Brazil 2010 Report

June 25-July 4, 2010, I had the privilege of leading 18 volunteers from Edmond’s First Baptist Church to participate in an extremely well-organized and effective human needs/evangelism strategy under the auspices of Pioneer Missions, a non-profit missionary organization affiliated with Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.  Our project was organized in cooperation with Iregja Batista Nacional Betania in Vitoria da Conquista, a city of 300,000 people.  Our specific object was to facilitate a new church start in one of the city’s poorest and most crime-infested communities. 

 

Our team partnered with a team of eight volunteers from Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, a corps of committed and gifted interpreters, and many local Christians.  Our Brazilian coordinators were Pioneer Missions missionaries, Rosanne and Eduardo Soares of Porto Seguro.  They were accompanied by their daughters, Jessica and Lorena.  Our North American coordinator was Gary Taylor, a founder and director of Pioneer Missions and a veteran of countless missions throughout Brazil.  His right-hand man was Dr. Phillip Jett, pastor emeritus of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, MS.  They were also engaged in the construction of a church/community center/trade school in another poor neighborhood.  Their dream is the transformation of entire communities. 

 

Our work was a component of a larger strategy envisioned by Pioneer Missions missionary, Pastor Carlos.  He sees Vitoria da Conquista as the base for calling out, equipping and sending a multitude of national missionaries/evangelists/church planters throughout the vast regions of northeast Brazil, where there are hundreds of unreached towns without any evangelical church.  Pioneer Missions has made a multi-year commitment to the city councils and Baptist churches of the cities of Porto Seguro and Vitoria da Conquista.  I have not observed a sounder and more fruitful strategy anywhere in the world.

 

Ours was a diverse team.  In ages, we ranged from 80 to 16.  In experience, we ranged from seasoned veterans of volunteer projects to those who were doing this for the first time.  We were energized by our young people; three high school students, two university students and a young married couple.  They were led by our youth pastor, Jonathan Pickett.  They arrived in Brazil well rehearsed and spiritually ready for their exhausting multiple performances of the powerful evangelistic drama, The Redeemer.  Our coordinators commented several times about their being the best prepared team with which they had worked.

 

Travel wise, this was not an easy trip.  Going down we had ample opportunities to see each other in all the stages of exhilaration and exhaustion.  Everyone stuck tight as a group, I kept our yellow team T-shirts in sight and, in spite of close connections, we sped through four airports and made it into Porto Seguro on schedule.  After lunch and rest at a good hotel, we hooked up with our Tennessee counterparts after their delayed flight and made the six-hour bus trip to Vitoria da Conquista under a full moon.  We arrived at our hotel at 2:30 AM, over 40 hours after taking off in Oklahoma City.  Everyone was in good spirits, but glad to hear that Sunday morning breakfast would not be served until 10:30 AM.

 

Sunday:  After a late breakfast, we gathered with our coordinators and interpreters for a good orientation session.  Everyone immediately sensed the passion of Gary Taylor as he welcomed and challenged us.  We met our interpreters individually and heard Pr. Carlos and local leaders talk about their burden and vision.  From there, we were treated to a traditional Brazilian feast at a local churrascaria, a meat lover’s dream come true.  Before returning to our hotel, we visited the neighborhood where we would be working Monday through Friday.  The pastor of the new church start and Pr. Carlos challenged us, and we formed a prayer circle on the street. 

 

That night, our people got to experience Sunday night worship at a Brazilian Baptist church.  This is when the big crowds come out, and 1500 to 2000 people filled Igreja Batista Nacional Betania.  The celebration worship might scare the daylights out of a staid North American congregation, but our folks entered into it with abandon.  I had the joy of doing my favorite thing in Brazil, preaching.  My interpreter, Guilherme de Paula, is a 26-year-old theological student.  We bonded immediately and I felt complete liberty with him at my side.  It was a special delight to see people quickly responding when the invitation was extended.  The highlight of the evening was a father shouting when his teenage daughter came to Christ.

 

Monday – Thursday:  We were up at 5:00 every morning, to breakfast by 6:00 and on the bus at 7:00.  We arrived at our work site at 7:30 and found a long line of men, women and children waiting for us to receive them.  Because the city’s public schools were closed for the winter break, we were able to use the Escola Muncipal Ramundo da Nova, just two blocks for where the new church had been able to secure a small building.  After gathering for a devotional and prayer, we went quickly to work. 

