South Street  -  ALIVE!

Robert & Joan Visited us in January 2008 -  Listen to their interview     Click here

Our Missionary interest in Chile

Robert & Joan Hamilton (nee Elmes) were married in 1959 having met at Bible Training Institute (B.T.I.) Glasgow.

They were called of God to serve Him in South America and made their first home in the mountains around Cuzco and Andahuaylas, Peru. There they laboured for some twenty years when they were called out and moved to Santiago, Chile, in 1982.

They originally worked as independant missionaries supported by friends and churches in Ireland and England and later in the U.S.

Joan & Robert Hamilton

They had many difficult times and endured many hardships; they were able to leave behind them 26 churches under the name of Bible Churches of Peru. On a recent trip back there Robert was able to report back of some 150 churches now thriving under the same fellowship. They had five children two of whom are working with them in Santiago. They now work under the banner of 'World Team' an amalgamation of missions working in 23 countries in the world.

Robert and Joan retired from the work in Santiago in 2003 having established  and pastored five churches within the city. Starting with Las Condes and spreading across the city with Vitacura, Recoleta, Lo Prado and Renca. It is in the Renca area that the childrens work - originally known as 'Children at Risk'  is operating.  Now known as 'Corner of Joy' it has become a centre for single mothers as well as children and is a place of great blessing.

Since taking on their retirement challenge in Vina del Mar, a seaside town somewhat larger than Eastbourne, they have seen the 9 Christians they first fellowshipped with grow to 24 by the end of their first year and now it is topping seventy each week.  When Alan Elmes, (Joan's brother) visited in 2005 they had just moved into their larger church premises, a conference hall in a local hotel. It could seat around seventy people. They are now in great need of their own, larger premises.  Joan & Bert MUST come out of Chile when Bert reaches the grand old age of 75 - for health insurance reasons. They would like to leave with the church in Vina settled in it's own property and still growing.  Please pray on for them, their daughter Sharon, husband Jack, their children and Sharon's sister Faith who works as a school teacher in Santiago.

                              Update June 2007

Joan and Bert are having to leave at the end of next year.   They will be leaving in the early part of 2009 and returning to the U.K.  Please pray for the leadership team appointed and trained by Robert as they take on the full responsibility of a fast growing church, and for themselves as they determine their activities location for their retirement.