{"id":46576,"date":"2025-05-30T13:59:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T12:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?page_id=46576"},"modified":"2025-06-10T19:57:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T18:57:48","slug":"a-call-to-authentic-faith","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/a-call-to-authentic-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"A Call to Authentic Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cSamuel was one of the founding fathers of student ministry in Latin America and went on to be one of the spiritual giants of the evangelical church.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u2013 Tim Adams, IFES General Secretary.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Samuel Escobar passed away on 29 April 2025 at the age of 90. Since then, the outpouring of love and sharing of warm testimonies underline how this \u201cfounding father\u201d and pioneer of \u201cintegral mission\u201d was also a man of simplicity, generosity, and deep love for Jesus.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cHe was a giant of faith, mission, and global leadership. His many contributions to global mission are countless, but what stands out most to me is his good character, his generosity, and his gentleness.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u2013 David Bahena, IFES Associate General Secretary\u202f <\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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At Samuel\u2019s memorial service, his daughter Lily shared how he\u2019d taught her to be open to different viewpoints and seek the truth, to be aware of one\u2019s own faults and weaknesses yet open to receiving God’s direction \u2013 to live a life of authentic faith. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AN AUTHENTIC GOSPEL PASSION<\/strong> <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Samuel was born in Arequipa, Peru, to parents who had only recently become Christians. They attended the Peruvian Evangelical Church and enrolled Samuel in a Christian elementary school. He noted that it was here that he first understood \u201cwhat faith was as a foundation for living\u201d.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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While studying education at the university of Lima in the 1950s, Samuel committed his life to Jesus Christ and was baptised. He became a leader of the fledgling student movement \u2013 Circulo Biblico Universitario (CBU) \u2013 displaying energy, conviction, and generosity of spirit. John White, former IFES Regional Secretary for Latin America, remembered how Samuel became \u201cincreasingly obsessed with university evangelism\u201d.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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For example, in 1957, Samuel and the CBU decided to show the film Martin Luther<\/em> on campus. Their provocative ads promised, \u201cMartin Lutero<\/em> \u2013 come and see why it\u2019s banned!”. When hundreds of curious students turned up, they needed to organise more showings. At the second screening, Communist students arrived in force, and the Apristas<\/em> (a political group known for their strong-arm tactics) demanded the hall. But Samuel coolly proposed putting the matter to a vote. The audience\u2019s overwhelming response was \u2018continue with the film\u2019, forcing the Apristas<\/em> to back down. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The event was a resounding success. An estimated 1,700 students watched the film, which was followed by open discussions and the distribution of 500 copies of Faith and Reason<\/em> by Ren\u00e9 Pache. For the first time since the university’s foundation in 1551, evangelicals had visibly impacted the campus. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AUTHENTICALLY EVANGELICAL \u2013 AND LATIN AMERICAN<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Two years later, Samuel was invited to the IFES World Assembly in Paris, France. He travelled with colleagues Rene Padilla and Wayne Bragg on an eight-day ship journey from New York to Cherbourg. During those many hours together, they discussed their dreams for student ministry. Samuel recalled, \u201cWe wanted it to grow all over Latin America and to be faithful to God \u2013 very evangelical and at the same time very Latin American. That has always been our concern.\u201d<\/em>  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As a young man, Samuel realised that the hot topics in Latin American universities \u2013 oppression, poverty, liberation, social class, justice, land reform, revolution \u2013 were scarcely mentioned in the Bible commentaries and Christian books available in Spanish. In 2017, he recalled, \u201cI was surprised to find that the only Bible Dictionary existing in Spanish (translated from an 1890 American edition) did not include words such as \u2018poverty\u2019 or \u2018oppression\u2019. And yet the Bible has so much to say about these issues!\u201d <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Samuel was committed to seeking God\u2019s direction on how to express biblical truth on contemporary issues and sought a meaningful response to the challenge of Marxist ideology and activism. His studies shaped what would become known as integral mission \u2013 the connection between personal faith, deep theological reflection, and committed social action. It led him into a life of theology, teaching, and writing that has influenced university ministry and the global church. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Current IFES Regional Secretary for Latin America, Carmen Castillo, shares how his writings impacted her ministry: \u201cHis insights helped me reflect more deeply on what the gospel means and how to share it with others. I recognised the gospel as God\u2019s gift, as a call to participate with the Holy Spirit in making Christ known and transforming human beings into his image.