KidZone families gather in Argentina for one of the denomination's largest international projects
Pilar, Argentina
Monday, June 18, 2007
KidZone, a family-friendly mission project designed to be a stepping stone in the completion of the Bruno Radi Convention Center in Argentina, began on Saturday, June 9. More than 200 people, including numerous families representing more than 33 churches, gathered just north of Buenos Aires to make an extreme impact in this Latin capital.

One of the largest international projects ever done in the almost 100-year history of the Church of the Nazarene, KidZone is a dynamic mix of ministry and outreach to children, youth, and adults in Argentina. The endeavor is a project of Extreme Nazarene Ministries, whose ministry began with a project to the Ukraine in 2006 with 113 members, and is in accordance with the South America Regional Office.

The purpose of KidZone is to complete one-third of the Bruno Radi Convention Center and plant 10 new churches in and around the Buenos Aires area. In just the first 5 days of the project, 111 people have accepted Christ during evangelism impact events. More than 2,200 construction hours have taken place painting, tiling, and building bathroom cabinets.

Part of the group has traveled to Formosa, a northern province of Argentina, with a special medical team to the Wichi and Toba Indians. As many as 519 patients were treated in the first two days of a portable medical clinic.

Children, youth, and their parents are joining together to clean up communities, paint schools, present evangelistic dramas to school children, and impact neighborhoods around 10 communities where new churches are being planted.

KidZone '07 lasts until June 22. A similar event is scheduled for January 2008, called Extreme '08. In January, volunteers will be focusing on the completion of the convention center as well as evangelism projects, medical clinics, and other compassionate ministry projects. January 27, 2008 is the target for the dedication of the convention center.

Once completed, the Bruno Radi Convention Center, named after the late South America regional director, will seat 2,600 people and house 600 people in 50 dorm rooms. Designed to be a multi-purpose building, the convention center will not only provide a place for Nazarene conferences, it will also be used as an outreach tool through indoor soccer/football leagues, concerts, and youth events. The convention center will also be rented out to local groups with an estimated income of $250,000 annually that will be used to fund various ministries.

For more information on KidZone '07, Extreme '08, and Extreme Nazarene Ministries, visit www.extremenazarene.org.
--NCN News-SAM (Slideshow available)