#49: Off to Brazil—Many Activities Planned!
Hello Friends!
Since this regular monthly message comes just before our departure for Brazil, I thought it best to share our mission trip plans. We have many exciting activities packed into a seven-day visit – praise God!
I, personally, have two objectives for this trip. One is to support two other missionaries in a fellow ministry: Andy and Grace MacLean of Christian Military Fellowship (CMF). They are the ones who made the Brazilian connection for us and originally asked me to support them. I am grateful for their request and want to support them as best I can.
For your background, CMF ministers to Christians in uniform around the world. There are CMF organizations in 156 countries and Andy and Grace are responsible for ministering and managing the CMF groups in South and Central America. The reason they asked me to support them is because of my military background (recall our trip to Honduras in October and the CMF organization there). They also have an interest in apologetics and want help educating their CMF brothers and sisters in this branch of theology. We currently have six meetings and presentations scheduled with military units including with a General Officer and commanders of regional and local units. Andy and I will also address 100 or more cadets at the Military Police Academy.
My other mission, with Ben, involves AoM’s apologetic activities. As you know, we have been working in East Africa for several years. We developed strong relationships with emerging Christian leaders in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. We’ve also made several trips there to mentor and worship with our mentees, as well as hold conferences and leadership summits. Seven young Ugandan leaders completed our Introduction to International Apologetics course in November and we now have 15 more Ugandans, 6 Rwandans, 1 Brazilian college student . . . and 3 US chapter leaders from an apologetic campus ministry (Ratio Christ)! . . . enrolled in the course that began just last week.
Ben and I call this trip to Brazil an AoM “scouting trip.” This means that we plan to engage church leaders and youth to determine if there is a need and desire for apologetic training and mentoring. We already have hints that two large churches in Belo Horizonte (the city we’re visiting) are interested in learning about apologetics because (1) they asked to come, and (2) their teenagers are leaving in large numbers and the leaders are searching for better ways to respond. For example, one of the churches (very large . . . ~20,000 members on 7 campuses) has 2000 children 12 years and younger. However, that number drops to 600 when they grow to be teenagers – a 70% loss! If the church leaders decide that AoM can help, we plan to apply our apologetic development model to this region as we did in Africa. Of course, we will first need to learn the cultural differences and adjust our model based on their unique needs.
In addition to the Christian military engagements mentioned above, Ben and I have meetings with the pastors and cell leaders (small group leaders) in both churches; these include discussions and presentations. They also asked us to give sermons at their youth services. Oh - and by the way - one of our African zoom classes occurs while we’re in Brazil, so we will have to break away for a couple of hours to give this class. We will invite the Brazilian leaders to sit in and observe. Perhaps they will want similar training after seeing the class; we’ll see. But praise God! He has provided so many opportunities for us!
Mija and I depart on January 29th, and Ben joins us a day later for our meetings with the church leaders. Please pray for us and our mission. Specifically, we ask that you pray for the following:
1. Safe travels to, from, and in Brazil;
2. That we are Christ-like in all our endeavors . . . and good ambassadors of the Church;
3. That we listen and learn from the military and church leaders . . . that we understand their concerns and determine if and how we might help;
4. If it be God’s will, that this visit leads to further relationship-building and opportunities to serve our Brazilian brothers and sisters.
Thank you for your support. It’s definitely needed and appreciated. We will provide you with a “trip report” upon our return.
In Christ,
Doug
