The Global Church is inviting you to participate in what God is doing in Northern Chile. Our partner is the Evangelical Covenant Church of Chile, which has churches in Calama and Antofagasta. Teams could be involved in youth and young adult ministry, outreach, community ministry, workshops, music, and numerous other opportunities. The churches in Antofagasta are fast-growing, incredibly alive, and made up primarily of young adults. The church in Calama is building a community center and is partnership with the city government in providing services to the community. They also have outreaches to the gypsy community and small desert villages. Any age group is invited, any time of year, for any length of time. The trip will be led, staffed and implemented by Chilean Nationals.

These churches are located in the Atacama desert region, which is the driest place on earth and is also the site of the largest copper mines in the world. Antofagasta is a coastal city or 400,000 people. Calama is central to the copper mines and has a population of about 150,000, made up primarily of miners.

The following are the primary ministry opportunities in the Atacama region of Chile:

– Youth Ministry

– Young Adult Ministry

– Community Services and Development

– Worship and Music

– Outreach

– Church Planting

– Family Ministry

Besides these options, there are more. The goal would be to find out the skills and interests of your team and match them with the ongoing ministries of church partners in the area.

Trips are Mutually Designed with local partners utilizing your skills for ministry, learning from the Global Church, and building relationships with believers in the region.  Any age group is invited, any time of year, for any length of time.

All trips are led, staffed and implemented by Chilean Nationals and Latin American church leaders. Merge is an organization directed by a leadership team made up of non-American Global Church leaders from around the world. Once your team sends in a deposit, the Merge Coach of Chile, Alejandra Ibarra, will contact your team leaders and work with your team, and the local church leaders, to develop an itinerary, ministry focus, and develop learning activities for your team. Local nationals will be hired as interpreters, guides, ministry coaches, cooks, and construction supervisors (if needed). 

Housing –  homestays is the best option for the team. Hotels are an option.

Food – Usually teams are fed two-American/Canadian-style uncooked meals each day, and one cooked Chilean meal made by local cooks, although more Chilean meals are possible. Purified water is also supplied for teams. 

Flights – teams would fly to Santiago, Chile, and then fly either to Calama or Antofagasta. 

Ground Transportation – Merge will hire local bus companies to drive your team around Chile. 

Learning – Learning activites with local church leaders and Merge staff will be designed into the itinerary.

Cultural Activities –  The Atacama desert is famous for its unusual landscape and even its animals. There are mountains with snow, flamingos, llama herds, and locations like "Valley of the Moon." There are also small cute towns to visit that are like oasis in the desert. The copper mines also allow touristic visits. Since Antofagasta is on the coast, there are interesting coastal areas to visit, and even a sculpture called the "hand of the desert."