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Introduction

Research project called “Foundational Missionaries of South American Adventism” was ambitious and challenging. It committed researchers to work for a period of more than four years (2007-2011) in the line of South American Adventism, with the conviction that the denomination needs to grow a bigger awareness of its own history.

The history of Adventism in South America is rich in testimonies of devotion and service from an outstanding cast of missionaries that began, established or developed the Adventist work in its different ministries: evangelism ministry, publishing ministry, medical missionary work, educational work, etc.

This work was not intended to write the history of Adventism in South America, which was done by Héctor J. Peverini (1988) among others, and more recently by Floyd Greenleaf (2011), but to save a number of paradigmatic characters of historical Adventist tradition in South America.1 Foundational names such as Geörg Heinrich Riffel, Frank H. Westphal, Joseph W. Westphal, Robert H. Habenicht, Thomas H. Davis, Eduardo W. Thomann, Luis F. Ernst, Ferdinand A. Stahl, Ana Carlson de Stahl, Pedro Kalbermatter, Guillermina Deggeller de Kalbermatter and Walter Schubert, were the focus of the main effort; meanwhile, other significant names such as Reinhardt Hetze, Pedro Peverini, Julio Dupertuis, Frederick W. Bishop, Víctor Thomann, Carlos E. Krieghoff, Nelson Z. Town, Manuel Zúñiga Camacho, etcetera, garnered brief mention.

A previous address of South American Adventism pioneers has been done but briefly. Existing works such as doctoral thesis by Walton John Brown and Egil H. Wensell aim at the history of the Adventist Church.2 There are texts of stories or devotionals that feature the activity of some specific missionary.3 Also, some monographs and postgraduate thesis have been developed about the beginnings of Adventism in some of the countries mentioned in this project.4 Other research point to the origins of a particular area, such as the ministry of denominational publishing.5 One important source is church magazines with reports from the protagonists and missionary chronicles. There are additional autobiographical stories that have some documentary value.6

This research had the following aims: (a) identifying conspicuous missionaries of South American Adventism who developed their work in the countries composing the South American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay) in its different ministries; (b) recovering its history as biographical data and as motivational source for service and evangelism work; (c) offering a sample of methods employed and personal qualities that allowed them to achieve success in the proposed objectives; (d) spreading results orally and in writing as contribution to the knowledge of the origins of Adventist Spanish-American mission and as an important element in maintaining denominational identity; (e) making recommendations to the Center for Adventist Memory, to the School of Theology of the Universidad Adventista del Plata and other Adventist institutions regarding future research projects.

The methodology employed covered several unavoidable stages. An exploratory reading of available sources, published and non-published, was made about the work of foundational missionaries of Adventism in the South American Division. On the basis of said reading, twelve outstanding personalities from the different countries and areas of church mission were identified, and a report was made following the following steps: (a) his/her personal background; (b) his/her preparation and beginning of his/her work; (c) methodologies that were used and results that were noticed; (d) his/her personal qualities regarding likely achieved success; and (e) interpretation and valuation of historical data that was found.

The report made possible a brief presentation of used strategies, of obtained achievements and of common patterns in the carrying out of missionary work.

Research results could provide clarity to the understanding of the background and qualities of South American Adventism to an indeterminate number of potential readers. Additionally, they may be used in academic work in Adventist educational institutions, particularly in departments related to the history of Adventism. Besides, they will serve as the basis for diverse ecclesial programs, in extracurricular activities and in outreach circles. The most important transfer is the one that will be achieved through the spreading of the published work.

Daniel Oscar Plenc

1 Héctor J. Peverini, En las huellas de la Providencia [In the Footsteps of Providence] (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 1988); Floyd Greenleaf, The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2 vols. (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1992); Floyd Greenleaf, Tierra de esperanza [Land of Hope] (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 2011).

2 Walton John Brown, “A Historical Study of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Austral South America”, 4 vols. (Ph.D. diss., University of Southern California, California, 1953); Egil H. Wensell, El poder de una esperanza que educa y sana [The Power of a Hope that Educates and Heals] (Libertador San Martín, AR: Universidad Adventista del Plata, 1993). There are more general works that mention South America in some segments: Richard W. Schwarz and Floyd Greenleaf, Portadores de luz: Historia de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día [Light Bearers: History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church], trans. by Rolando A. Itín and Tulio N. Peverini (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 2002); Emma E. Howell, El gran movimiento adventista [The Great Adventist Movement] (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 1975); Don F. Neufeld, ed., Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia (SDAE), vol. 11, 2nd rev. ed. (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1996).

3 Alejandro Bullón Paucar, Él nos amaba: La aventura misionera de Stahl entre los campas [He Loved Us: Stahl’s Missionary Adventure Between the Campas] (Lima, PE: Asociación Peruana Central, 1976); Salim Japas, “Fue una llama que ardía [It was a Flame that Burned]”, Ministerio Adventista [Adventist Ministry] (Jan.-Feb. 1989): 7-11; Salim Japas, “Walter Schubert” (monograph for Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Berrien Springs, Michigan, May 1974); Elbio Pereyra, Eduardo Francisco Forga: El pionero casi olvidado del continente descuidado [Eduardo Francisco Forga: The Almost Forgotten Pioneer of the Neglected Continent] (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 2004); Barbara Osborne Westphal, A Man Called Pedro (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1975), of which the Spanish version is: Barbara Osborne Westphal, Un hombre llamado Pedro, Ethel Mangold, transl. (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 2004); Barbara Osborne Westphal, Ana Stahl of the Andes and Amazon (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1948), of which the Portuguese translation was published as: Barbara Osborne Westphal, Ana Stahl Dos Andes e Amazonas, Carlos A. Trezza, transl. (São Paulo, BR: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 1967).