 

People were registered at the church site, giving them an immediate tie to the new work.  They were admitted through the gate in groups of 40.  This group saw the drama performed by our young people.  From there they made their way to get shoes, have teeth cleaned or get reading glasses. 

 

Children’s families had been given appointment cards for shoes.  When a child arrived, shoes in his or her size were waiting.  Each child had his/her feet washed and lotion applied.  Then, they were fitted with new socks and shoes.  All the while, they were hearing the good news about Jesus shared with tenderness and love.  It was not uncommon for a child and/or mother to pray, receiving Christ before they left the shoe room. 

 

After the shoes, each child was enticed by the promise of a bear or HotWheel car to have their teeth cleaned.  Rhonda Ford, a charming dental hygienist from Jackson, Tennessee, trained our team members in cleaning teeth and lovingly sharing with children.  Before the cleaning, Rhonda talked to groups of about 30 children about good dental habits and presented the gospel.  After the cleaning, each child received a Beanie Baby Bear or a HotWheel car, tooth paste and a tooth brush. 

 

As all of this was happening, the reading glasses room was a busy place as people of all ages came to get visual help.  Throughout the day, this room was packed.  There was little doubt that the 1,000 pairs of glasses were going to all find needful owners. 

 

Each person receiving any human needs ministry was asked if they had a special prayer need or if they would like to talk to someone about the good news they had been hearing.  These were directed to our prayer room where four teams of prayer warriors/soul winners were waiting.  From morning until quitting time this sharing went on without interruption.  Over and over, people could be heard submitting to Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

 

Most days, we would close down at 4:00 and board our bus by 4:30.  It is winter in Brazil, and we arrived back at our hotel as the sun was setting.  By the time we went down to dinner at 6:00, it was already dark.  Dinner was followed on Monday and Wednesday nights by Bible study.  I had the joy of sharing during these times.

 

Violent Streets:  We were working in two extremely poor and violent neighborhoods.  One week before we arrived, a teenage boy was shot and killed across the street from the school where we were working.  Over and over, in the prayer room, we heard the stories of abused wives and children, murdered husbands and sons, fear and desperation.  On Wednesday afternoon, one block from the construction site where the community center is being built, over 40 shots rang out.  The police had staged a surprise drug raid.  The ring leader escaped, but two 16-year-old boys were shot down in the street.  One died and the other was left in critical condition.  The dead boy was living with a 15-year-old girl who has a three-month old baby.  Pr. Carlos conducted the funeral service on Friday.  Twice, Guilherme, Jonathan Pickett and I went out onto the streets and shared with tough young men.  We saw seven of these them submit to Jesus as Lord.  Four of them came to our Friday night celebration, made their public professions of faith and were counseled by members of the new church.  The young people of these neighborhoods are without jobs, have dropped out of school, are being sexually exploited and are enslaved by drugs.  They are finding their “families” through gang membership.  However, without exception, I found them to be open and responsive.  They were the reason we were there. 

 

Construction:  Four of our men, Chase Simmonson, Nathan Worthley, Jerry Foster, Jr. and Zach Snider, got in on the construction of the new community center.  When this is completed, it will house a meeting place for a new church, will be large enough for indoor soccer, will be a community event center, and will house a trade school.  It will be the center of community transformation. 

 

Tuesday Night:  We closed a bit early on Tuesday afternoon.  That evening, we were back at Betania and were greeted by another large crowd.  Our bus driver, Paulo, had come under deep conviction on Sunday evening.  He had told Guilherme that he wanted to come to Christ on his birthday, which was on Tuesday.  When I extended the invitation that night, everyone rejoiced when he stepped out immediately.  Two birthdays in one day!

 

Thursday Night:  Eduardo exchanged money for everyone, and we boarded the bus after dinner on Thursday for an evening of shopping at a local mall.  A sporting goods store proved the most popular place for our guys.  Everyone came home with at least one Brazil football (soccer) shirt.  Brazilian chocolate also proved to be a best seller. 

