WHY URUGUAY? This ministry context is very unique for South America, as Uruguay does not have a Christian past and is a decidedly secular and wealthy nation that does not even recognize Christian holidays.

Among other national holidays, “Family Day” is celebrated on December 25th and “Tourism Week” replaces what most Christians know as Holy Week. This has left an entire nation without any understanding of genuine Grace or Mercy, and certainly has left them without the Hope and Peace that can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Officially, Christianity is listed as the dominant religion in Uruguay, with Roman Catholicism being its largest denomination. Although the majority of Uruguayans do not actively practice a religion, they are nominally church members in the Catholic church. Around 44.5% of the Uruguayan population is non-religious, as of 2018, and is steadily increasing. It is widely considered the most secular nation in the Americas. One cause of this was that Spanish colonial missions sent priests to convert the indigenous peoples, who had always been a very small population in Uruguay.

Uruguay has no official religion, as Church and State were officially separated with the Constitution of 1918. However, secularization measures had already been implemented by the 1870s, which quickly became secularism, marking a shift from non-religion (respect) to not-religion (denying the existence of God). Until 1985, Uruguay was under a military dictatorship.