Brazil
Date Entered: 1942
Major Ministries: Church planting, theological education, literature, medical & aviation evangelism, camps, deaf ministries
Country Profile
Population: 190,755,799 (August 1, 2010)
Peoples: White 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)
Economy: Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Brazil has a moderate free market and export-oriented economy. Its gross domestic product is tenth in the world and by purchasing power it is the eighth largest economy in the world. Brazil is a member of diverse economic organizations, such as Mercosul, G20 and the Cairns Group. 80% of exports are manufactured or semi-manufactured goods, including automobiles, steel and petro-chemicals. Brazil's main trade partners are: the EU (26% of trade), Mercosul and Latin America (25%), Asia (16%), the United States (14.3%), and others (18.7%). The owner of a sophisticated technological sector, Brazil develops projects that range from submarines to aircraft and is involved in space research. It is a pioneer in many fields, including ethanol production and deep water oil research from where 73% of its reserves are extracted.
Politics: Federal Republic
Religion: Roman Catholic (nominal) 74%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
About Brazil
Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world, covers half of the land mass of South America. Its people, a composite of immigrants from all parts o fthe globe as well as surviving indigenous tribes, are numberous enough to place sixth in the world in population. Their industrial spirit has pushed them to have the eighth largest economy in the world. Brazil’s capitol is Brasilia. Its official language is Portuguese and its religions are many.
Traditionally a Roman Catholic nation, Spiritism has also infused itself into every region and into many hearts and minds. Evangelicals come in so many varieties that one can understand the religious confusion that reigns in many hearts and minds. Eastern religions are also becoming prominent. However, most Brazilians are much like Americans in that they worship celebrity heroes, whether of film or sport; material wealth and youth, beauty and a sensual lifestyle.
Teams in Brazil
ABWE works through nine field teams, from north to south and from east to west, in this vast country. The ministries are as vast as their locations.
Rio Grande do Norte
The arid state of Rio Grande do Norte received the first ABWE missionaries. Berean Baptist Seminary trains workers for churches planted by ABWE missionaries and Brasilian pastors. A beautiful camp on Lake Bom Fim provides ministry opportunities to children, youth and families.
Pernambuco
The state of Pernambuco has been the focus of ABWE ministries since the 1950’s. Many churches have been started in the greater Recife area and a vibrant program through Camp Paradise reaches many for Christ. Church-based training has allowed those ministering there to reach into the Brazilian “Outback” through Brazilian coworkers.
West Central - Campo Grande
West Central Brazil borders Paraguay and Bolivia and is known for its cattle, crop production, and the largest wetlands in the world - the Pantanal. ABWE ministers in the capital city of Campo Grande since 1999 in church planting and has also expanded to the interior city of Paranaiba. Our team website is http://www.westcentralbrazil.abwe.org/.
São Paulo
São Paulo is a very densely populated industrial area, possessing great potential for strong autonomous churches. Its population increases by half a million each year. The Regular Baptist Seminary of São Paulo trains pastors and leaders for ministry in Brazil and around the world. Regular Baptist Press publishes materials to strengthen believers and churches throughout the Portuguese-speaking world. Missionaries from this field team also minister in the interior city of Indaiatuba.
Amazonas
In the Amazonas region, missionaries with boats and airplanes are taking the gospel to Brazilians and Indians as well as training them for ministry. ABWE has resident missionaries in the towns of Benjamin Constant, São Paulo de Olivença, Santo António do Içá, and Tonantins working with churches and training programs. Amazonas Baptist Hospital opened many doors to the gospel and continues to be a center for prenatal care, health training and medical outreach that cooperates with newly developed government programs.
Bahiar
In Salvador, the capital of Bahia, several churches have been planted. Recently ABWE began partnering with several churches in the area to begin the Bahia Bible College.
Belo Horizonte
Several churches have been started in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the state of Minas Gerais, and church planting continues to be the focus there. A sports center also has been used to reach children from the nearby shanty towns.
Bauru
Missionaries began ministering in Bauru, in the interior of the state of São Paulo, reaching the professional class near the turn of the millennium and are experiencing good growth.
Rio Grande do Sul
In 1995 ABWE opened work in the southern-most state of Rio Grande do Sul, considered the least evangelized state in the country. Churches are being planted alongside Brazilian partners in many of the nearby cities and joint efforts have been instituted for training both lay workers and future pastors.
The Work Continues…
Brazil is an open country for the gospel and has a great future in joining the US as a missionary force around the world. God has blessed ABWE’s ministries, but there is much more work to be done. Much sowing and watering has been done over the last 100 years and the harvest has just begun. All of the field teams welcome more workers to join them by using their special giftedness and interests to reach others for Christ, establish them in churches, and train them for outreach around the world.