Lucas and Teresa have been married since 1996 and have three sons, Nathaniel, Jackson, and Owen. Both Teresa and Lucas were born and raised in Iowa and both graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies. Lucas was the pastor of college ministries at Saylorville Church in Des Moines, Iowa from 2000-2007. In 2007 they became full-time missionaries with ABWE and moved to Brazil in 2009 where they are serving as church planters in Porto Alegre, the capital city of the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Their Ministry
The state of Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state and is one of the most under-reached regions of Brazil. While northern Brazil has seen much church planting success, southern Brazil, and specifically Rio Grande do Sul, lags behind as its distinct European culture and the prominence of animistic Afro-Brazilian religions impede the spread of the gospel. We are currently planting churches in the southern region of the capital city of Porto Alegre. This region has over 300,000 people and there are less than five orthodox, gospel centered churches. Our desire is to plant Brazilian churches that will one day raise up and send Brazilian missionaries to the unreached parts of the world.
Southern Brazil is currently facing various unique crises. The evangelical church in Brazil is plagued by financial corruption and the unbiblical use of overbearing authority. The society is reeling from a year long forced isolation from the total lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. The family and the marriage relationship are being dismantled and torn down. In 2021 we launched a new church plant with a unique approach focused on making disciples in the midst of these crises. Instead of establishing one large church, we are planting various small, simple, relational, and family focused churches that will be networked together and have shared leadership. Your prayer and financial support allow Lucas and Teresa to continue making disciples and planting churches in the spiritually needy region of southern Brazil.
How You Can Be Involved
There are two ways to get involved with the Bairs' ministry in Brazil.
- Sign up for their newsletter and commit to praying for them as the make disciples in Brazil
- Prayerful consider making a one time or monthly donation to their ministry.