He listens. He lives what he believes. And he speaks the language of love. What follows is a tribute to District Apostle Minio from South America, who will retire this Sunday after forty years as a minister.
“Be prepared.” District Apostle Enrique Eduardo Minio first encountered this motto at the age of eight when he joined the Scouts: being prepared to help, standing up for others, and doing good wherever possible. This desire to serve has stayed with him ever since. What he could not have imagined at the time was just how deeply he would one day live out that calling.
From searching to finding
Enrique was born in Avellaneda, Argentina, in August 1960. He was the youngest in the Minio family. Together with his two sisters, he grew up in a Christian home. “I had a very happy childhood,” he recalls.
Although he first heard about the New Apostolic Church through two childhood friends, it was not until the age of 23 that he began attending divine services. The reason: he and his fiancée, Esther, sought God’s blessing for their marriage.
Minio is known for his thoughtful and analytical nature. He carefully examines matters from multiple perspectives before forming an opinion. As Hermann Ernst, who will succeed him, explains, “He looks at everything from different angles, analyses every situation and all possible variables.” Once in the Church, things moved along swiftly. In 1983, the family was adopted; in 1984, the couple received their wedding blessing and were sealed; and in 1985, Enrique was ordained as a Sub-deacon.
Christ at the centre
A qualified electrical engineer, business graduate, and teacher, Minio would eventually become the Church’s “architect of the future” in the southern regions of South America. This is how Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider put it when appointing Minio as District Apostle for Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay in 2015.
Minio described his guiding principle as follows: “To measure every decision by the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the promise of His return, to protect the unity of the ministers and souls in my care, and in the process, always speak the language of love.”
He also embraced communication as a vital tool for unity. “He has been learning languages for many years,” noted Bishop Berardo, a long-standing companion. “His goal is to reach out, to understand, to learn, and to pass on these experiences.” In this spirit, he also learned English—the international language of the Church.
Being there for others
Minio connects to people in his own unique way: calm, empathetic, considerate, attentive, full of love, and very observant. He values the diversity of the countries entrusted to him and approaches each individual with authenticity and openness. He takes time for people and quickly builds meaningful relationships.
And Herman Ernst observes, “He speaks little, but listens a great deal. Often, people don’t know what he is thinking—but what is certain is that he puts himself in their place, accepts them as they are, and considers how he can help.”
His appointment as District Apostle gave new depth to the desire to serve that had been instilled in him as a child. “The mission of our Church—‘providing soul care and cultivating a warm fellowship in which everyone shall experience the love of God and the joy of serving Him and others’—became a daily calling that transformed the purpose of my life.”
Creating structures, strengthening faith
Under his leadership, the District Apostle Area of South America underwent significant changes, including the expansion to incorporate the districts of Brazil and Bolivia. He also established strong organisational and administrative structures to support this growth.
Pastoral care remained at the heart of his ministry. He personally visited all 700 congregations within his area of responsibility. He also placed strong emphasis on the training, participation, and involvement of ministers, teachers, and members alike.
Colleagues describe District Apostle Minio as a man of unwavering integrity: completely trustworthy, clear, and straightforward. “As a minister and as a person, he is always the same.” Extremely intelligent, exceptionally patient, committed, honest, organised, punctual, supportive, and determined. Above all, he encourages his brothers and sisters to “discover the gift in each person—without prejudice”.
Photo: INA Sud América
