The governor of Argentina’s Chaco province, Leandro Zdero, took part last Sunday (March 1) in the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Evangelical Christian Community Church of Pampa Sommer. The church is located near Charata in the Chacabuco department and is led by Pastor Roberto Moritz.
The commemoration marked nine decades since the inauguration of the congregation’s first church building. Over the years, the church has become a place of faith and social support for families throughout the region.
The main ceremony included a worship service reviewing the church’s history and highlighting its major milestones. An institutional video also showcased key moments in the church’s growth. Longtime members of the congregation shared testimonies, emphasizing the spiritual and social impact the church has had over the years.
In 2018, the provincial legislature declared the church a historic and cultural heritage site of Chaco, recognizing its historical significance and the legacy of the families who shaped the region’s spiritual and social life.
During the celebration, Zdero praised the church’s commitment to the community, stating, “It was a very emotional day, marked by a strong commitment to the Christian community, which carries out extraordinary work—not only in providing spiritual support, but also in showing solidarity and serving the common good.”
He also called for strengthening shared values and family unity, recalling his personal connection to the church dating back to his time as a legislator, when he participated in its heritage designation.
In addition to Zdero, several provincial, local, and religious authorities attended the ceremony, including the Minister of Government, Justice, Labor and Human Rights, Julio Ferro; the mayor of Charata, Rubén Rach; Senator Silvana Schneider; and the Coordinator of Religious Affairs, Pablo Paredes. They joined in honoring this significant evangelical institution in Chaco.
The community is named Pampa Sommer in reference to one of the pioneering European families—bearing the German surname Sommer—who settled in that rural area in southwestern Chaco province in the early 20th century. In Argentina, particularly in agricultural regions settled by immigrants, it is common for communities to adopt the surname of early landowners or founders along with the term “pampa,” an Indigenous word meaning “plain.” This is how the name that still identifies this small community near Charata came about.
Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
