Photo: Alex Ibanez
This is the moment when the new president of Chile officially welcomed Alfredo Cooper, a CMS mission partner, as his Protestant chaplain.
Luis Ramirez, Alfredo Cooper and President Sebastian Pinera at La Moneda, the presidential palace in Santiago.
(Photos: Alex Ibanez)
The picture shows Alf (centre) with President Sebastian Pinera (right) and Catholic chaplain Luis Ramirez.
The news he was to be chaplain came while he was doing his exercises, says Alf.
"I was in the gym doing my sit-ups when I received a phone call.
"I answered 'Hello' and I was told, 'Rev Cooper, I pass you to the President.' Sure enough I received the official summons."
Alf has been pastor of La Trinidad church in Santiago since 1984 and was a SAMS mission partner in Chile since 1975.
The growing church also acts as a bible college, and so church members are trained in the Word and they also believe in tithing the congregation.
When the church grows to a certain size, a tenth of the members move out to plant another one, and this has already happened in the neighbourhoods of La Reina, Cantagallo and Vitacura.
Alf will be one of the special guests at
Day 50
- the upcoming CMS Community celebration on 22 May.