The Luis Palau Association has named Jonatan Proietti its director for Latin America, effective January 2027.
Levi Park, the association’s global director, announced the appointment during the 13th General Assembly of the Latin Evangelical Alliance, or AEL.
Proietti will also continue serving as executive director of the AEL and will devote part of his time to that role with the association’s support, said Juan Cruz Cellammare, a longtime member of the Luis Palau team.
His late father, Rubén Proietti, was the association’s previous director for Latin America.
A new generation
Park said Proietti joined the association in 2018 to lead the Latin American branch of the Global Network of Evangelists, known in the region as Nueva Generación de Evangelistas. The network offers resources, training and opportunities to work together.
The network includes more than 7,000 evangelists in about 100 countries, Park said. Under Proietti’s leadership, the network grew to about 1,000 members in the region.
Park spoke of Proietti’s growth as a leader and his personal qualities. He called him “a good leader, a man of character” and welcomed a new generation taking on responsibility within the ministry.
He said the association’s core commitments will not change. Proclaiming the gospel, the unity of the church and mobilizing believers remain central. He added that the organization works “through, with and for the local church.”
Park also recalled the losses the team has faced. Luis Palau died in March 2021. Six months later, his friend and longtime co-worker Rubén Proietti also died.
Remembering Rubén Proietti
Cellammare spoke of Rubén Proietti’s service and of the path his son has followed. He said Jonatan Proietti’s appointment reflects merit, preparation and the will of God.
He urged the alliance presidents present to support Proietti in his new role. He invited Edmundo Gastaldi, director of festivals in Latin America, and Marta Hotton, logistics coordinator for the Palau Festivals, to come forward. He then asked the leaders to pray for Proietti and to support his work across the continent.
Proietti thanked the team for its trust and spoke of his relationship with AEL members. He noted that his father would have turned 80 nine days after the gathering. He thanked God for opening doors for this new stage.
He said the association has built credibility, trust and respect over its history. He said he remains committed to the ministry’s Christ-centered and Bible-centered character and to the values behind its work.
To describe how he sees leadership, Proietti compared his new role to driving a high-performance car. Each team member’s preparation, adjustments and contributions matter, he said. He recalled a lesson from Luis Palau.
“The team makes all the difference,” Proietti said.
He described the Palau team as a family that builds relationships and close ties. That sense of family is essential to the association’s work in each country, he said. He said he wants to move forward with the team and care for the relationships that sustain the work.
Working for unity
Gastaldi, who worked for years with Luis Palau and Rubén Proietti, welcomed the rise of new generations. He said he is confident in Jonatan Proietti’s ability to lead the region.
He said the festivals bring churches closer together and, in some places, have led to the formation of pastoral alliances.
“Not only working in unity, but for unity,” Gastaldi said.
Hotton will also continue working with the AEL, Cellammare said. Her work includes the assemblies and their preparation and helps maintain the relationship between the two organizations.
Christian Hooft, a pastor and president of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic, known as ACIERA, prayed for Proietti, who also serves on ACIERA’s national board of directors. Park then prayed on behalf of the Luis Palau Association team.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International’s Spanish edition.
