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By Jake Wiebe
Baptist International Missions was founded
in 1960 with the purpose of sending Gospel
preachers throughout the world. This is where
our story of the mission work in Bolivia
begins. Within a few years, missionaries were
preparing to go out into the different nations of
the world. Bolivia was one of those countries.

Bill and Myrna Stewart, along
with their children, arrived in
Bolivia in 1965. They moved to
Cochabamba and began a work.

They were only able to stay in
Bolivia for four years but others
were also coming to continue the
ministry in Bolivia.

With the continuing ministry of the Everett
family, new churches were started and fully
established. One was the church in San Juan
and the Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church of
Santa Rosa. These works faced opposition from
town authorities and the State church. This was
seen in a few riots and even death threats. God
was in the work and protected His
servants. After a few years of work
and service in the community,
the hearts of the people changed
toward the ministry, giving them
peace to continue. While the
Everetts were working there, Bill
Pace and his family arrived and
began working in Sacaba, near
In 1969 the Everett family arrived.

Cochabamba. With the number
Thomas (L.T.) and Geraldine,
of missionary families continuing
L.T. &
Geraldine with their children Gregory and
Everett to grow and churches being
Melanie, worked for a time in
formed, it was time to organize
Cochabamba in the church that had been
legally in
the country. This allows the mission
started by the Stewart family. Two years later
to purchase
land for ministries such as mission
in 1971, they felt the direction of the Lord
churches and
camps and begin the process of
towards the remote Andean mountain village
local church
autonomy. The incorporation of
called San Juan del Potrero. San Juan is in
BIMI Bolivia
was obtained
May 4, 1978.

the department of Santa Cruz. Brother L.T.

always said that he “wanted to go to a place
where the Gospel had never been preached.”
The Everetts were not deterred from their
calling even with fierce opposition and threats
to their safety from the mountain people, the
local government, and the religious leaders.

14 BIMI
Number 1, 2023
As the ministry grew and churches were
established, national workers and pastors were
trained and joined in the work. It truly became
a national mission work. After the Star of
Bethlehem Baptist Church of Santa Rosa was
well established, a sister church was started in