 

Friday:  On Friday, everything stopped in time for us to join our Brazilian friends over lunch and before a TV at the school to watch Brazil play the Netherlands in World Cup competition.  That ended on a sad note with Brazil losing.  However, spirits were more than lifted as we boarded our bus for a trip to an orphanage supported by Igreja Batista Nacional Betania.  Our young people engaged the boys in a soccer game.  Our drama team performed.  Every boy got new shoes, a bear and a HotWheel.  There were lots of hugs and expressions of love. 

 

The best was still to come.  We wanted to do something to tie the new church start even closer to the surrounding neighborhood.  We talked about having a big celebration at the little meeting place on Friday night, but we knew that it would be too small.  However, all week, we told people that there was going to be a celebration at that site, and word spread like wildfire.  There was nothing to do but go out onto the street.  When we arrived at 6:00, a flatbed truck had been parked in front of the bar across the street from the church, a band from Betania was ready to play and a big crowd was gathering.  At exactly the right time, the Lord opened the door for me to preach.   Over 40 people stepped out of the crowd in response to the invitation. 

 

While the counseling was underway inside the church building, the band struck up traditional Bahian music and folks started dancing in the street.  Soon, most of the members of our team were joining them.  Chase Simmonson and Nathan Worthley were dancing with children straddling their necks.  Jonathan Pickett had a little girl by both hands and was hustling to keep in step with her.  Then, Guilherme told me that the street boys we had led to the Lord wanted me to dance with them.  I was not about to say “no” to those guys, so… 

 

When we finally boarded our bus, the whole crowd was waving and shouting to us.  Tears flowed and over and over I heard members of our team saying, “I coming for two weeks next year.” 

 

WOW!  What a way to end a great week of work!    

 

Back at the hotel, a late dinner on Friday night was followed by a brief devotional time, lots of “thank you” and “we love you.”  Gifts were presented to the Soares family and our interpreters.  There was even a birthday cake to be shared.  Amazingly, we were able to do all of that and still get to our rooms at 10:30 to pack and prepare for the long trip home.

 

At 7:00 on Saturday morning, baggage was loaded and we were on our bus.  At 7:15, tears flowed again as we waived “goodbye” to our beloved interpreters, Gary, Dr. Jett and the remaining Tennessee team.  They did come for two weeks. 

 

Paulo took us on a beautiful but daring trip down out of the mountains.  We back in Porto Seguro in time for lunch and our check-in at the airport.  It was déjà vu in reverse as we again dashed through airports en route home.  A brief hold because of a thunder storm over the OKC airport was our only delay.

 

Statistics fail to tell the story.  We do know that our drama team performed an average of 14 times each day, before a total of over 3,200 people.  We did put shoes on 300 children.  1,000 pairs of reading glasses are being worn by needy people.  All of the dental supplies are in the hands of children with clean teeth.  A local dentist has volunteered his time, without charge, fill any cavities that were discovered.  Any leftover bears or HotWheels will be ready for the children who line up at the next project.  Pioneer Missions has promised a detailed report, telling us how many people prayed to receive Christ.  Only eternity will reveal the fullness of what happened in Vitoria da Conquista.  Looking back, we can all say, “God did it.  To Him be the glory!” 

 

In Brazil, we plugged into a strategy that really is transforming communities, having an impact on a state and that has the potential to have an impact on the third giant of the Western World.  We did something that can and should be repeated. 

 

July 12, 2010

Comments

[Lisa E Hayes]

Wayne,
I enjoyed reading your blog. Hope you and Robbie are doing well. Sending you my love...
Lisa

[Wayne]

Thanks, Lisa. Brazil 2010 was very special. Robbie and I are well and happy.

[Guilherme De Paula]

I'm so happy to read your blog. It's great to keep record of the testimonies of the impact work in Vitoria da Conquista. Thank you so much. Blessings.

[Wayne]

Guilherme, if we return to Brazil next year, I pray that I will again have the privilege of working with you.

[Guilherme De Paula]

It will be my privilege to work alongside you Wayne! I have just read your blog over again. I'm writing a theological reflection on the experience in Vitoria da Conquista.

[Wayne]

Guilherme, I will be very interested in reading your theological reflections.