\u201d<\/em>  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Samuel\u2019s contextual Bible exposition \u2013 combined with his awareness of literature, politics, and current affairs \u2013 engaged university campuses across Latin America. Alongside his beloved wife Lily, he served as IFES staff in the region for 26 years, working in various roles in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina, where he was actively involved in a literature program. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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During university mission weeks, Samuel\u2019s ability to engage in personal dialogue drew students into meaningful conversations about faith. It was an unprecedented approach for academic settings and resulted in many professing faith in Christ.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In this way, Samuel\u2019s ministry contributed to the growth of student movements and the establishment of a strong Christian presence on campus \u2013 not only across Latin America but also around the world. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AN AUTHENTIC GLOBAL INFLUENCE <\/strong> <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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During a year\u2019s sabbatical at Madrid University (1966-67), Samuel started a weekly Bible study that laid the groundwork for a permanent student group in Madrid. When he left, a team of graduates from Operation Mobilisation continued meeting with the small group, helping to retain Samuel\u2019s evangelistic focus. This was pivotal in the early development of the Spanish evangelical student movement. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In 1972, Samuel was invited to serve as General Director of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Canada. At the time, the movement was lacking clarity in its purpose. Since no Canadian was available for the role, Samuel agreed to lead. Over three years, he was instrumental in helping to clarify the movement\u2019s doctrinal basis, steering them to adopt the IFES statement in place of somewhat ambiguous wording. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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While in Canada, Samuel became involved in the organisation of the 1974 Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation \u2013 a gathering called by a committee headed by Billy Graham that drew more than 2,300 evangelical leaders from 150 countries. Samuel brought to the preparations his years of theological grappling with ideologies and socio-political realities. At the Congress, Samuel and Rene Padilla\u2019s insistence that the gospel calls us to public and social engagement was clearly heard. Despite some negative responses, their papers were two of the most widely quoted at Lausanne. \u201cThe Escobars and Padillas\u201d became a recognized shorthand for the emerging evangelical voice in the majority world and inspired many previously disillusioned young evangelicals to re-engage.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AUTHENTIC DISCIPLESHIP AND LEADERSHIP\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Samuel was well aware that his vision for ministry would not be automatically passed on to the next generation. In the IFES Newsletter of May 1978, he noted: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWe see a generation of student leaders who can talk the jargon of discipleship, commitment, lifestyle, etc. But they are not making disciples, they are not disciplined in studying Scripture, they are not practising the basic virtues of veracity, dependability, self-denial, and concern for the non-Christian which have been the secret behind the growth of their movements. “Back to the basics!” is the answer, I know. But it is also: “O God … do not drive me from thy presence or take thy Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11). Do not let our national movements be like King Saul, who began well and ended so tragically.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In God\u2019s goodness, the IFES movements he nurtured have persevered and continued to grow. In an interview 30 years after Samuel offered that heartfelt prayer, he looked back on the contribution of IFES to his region:  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIn Latin America, a leader is the <\/em>caudillo \u2013 a strong man with charisma. People are ready to be dominated by him. But when we thought of leadership mentoring, we wanted our ideal of leadership to be the biblical character of Nehemiah. Long term, that has been one of the most important contributions from IFES to the evangelical world in Latin America. We have helped form leaders who provide good leadership, who are effective as leaders without wanting to be the chief.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cAnd we\u2019ve tried to evangelise in a contextual way \u2013 to convey something meaningful to the student population in Latin America, with cultural sensitivity and without using terminology that\u2019s hard to understand for those outside Christian circles.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In more recent years, Samuel shared his hopes for the future of IFES \u2013 \u201cthat the Lord will keep the vision and help us earnestly address today\u2019s challenges\u201d. Samuel lived that life of faithful, genuine faith. He was sure of his calling and captivated by the gospel\u2019s power to bring change. May his biblical insights and life\u2019s example guide and inspire a new generation of authentic witnesses.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Material taken from Day of His Power, notes of interviews with Samuel, and personal correspondence. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cSamuel was one of the founding fathers of student ministry in Latin America and went on to be one of the spiritual giants of the evangelical church.\u201d \u2013 Tim Adams, IFES General Secretary.   Samuel Escobar passed away on 29 April 2025 at the age of 90. 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