Collection 427 Oral History Interviews with Americo Saavedra

Collection

Identifier: CN 427

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Oral history interview with Americo Saavedra, a Peruvian-born missionary working with HCJB in Ecuador, in which he describes his childhood, family, conversion, Catholicism in Peru and Ecuador, radio station HCJB and its ministry, Quito, Ecuador, his decision to be a missionary, employment with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Peru. Other topics include his education at Moody Bible Institute, Christian education in Ecuador, informal education, Summer Institute of Linguistics, the state of the Ecuadorian church; the Center for Christian Communications (CCC), its history and characteristics; seminars for training lay pastors, intercultural communication, cooperation among missions, materialism among North American missionaries, relationship between Catholics and Protestants in Peru his wife Kathy Pfeiffer Saavedra, and the challenges of raising children in a mission setting. The time period covered by the interviews is 1947-1990.

Americo Saavedra was interviewed by Paul Ericksen on January 10, 1990, at the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College.

Dates

Created: 1990

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Full Name: Americo Saavedra Birth date: 1947 Birth place: Jungle area of Peru--(Odeyana?); later moved to Pucallpa Conversion: At age 12

Marital Status: Married Kathy Pfeiffer in 1970, whom he met as a Wycliffe short-term missionary

Children: Steve (born 1971; graduated Wheaton College 1993); Carla (born 1974); avid (born 1980)

Education:

High school in Pucallpa, Peru--graduated 1969

Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL--began 1970 major: Christian Education

Wheaton College, Wheaton IL--M.A., 1990 major: Educational Ministries (degree completed after interview)

Career:

1967-1969 Technical work for Summer Institute of Linguistics in Lima, Peru

1975-1979 Evangelism department of radio station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador Director: 1978-1979

1979 HCJB affiliate in Mc Allen, Texas

1980-1984 Director of Evangelism department of HCJB

1984-1989 Developed and supervised Center for Christian Communications: seminars on Bible study, leadership, discipleship, and family

Future Plans: To continue work with Center for Christian Communications in Ecuador

Extent

3 Audio Tapes

195 Minutes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals and Additions

The materials in this collection were given by the Billy Graham Center Archives by Americo Saavedra in January 1990.

Accession 90-5

April 25, 1995

Mark Congdon