|
Brazil
Team Update
By
James Himsworth, field director for World Team Brazil
World Team has been working in southern Brazil for about 40 years and
has planted a number of churches collectively known as the Bible Alliance.
Xenos has participated in this work since 1995, when my wife, Beth, and
I joined the team. In October, Beth and I made our first return visit.
Conference
Unites Team
Xenos missionaries of World Team Brazil attended an annual field
conference in October-one of the best conferences we've had! We enjoyed
good fellowship, taking time for each of us to share how we're doing and
to pray for each other.
These
yearly field conferences provide a time for business, fellowship and oversight
by the Area Director. The Brazil field is fortunate because we have turned
over all properties to national churches. We hold no assets and there
are no salaries to consider. Instead, we can devote our time to review
our vision, goals and plans as well as to fellowship.
This
has been a very helpful process for us, since there are always more opportunities
for ministry than time to do it. It is essential that our vision and priorities
be clear.
WT
Brazil firms their focus
One of the agenda items we have been working on is our ministry core
values. If vision answers the question, "What will we do?" then a philosophy
of ministry answers the question, "Why will we do it?"
Another
helpful agenda item is our annual review of goals and objectives. Right
now, WT Brazil consists of four couples:
Beth
and I work with Bible Alliance pastors, training and leadership development
with WT on an international level. Beth is also part of the six-member
international training team with WT. We continue to be a part of the Brazil
work, even while we are in the U.S. by making regular trips to visit the
team in Brazil.
Mark
and Stephanie Watkins of Xenos joined the team in May 1998, and are
now part of the central church in Caxias do Sul. They will do an internship
there for these next two years as they learn more about the churches and
the culture.
Lowell
and Kathy Bailey, both approaching 70, first opened the field some
40 years ago. Lowell works primarily in promoting church planting and
multiplication through the cell group model. He has translated several
books and is frequently sought as a speaker and trainer.
Mickey
and Cherrie Counter have worked in the Sao Leopoldo church since 1995,
and are now training and building up the elders and multiplying cells.
The
Watkins settle in
Mark and Stephanie are settling into their house in Caxias do Sul.
They have some things to fix or set up, but enjoy the quiet neighborhood
and living close to the kid's school and their church. We were pleased
to see how well their children are adapting-even playing in Portuguese!
Hospitality
is clearly one of the Watkins' family strengths. While I visited, one
of the elders and his wife came to dinner. This provided a great opportunity
to talk about the vision of the mission, and possible roles for Mark and
Stephanie.
Another
interesting opportunity opened up for the Watkins. They have been invited
by the elders to sit in on the elders meetings. I had hoped for this,
but didn't think they would be offered this chance so soon. This will
improve their Portuguese and their relationships, as well as give them
insight into the functioning of the church and future ministry opportunities.
Retreats
follow conference
After the conference, Beth had two great opportunities to minister
to the churches. First, she participated in "Day in the Word" in the Caxias
do Sul church. More than 100 women showed up to hear her present four
messages called, "Being women of God in the 21st century." This was the
first time she was invited to speak to this group. The reception was great-they
already asked her to come back next year and do a full-scale retreat!
Beth
also taught a weekend retreat for the women of the Novo Hamburgo church,
who she's worked with the last five years. They have participated in her
META (Maturity, Education, Training and Application) discipleship program.
This program has been turned over to national workers who are continuing
the work in Novo Hamburgo.
During
the visit, I had opportunities to interact with some of the key pastors
we have worked with, such as Daniel Lima of the Caxias do Sul church.
We hope he and his wife, Ana Paula, and their four kids have the opportunity
to see a Columbus winter and spend time at Xenos.
Visits
to Novo Hamburgo church prove fruitful
We weren't sure what to expect on our first visit after an investment
of five years. We were pleased to find a healthy and growing church with
a leadership team working together.
Our
intern, Roger, and his wife, Vanuza, are grateful for their new baby girl
and for many ministry opportunities. They wonder what will happen in March
when the internship ends, but are trusting God to open doors. They have
been involved in training cell group leaders, and may be invited to pastor
a church plant in Farropilha-if leaders of Novo Hamburgo don't offer them
a position first!
In
the end, Beth and I felt a sense of closure on the five years we spent
with the Novo Hamburgo church. They face a number of challenges, but they
have a good solid leadership team, the church is excited and seeing new
people attend, and some of the cells are multiplying.
|
