Guatemala (1997, 1998)
Stephen McDowell went to Guatemala in 1997 to speak at a conference on bringing Christian liberty to the Latin American nations. About 700 people from ten countries attended the two-day conference. Participants included pastors, government officials, educators, political leaders, businessmen, and others interested in impacting society with the gospel. Everyone at the conference received a copy of the Spanish edition of our book, Watchmen on the Walls. One pastor immediately began using this book to disciple the members of his church. He wrote that it “has been very useful in our church . . . and I have recommended it to a group of pastors of our denomination.”

In 1998 McDowell again traveled to Guatemala to speak to a gathering of 200 of the most influential Christian leaders in that country on how to transform their nation through Biblical principles. Participants included a former President and Vice President, thirteen (out of 80) members of congress, scores of ministers, including pastors of four of the five largest churches in Guatemala City, plus business and university leaders. We were able to impact many current and future leaders of this nation which has the fastest growing evangelical populace in the world (currently 30-35% and expected to reach 50% by the first part of the next century). A team of us also met with the leadership of the fastest growing university in Guatemala, advising them, at their request, on how to make all of their classes Biblical. People eagerly received our books, Atalayas en los Muros (Watchmen on the Walls) and Liberando las Naciones (Liberating the Nations), as there is little material like this available in Spanish.

Venezuela (1992)
In 1992 Stephen McDowell was invited to speak at two conferences sponsored by a number of national Christian organizations on igniting the flame of Godly reformation, one in Caracas and one in Maracaibo. Organizers translated into Spanish and printed 1000 copies of Principles for the Reformation of Nations (an earlier version of Liberating the Nations) for use as a tool for those attending the conferences to train others. Hundreds of people attended these multi-day conferences, and they in turn greatly impacted many others.

In 1993 a Frenchman working on his doctoral dissertation on the influence of evangelicalism on government and society in Latin American visited us in Charlottesville. He told us that while in Venezuela doing research he had come across numerous people and groups who were using the Spanish edition of our book. This significant impact on so many people is one reason he came to interview us and learn more about our work.

In 1996 Mark met with Cesar Espanol in Charlottesville who returned to his country and oversaw the publication and wrote a chapter on the history of liberty in Latin America which was included in a Spanish edition of our book Liberando las Naciones. It was printed in Venezuela in 1998. Our representative, Cesar Espanol, saw this as an invaluable tool for equipping Christians in Venezuela with the principles necessary to bring Godly reform to their nation.

Stephen returned to Venezuela in the early 2000’s to teach a seminar and at various churches.

Costa Rica (2000)
In June of 2000 Stephen McDowell taught at a two and one-half day conference in Costa Rica dealing with the impact of Christianity in society. About 150 pastors, teachers, businessmen, and parents from throughout Central America learned how Christianity affects every sphere of life – family, church, civil government, the arts, education, business. While there, Stephen also spoke to the teachers of a newly formed Principle Approach school. He said, “I was encouraged to hear that the mission of the school was to disciple the nation through training their children. I wish all the Christian schools in America had such a vision. The people I met had a great hunger for Biblical worldview books, but there are not enough such books available in Spanish. Even when available, most people cannot afford to purchase books.” While the Providence Foundation has some materials in Spanish, we hope to someday print large quantities to make the unit price cheap enough for wide distribution.

Brazil (1991, 1994, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018)
Stephen spoke in Brazilia in 1991 and then returned in July 1994 to both Brazilia and Sao Paulo. Fabio Batista in Brazilia organized a series of seminars and talks at which Stephen McDowell spoke. About 100 people, many in training for the ministry, attended an in-depth two day seminar on “Liberating the Nations” that was held in the national capital. McDowell also conducted a seminar in Sao Paulo and spoke at various churches in both cities.

Fabio Batista of Brazilia had attended a Providence Foundation training course while in school in the United States. Upon returning to his home as our representative in Brazil, he established an organization in 1994 to facilitate Godly reform. He and his team put out a newsletter, organized classes, and presented many talks and seminars. Fabio appeared on national television and spoke to a state meeting of the Four Square Church attended by 600 pastors.

In 2007 our book Liberating the Nations was translated into Portuguese and 5000 copies were printed and distributed at a large transformation conference.

In March 2011, Stephen spent about 10 days in Brazil teaching in seven cities in the three southernmost states. His main purpose was to teach at the newly formed Transformation Institute. Rodrigo Tapia started “Instituto Transforma” with the long-term vision of raising up a new generation of leaders for the nation. His intensive year-long training program, followed by a year of practical application, will equip leaders in a biblical worldview so as to transform every spheres of life in Brazil. He has a similar vision to what we do at the Providence Foundation, with a desire to partner with us. Stephen’s sessions were filmed and are being used in the Institute.

