. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)