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Serve with ABWE

South America: Brazil

Brazil covers half of the land and contains half of the population of South America. The country's flag bears 27 white stars which represent her states (26 states and one federal district), forming constellations which include the southern cross.

That is not the only cross that demands people's attention. The cross of Romanism has the traditional and social assent of the masses but is losing their emotional allegiance. Spiritism is a more vigorous, rapidly growing menace.

ABWE works in nine areas of this vast country. The oldest is in the arid state of Rio Grande do Norte. Berean Baptist Bible College trains workers for churches planted by ABWE missionaries. A camp and conference site strengthens the program. The coastal city of Natal and many interior cities need more fundamental churches.

The state of Pernambuco has been the focus of ABWE ministries since the 1950's. Churches have been started in the greater Recife area and a vibrant camp program reaches many for Christ. Although training pastors has taken place in other parts of Brazil, plans are underway for a local church based training program in Recife. The churches have also begun to reach into the poor interior towns of the state. Their first missionary was sent to a drought stricken town where contacts have been made through relief efforts, and a church has been started.

Mato Grosso do Sul is located in west central Brazil and is known for its cattle, crop production, and wetlands (referred to as the Pantanal ). The capital city of Campo Grande was the birthplace of ABWE's ministry to this region in September of 1999. Six ABWE missionaries now make up the nucleus of this work, which has as its goal a church that is firmly grounded in Biblical truth that will provide, in turn, the impetus to form new churches in surrounding suburbs and cities. Ministry opportunities continue to grow as doors open to the gospel in this region.

São Paulo is a densely populated industrial area, possessing great potential for a strong autonomous church. Its population increases by half a million each year. The Baptist Bible College and Seminary of São Paulo trains pastors and leaders. Regular Baptist Press publishes materials to strengthen believers and churches throughout the Portuguese-speaking world. A ministry to the deaf is underway. A central city bookstore reaches a wide constituency.

In the Amazonas region, missionaries with boats and airplanes are taking the gospel to Brazilians and Indians. More than 15,000 Ticunas have been reached with the gospel. Fourteen churches and a training program for the Indian pastors have been established. Yet other tribes are still without a gospel witness, and many towns also need resident missionaries. Amazonas Baptist Hospital, built along the banks of the Amazon River, uses the effective tool of medical-surgical evangelism.

In Salvador, the capital of Bahia, several churches have been planted in recent years. A new outreach ministry to street kids is growing and plans are being made to expand into a rented facility where wider outreach and life-training classes will be possible. An aviation ministry carries the evangelism program into interior towns. A new work has been started in the interior city of Barreiras. Missionaries are needed to extend the beachhead in this spiritually darkened area.

Minas Gerais is another center of ABWE's witness. This state is known for its gold and precious stones. ABWE's ministry here is centered in the capital city of Belo Horizonte where the real treasure is the people who have responded to the Savior.

Seventy percent of the state's four million residents are youth. Church planting is developed through evangelism, home Bible studies, camp, a boy's home, and a sports center.

A new ministry is opening in Brazil's southern city of Porto Alegre, with opportunities to develop church planting throughout the state of Rio Grande de Sul.

The need for more churches is urgent. All nine ABWE fields in Brazil need many more laborers, and many other areas are ready to be entered for church planting.