It's not every day you're greeted with hugs and smiles by the President of the USA. Alf Cooper, CMS mission partner in Chile, was surprised to be pulled out of a lineup by President Obama on a recent visit to the country.
Alf was among those being presented to President Obama in late March because of his other role as Protestant chaplain to Chile's President Pinera.
Soyanne Muzard, head of communications at Alf's large city-centre church La Trinidad, takes up the story:
"According to what was reported President Obama broke into the line when he came across the Chaplain of the House of Government, our beloved Pastor Alfred Cooper. He gave him a warm hug and allowed pictures to be taken which surprised President Pinera."
Although President Pinera began introducing Alf as the person who "took care of the souls of those who constitute the House of Government" besides his other responsibilities, it was clear that President Obama remembered Alf from his visit to Washington in February along with recued miner Jose Henriquez.
"The President of the United States reminded him that they had already met at the Hotel Hilton in Washington DC at the National Prayer Breakfast which was held at the beginning of February this year, where our Pastor was the interpreter of Jose the miner, who gave testimony of how he lived when he and his fellow miners were trapped underground in the San José mine and how God rescued them.
"The presentation was made before 3,000 people including members of congress and other important people from all over the world."
Alf continued the evening sharing the gospel at his dinner table alongside a prominent TV current affairs presenter, a senator, and other notables of Chilean society.
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