The Church of the Nazarene in South America is placing a strong emphasis on raising a new generation of missionaries. The program, ExploSAM, seeks to train men and women who, driven and guided by the Holy Spirit, will have a transformative impact on the cultures to which they are sent.
The first ExploSAM took place in January 2025 in the province of Formosa, Argentina, in a district comprising indigenous communities affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. This year, 15 young people participated; they were intensively trained for over two weeks, accompanied by a team of 10 leaders.
The second edition took place in July in Cartagena, Colombia, in the Costa District, with the participation of 24 young people—four of them from the Mesoamerican Region—and a team of 14 leaders who supported the entire formative, spiritual, and ministerial process. Seven participants were selected to continue their missionary service for one to three months in various ministries.
The two-week training program featured activities that combined spiritual formation, ministry practice, and cross-cultural experiences. In addition to daily devotionals, the training included workshops on cultural anthropology, teamwork, missionary finance, first aid, conflict resolution, and radical evangelism. Participants lived in local communities, sharing life and learning about their hosts’ culture. They also got engaged in tasks such as cooking, cleaning, devotionals, and logistics.
Organized by the Missionary Mobilization Ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in South America, ExploSAM was created and is led by Junior and Jacilene Rodrigues. Its purpose is to create opportunities for training and equipping missionaries through immersive experiences, multicultural teamwork, and ministerial mentoring, thereby strengthening their calling and preparing them to participate actively in God’s mission.
In Cartagena, 24 participants received intensive training in practical and ministerial skills. Several individuals assumed leadership roles, and the compassion ministry provided training in disaster response, equipping each participant with a backpack suitable for critical situations.
The impact on local churches was notable: dozens of people committed their lives to Christ; the Triune God Church of the Nazarene began construction of its church facility; and the La Fortaleza Church of the Nazarene received infrastructure renovations.
The host congregations experienced a period of spiritual renewal and a renewed missionary vision.
“The eternity of the lost is more important than our comfort,” said participant Mateus Jose da Silva.
With each edition, ExploSAM reaffirms its commitment to mobilizing and preparing a generation of missionaries passionate about fulfilling God’s mission. The experiences in Argentina and Colombia profoundly impacted the communities reached and the participants, who returned transformed and ready to continue serving.
“ExploSAM is more than missionary training,” Amely Dalexa said. “It’s a real-life field experience where you can hear God’s voice.”