Nicaragua (1996)
In the spring of 1996 McDowell traveled to Managua, Nicaragua, to teach many pastors and church leaders their duties in the civil realm. As a nation emerging from communism, these Biblical ideas were eagerly received by those who had only recently begun to have a voice in government. Many involved in civil government also attended the seminars and meetings, including presidential candidate Dr. Francisco Mayorga.

Peru (2008)
In the summer of 2000 a missions team from Morning Star International ministries visited Peru and used some of our materials and a slide presentation to train the city leaders of Taraporto. A member of the team, Daniel Strand, wrote: “We are so thankful for the material you sent to us! We were able to translate the “Liberating the Nations” presentation into Spanish. We made a presentation for the Mayor and her government department heads for the city of Taraporto, Peru. We had about 25 at that meeting, and after the presentation they asked so many questions on how to change their government, they stayed for another hour of question and answer!.” Another team member met with the Dean of the only university in that region and gave him a copy of the Spanish version of Liberating the Nations.

In 2008 Stephen traveled to Peru, where he taught church and government leaders in Lima and at a pastor’s school in Iquitos. A couple of our books were published in the country for use in the school for biblical economics.

Trinidad (1991)

In 1990 Bertril Baird, who is a pastor and President of Faith Revival Ministries, attended our Biblical Worldview Seminar in Charlottesville. He was motivated to do so after reading our booklet In Search of Democracy, in which, he said he learned more about a Biblical view of government than in all his previous studies on the subject. In 1991 he invited McDowell to speak at a conference in Trinidad attended by Christian leaders from throughout the Caribbean Islands. He wanted these people to learn a Biblical view of God and government and show them that the church must prepare people to govern their nations. Pastor Baird served a number of years as a member of the PF Advisory Board, participated in numerous events with us, and advanced the message of Godly reformation all over the world.

The primary reason for Stephen’s trip to Trinidad in November 2008 was for consultation with Ancil Peters on setting up a satellite school of the Biblical Worldview University, called Center for Creative Leadership School (CCL). CCL has the facilities in place and has recognition from the government. They have identified and begun to train a number of the future instructors. While there Stephen conducted a day-long training event for these instructors and many other pastors, businessmen, and government leaders. In addition, Stephen spoke at two churches and met with various Christian leaders to discuss and promote the school. Stephen returned in 2010 to launch the first classes at the renamed Center for Diplomatic Studies.

Nicaragua (1996)
In the spring of 1996 McDowell traveled to Managua, Nicaragua, to teach many pastors and church leaders their duties in the civil realm. As a nation emerging from communism, these Biblical ideas were eagerly received by those who had only recently begun to have a voice in government. Many involved in civil government also attended the seminars and meetings, including presidential candidate Dr. Francisco Mayorga.

Peru (2008)
In the summer of 2000 a missions team from Morning Star International ministries visited Peru and used some of our materials and a slide presentation to train the city leaders of Taraporto. A member of the team, Daniel Strand, wrote: “We are so thankful for the material you sent to us! We were able to translate the “Liberating the Nations” presentation into Spanish. We made a presentation for the Mayor and her government department heads for the city of Taraporto, Peru. We had about 25 at that meeting, and after the presentation they asked so many questions on how to change their government, they stayed for another hour of question and answer!.” Another team member met with the Dean of the only university in that region and gave him a copy of the Spanish version of Liberating the Nations.

In 2008 Stephen traveled to Peru, where he taught church and government leaders in Lima and at a pastor’s school in Iquitos. A couple of our books were published in the country for use in the school for biblical economics.

Trinidad (1991)

In 1990 Bertril Baird, who is a pastor and President of Faith Revival Ministries, attended our Biblical Worldview Seminar in Charlottesville. He was motivated to do so after reading our booklet In Search of Democracy, in which, he said he learned more about a Biblical view of government than in all his previous studies on the subject. In 1991 he invited McDowell to speak at a conference in Trinidad attended by Christian leaders from throughout the Caribbean Islands. He wanted these people to learn a Biblical view of God and government and show them that the church must prepare people to govern their nations. Pastor Baird served a number of years as a member of the PF Advisory Board, participated in numerous events with us, and advanced the message of Godly reformation all over the world.

The primary reason for Stephen’s trip to Trinidad in November 2008 was for consultation with Ancil Peters on setting up a satellite school of the Biblical Worldview University, called Center for Creative Leadership School (CCL). CCL has the facilities in place and has recognition from the government. They have identified and begun to train a number of the future instructors. While there Stephen conducted a day-long training event for these instructors and many other pastors, businessmen, and government leaders. In addition, Stephen spoke at two churches and met with various Christian leaders to discuss and promote the school. Stephen returned in 2010 to launch the first classes at the renamed Center for Diplomatic Studies.

