The Underwood Family
A Missionary family dedicated to reaching the people of Argentina with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We would love for you to get to know their story and their mission.
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Meet the Underwood Family...
Testimony / Biography
My name is Stephen Underwood and I was saved at the age of 7 during a Vacation Bible School. However, not being raised in church; I did not follow the Lord in believer’s baptism until I was 11 years old. It wasn’t until the next spring, during a transition year from pony league to little league, that I met Pastor Wayne Cofield; my new baseball coach! In order to “secure” my spot as a starter, I began attending services at Whitfield Baptist Church. It was there that God started a work in my life that has led me and my family to reach the people of Argentina and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
At age 16, I had the opportunity to visit Peru, South America on a ten day missions trip. There, I met Veteran Missionary Austin Gardner, and now my mentor for over two decades. The following year, I returned to Peru for six months in order to learn and train on the field, for the field under the leadership and guidance of Austin Gardner. I also had the honor to serve 6 years in the Army, including 16 months in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2006 to September 2007. The Lord used that time in my life to teach me the discipline I lacked and the intestinal fortitude needed to accomplish His good work!
In 2013, I left my job and with my family set out to raise our financial support to serve as missionaries in South Africa. After serving for three years in South Africa, the Lord redirected our field of service to Argentina. Today, I am blessed and encouraged to have not only the obligation, but the opportunity to serve Jesus as a church planting missionary in Argentina, as we are in the process of starting a church and training young men for ministry! It is our intent and goal to replicate the biblical model through which I have been trained to the Argentine people and to impact, not only our country, but the world for the cause of Christ.
Underwood Family - Project
Greeting faithful prayer and ministry partners!
God is blessing in a tremendous way as we continue in the early stages of Iglesia Bautista Esperanza in Ezeiza, Argentina! We are averaging 15-20 in attendance so far with several professions of faith and 5 young men who are faithfully being discipled. It is our hope and expectation that within this first year, we will outgrow the garage we are currently meeting in and require a larger space for our church.
There are a few opportunities in and around the area of our church that are available, with one amazing opportunity coming available very soon! We have the option to purchase a 300 - 500 square meter lot for between $35,000 - $50,000 and build a church building for an additional $75,000 roughly.
We also have an opportunity to purchase a former church property, in a very strategic location, that already has a sanctuary, and another building serving as Sunday school rooms and offices. Comparing the prices of similar properties in the area, we can expect that this property will be priced between $150,000 - $200,000 when it hits the market. Lord willing, on Monday, we will be speaking directly with the owners of the property, and possibly able to work out something before it hits the market. I ask that you pray specifically for this time as the Lord could be lining this up to provide us with a permanent location for our church!
