Training the Next Generation of Cross-Cultural Workers in Latin America
After attending the 2023 Charis Alliance Leadership Forum in Kenya, Cristian Zanetti felt a strong divine calling to help train the next generation of Latin American missionaries. Soon he invited Walter Testa and others to collaborate in launching Integral Missionary Training (Entrenamiento Misionero Integral – E-MI). E-MI is a virtual training program that meets twice a week and seeks to train participants in a full spectrum of cross-cultural ministry knowledge and disciplines.
Committed to impacting the lives of participants so they can impact others, E-MI emphasizes practical training over theory. That's why the program offers comprehensive assessment, training, and mentoring through a team with real missionary experience. Throughout the program, students learn from nearly 40 speakers who will cover 60 topics related to missionary work and church planting.
After recent sessions on global missions and the impact of the Charis Alliance by Dave Guiles (International Coordinator), Carmelo RUELAS, church planter in Mexico, explained "I never thought I could learn so many things remotely. I never tire of thanking God for all those who make this possible.”
The first learning cohort was launched in March 2025 and is comprised of 25 students from six Latin American countries. Walter and Cristian share how the training is impacting a wide spectrum of students, including a 19-year-old passionate about missions and an experienced missionary who finds the program valuable for his current work.
As E-MI grows, Cristian and Walter hope to find ways to give students the opportunity to serve in the ministry for a year or engage in cross-cultural outreach.
We’re so excited for what God is doing through E-MI! May He use E-MI to help prepare Charis Latin-American workers as a global missionary force. As William Carey once said, “Aim for great things for God, expect great things from God.”
Would you like to know more about E-MI? You can reach out to Cristian at cristianydaniela@gmail.com.