Antigua (2003)
In November, 2003, Stephen McDowell, accompanied by his wife Beth, taught at a conference in Antigua, the West Indies. Paul Andrew, Pastor of Christian Assembly Ministries, had been introduced to our ministry by Providence Foundation advisor Bertril Baird, who is a pastor and international speaker from Trinidad. After reading some of our books, Paul ordered scores of copies and began distributing them to key leaders in Antigua and throughout the Caribbean. Paul, along with other pastors in the area, had been very eager to promote the message of Godly reformation of society. To help educate his nation he organized a conference on “God’s Plan for the Nations” and invited Bertril and Stephen to speak. Hundreds of pastors, businessmen, and political leaders attended the week-long summit, included a bishop who oversees churches in many of the Caribbean nations. The last two nights Stephen taught were broadcast live on a national radio program. He also spoke to a pastor’s prayer breakfast where numerous evangelical churches were represented. In addition, he met with the Governor-General of Antigua, Sir James Carlisle, and Hazel Bird, sister to the present Prime Minister, Lester Bird.

Columbia (2008)
A multi-day School of Transformation was conducted for leaders in church and state in Hector Pardo’s church in Bogota. Hector is a leading Pastor in the nation. Since he became a Christian around 1960, the Christian population in Columbia has risen from 15,000 to 8 million (about 20% of the population). Hector’s desire is to continue to train the rapidly growing Christian populace in Biblical transformational principles.

Stephen returned to Colombia in 2015 to help launch the Transformation Institute of Colombia, which will provide ongoing training in Biblical worldview. While there he also spoke at churches and was interviewed for a number of radio and television programs. [See first section above for more on our work in Colombia.]

Jamaica (2006)
Stephen traveled to Jamaica in 2006 to speak at a conference at one of the largest churches in the country.

Puerto Rico (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
During a six year period, Stephen spent about one week each year teaching at a YWAM base in Puerto Rico on biblical government, economics, education, providential history, and Godly transformation. The seminars were translated in Spanish, recorded, and are still in use in the school for regular training.

Bolivia
In 1990, Pedro Moreno, having studied under Mark and Stephen in Charlottesville for a few years and then returned to La Paz, began working for the government there and organized the first national Protestant Prayer Breakfast at which he and the President of Bolivia spoke. Moreno opened an office for PF and started an ongoing study group. Hundreds of pastors and government officials, including the President and numerous national leaders, attended the prayer breakfast. Zarco’s desire to train Christian government leaders, as well as all Bolivians, in a Biblical worldview led him to travel to the United States to meet with us and discuss working together. When Zarco heard Stephen McDowell speak at a training course in the fall of 1999 and read some of our books, he discovered the materials he needed to help him in training others. He started a class for about 15 politicians teaching them the material in Liberating the Nations and Watchmen on the Walls. Soon after that pastor and former Congressman Orlando Zarco was named the Providence Foundation representative for Bolivia. Zarco has been working for many years to bring Godly reformation to his nation.

In the summer of 2017 Stephen spent three days in Cochabamba, Bolivia, teaching biblical principles of societal transformation to pastors, government officials, educators, and business leaders. Those in attendance included a man and wife who founded and run a Christian school in La Paz. The wife, Cecilia, recently wrote us:

“I would like you to know, that I shared your teachings with my teachers and students. The study of the law of God, of the Ten Commandments, opened my eyes to integral salvation and the essential subjects in a Christian education, we are also deepening this study with other authors. We are implanting these teachings very slowly but consistently in our Christian School, with my husband Oscar teaching the students in class and I teaching the teachers.

Now, we are starting a school of Christian leaders, where we will plan to teach biblical worldview, reasoning and fallacies, basic theology, history, and biblical designs. It is aimed at pastors and young Christian professionals. If you could help us it would be wonderful.

We are watching from Bolivia to your country, very happy of the changes that are happening, and with the hope that in Bolivia we can also see the hand of God one day and we can return to the biblical designs, which we know start with changed hearts.

I am sending you this letter to thank you and to tell you that the seeds that you planted here in Bolivia gave good results. Thank you, many congratulations and blessings from Bolivia.”

Haiti
A lady who trains missionary teachers wrote to obtain Liberating the Nations for use in her Teachers for the Nations program. She was recently training teachers in Haiti the principles we highlight in our book.

Bermuda
A Member of Parliament in Bermuda saw our video, The Story of America’s Liberty, on TV, contacted us and arranged a visit to Charlottesville in 2003 to get materials and ideas to help him bring Godly reform to his island.

Honduras
In 1987, James Lowen from Charlottesville, traveled there and met with the President and presented him with materials from our ministry. He was moved to tears upon hearing of the faith and prayers of George Washington in the early years of our nation.

Guyana

Stephen traveled to Guyana in 2009, where he spoke at the Kingdom Transformation Conference in Georgetown; plus he traveled to other towns to speak at various churches.