Amazon Project Special Update - Part 2

Posted by: admin on Monday, March 10th, 2008

Now knowing that God is bringing us closer to our departure date and ministry goals, our minds swirl with all the ministry possibilities, but we choose to focus on the main areas that God has shown us. The biggest focus of or missionary venture is the “Riverboat Project”. Our vision is to have a boat 65 to 85 feet long that can bring evangelism, medical care, education, construction teams, Pastoral training and real hope for communities along the Amazon River.

At the same time we will be able to use the boat for training missionaries for additional long-term work. During the summer months we will host teams of short-term outreach teams from the US to aid the Christian development of riverside communities. Our goal is to have 3 or more communities that we will consistently minister in until a church is planted.

We believe the riverboat will eventually consume all our ministry time and resources. The Amazon River is over 4000 miles long with 1100 tributaries. There will always be a need for this type of ministry. Until the riverboat is a full time dynamic, we will continue to do what first called us back to Brazil. Many of you will remember the story of Jill and I teaching about Missionary Care on National Christian TV. The response to this teaching made us realize the huge need there was for this type of training. Brazil is having strong spiritual growth in its population centers. These growing churches are beginning to send out missionaries without the proper training or the support needed to maintain missionary effectiveness. The attrition rate is something that needs to be addressed in Brazil. We pray our teaching will help change that.

The future also holds some name changes for Jill and I. First Jill will return to her native name of Edilma (say E’ju ma). I am sure some of you have heard me call her that.  I will adopt the culturally relevant name of “Jo el” said in 2 syllables. This way if I am called Joe by friends it will only seem like a short nickname.

More updates to follow………….