4 Alcibíades Aguilera, “Análisis del desarrollo de la Iglesia Adventista en el Paraguay” [Analysis of the Development of the Adventist Church in Paraguay] (Master of Religion monograph, Latin-American Adventist Theological Seminary, Libertador San Martín, Argentina, 1992); Samuel Antonio Chávez, Breve historia de las raíces del adventismo en Bolivia 1897-1927 [Brief history of the Roots of Adventism in Bolivia 1897-1927] (Cochabamba, BO: Ediciones Nuevo tiempo, 2007); Marcos Chuquimia Espinoza, Breve reseña histórica de la primera iglesia adventista de Bolivia en Rosario [Brief Historical Review of the First Adventist Church of Bolivia in Rosario] (La Paz, BO: n.e., 1986); Heriberto Peter, “Desarrollo histórico de la Iglesia Adventista en la Argentina hasta 1908 [Historical Development of the Adventist Church in Argentina until 1908]” (M.Th. thesis, Seminario Adventista Latinoamericano de Teología, Libertador San Martín, Argentina, 1984); Mario Utz, “Origen y desarrollo de la Iglesia Adventista en el Paraguay [Origin and Development of the Adventist Church in Paraguay]” (M.Th. thesis, Seminario Adventista Latinoamericano de Teología, Libertador San Martín, Argentina, 1984); Juan Carlos Viera, “Los adventistas del Séptimo Día en América Latina: Sus comienzos, su crecimiento, sus desafíos [Seventh-day Adventists in Latin America: Their beginnings, their Growth, their Challenges]” (Missiology D. thesis, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, 1993); Oscar Nelson Wasiuk, Reseña histórica de la Iglesia Adventista del 7º Día en el Uruguay [Historical Review of the 7th Day Adventist Church in Uruguay] (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 1996); Leopoldo Zambra Ríos, No con ejército, no con fuerza, sino con su Espíritu [Not with Army, not with Force, but with his Spirit] (Santiago, CL: Servicio Educacional Hogar y Salud, 1994).

5 Fernando Adrián Mammana, “Historia del colportaje y la distribución de los impresos adventistas en la República Argentina desde 1891 hasta 1942 [History of the Canvassing and Distribution of Adventist Forms in the Argentine Republic from 1891 to 1942]” (B.Th. thesis, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Libertador San Martín, Argentina, 2005); E. H. Meyers, Reseña de los comienzos de la obra en Sudamérica [Overview of the Beginnings of the Work in South America] (Florida oeste, AR: Casa Editora Sudamericana, n.d.); Miguel Salomón, “Una reseña histórica del Colegio Adventista de Bolivia y su aporte a la Iglesia Adventista en Bolivia [A Historical Review of the Adventist College of Bolivia and its Contribution to the Adventist Church in Bolivia]” (M.Th. thesis, Seminario Adventista Latinoamericano de Teología, Perú, 1985).

6 Otilia Peverini de Ampuero, Delantales blancos [White Smocks] (n.p.: self-published, n.d.); Alcides Campolongo, Evangelismo minha paixao [Evangelism My Passion] (São Paulo, BR: Casa Publicadora Brasileira, 2009); Enrique Chaij, Ese chico travieso llamado por Dios [That Naughty Boy Called by God] (Buenos Aires, AR: Ediciones E, 2005); Pedro Kalbermatter, 20 Años como misionero entre los indios del Perú: Apuntes autobiográficos [20 Years as a Missionary Among the Indians of Peru: Autobiographical Notes] (Paraná, AR: Nueva Impresora, 1950); Pedro Kalbermatter, La constancia y fidelidad del soldado adventista Pedro Kalbermatter [The Constancy and Faithfulness of the Adventist Soldier Pedro Kalbermatter] (Rosario, AR: Imprenta Romanos Hnos., n.d.); Hans Mayr, El abuelito Hans [Grandpa Hans] (Florida oeste, AR: Asociación Casa Editora Sudamericana, 2004); Manuel F. Pérez Marcio, Los hijos de la selva [The Children of the Jungle] (Florida oeste, AR: Casa Editora Sudamericana, 1953); Benjamín Riffel, Providencias de Dios en métodos de superación que mejoran la personalidad [Providences of God in Improvement Methods that Upgrade Personality] (Coral Gables, FL: Asociación Editora Interamericana, 1983); Ferdinand Anthony Stahl, In the Amazon Jungles (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publication Association, 1932); Ferdinand Anthony Stahl, In the Land of the Incas (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1920), Fernando Anthony Stahl, En el país de los Incas [In the Land of the Incas] (Florida oeste, AR: Casa Editora Sudamericana, 192?); Niels Wensell, Semblanza de un misionero adventista [Semblance of an Adventist Missionary] (Santa Fe, AR: Imprenta Acosta Hnos., 1995); Frank H. Westphal, Pioneering in the Neglected Continent (Nashville, TN: Southern Publishing Association, 1927); Frank H. Westphal, Hasta el fin del mundo [Until the End of the World], Silvia C. Scholtus, transl. (Libertador San Martín, AR: Editorial Universidad Adventista del Plata, 2016).