MISSION DURCH MIGRATION

35% only among Latins and 1.5% exclusively among the Swiss. They invest between
ix
four and ten hours per week in this ministry. Latins seem therefore to have an extraordi-
nary zeal for mission, be it organized or unorganized. Many (81.5%) consider their con-
tribution to mission and evangelisation in Switzerland to be highly necessary and impor-
tant. Only 8% would question this statement. This self-confidence causes friction with
national churches and church leaders at times. Chapter 3 deals with this problem in more
detail.
2.3 Latin Conferences and Support from Swiss Missions and Churches
Latin migrants begin to network and organize meetings nationally and internationally to
evaluate, encourage and meet one another. The first European conference was held in
1993 in Rotterdam, Holland, the second in 1994 in Brussels, Belgium and the third in
London in 1999. These conferences where usually attended by 300 to 500 Latins from all
over Europe. Regionalised events followed in Spain in 2000 and again in London in
2001. Also in Switzerland such Conferences took place: in Berne 2000 and in Zurich and
Geneva in 2001. Here the main aim was always to strengthen links between Latin groups
and churches in the country and to motivate unity, prayer and a commitment to evange-
lize. Besides these conferences, periodical visits of Latin pastors and mission-aries form
another way of supporting and encouraging these migrants in their mission outreach.
Swiss missionaries to Latin America returning from the field for different reasons get
also involved. They know the culture and the language and are familiar with the
strengths, weaknesses and the idiosyncrasies of Latin culture. Usually they start groups
to encourage spiritual growth and maturity and then link them to Swiss churches. Some
Swiss churches provide simultaneous translations, literature and Alpha Courses in Span-