This past week I had the privilege of attending the Biblical Good News Conference (Igreja Biblica Boas Novas) in the city of Santo Antonio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil. The Biblical Good News Conference is the name of the CGGC in Brazil. The conference in Santo Antonio de Jesus was in the state of Bahia, where we have three congregations as well as three congregations in the state of Sao Paulo.
The theme of this year’s conference was taken from Romans 12:5 – Serving One Another and I was blessed to work alongside pastor Michael Poe (Carlisle First Church of God, Carlisle, PA) as well as pastor Ernesto Nunes, who serves as field director of Brazil, and his wife Miriam. We had three powerful nights of worship and several other meetings and gatherings over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The worship services were wonderful experiences with vibrant praise and multiple elements including choirs, dance teams with adults, youth and children, as well as the Lord’s table and feet washing.
The ministry in Brazil was launched in 1994 when pastor Gordon & Annie Avey returned to Campinas after additional studies in the States. They had previously served with another mission organization in the eastern state of Bahia. In 1998, the first CGGC church was established in Araraquara. The Bahia Bible Institute launched in March 2006, and trains leaders and raises up new church planters. In July 2019, the Aveys retired from ministry in Brazil after 25 years of service with the CGGC.
Not long after the pandemic hit, and COVID-19 was particularly hard on our brothers and sisters in Brazil, but our pastors there were quick to note the difference that relief gifts from the U.S. made in the lives of their congregations and expressed thanks for your willingness to be generous in their time of need. It’s a reminder that the relief efforts we send have tangible benefits and really do change lives and further the cause of Christ. Despite that, two congregations were unable to open following the shutdowns for COVID and all the churches shared that reopening had been a significant struggle and challenge. We were able to visit all three churches in Bahia and were encouraged by the progress we witnessed.
One recent and exciting development is the purchase of property by the second church in Santo Antonia de Jesus. They currently meet in a rented facility but have recently purchased a lot and hope to build in the future to accommodate the growing congregation. There may be future opportunities for congregations in the US to help support this building effort. The churches in Bahia are raising up leaders and one of my challenges to the brothers and sisters there was to deploy these leaders in multiplying efforts.
Would you join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Brazil? Would you ask the Lord to strengthen them and help them to not grow weary in doing good? Ask the Lord to continue to provide opportunities to deploy members of the body to establish new works in neighborhoods and communities beyond where they already exist.
Perhaps your congregation might prayerfully consider a trip in the future to help with construction of a new church building in Santo Antonio de Jesus? Several of our congregations have benefitted from this kind of partnership in ministry from brothers and sisters in the U.S. Lastly, there are also opportunities to support the work in Brazil. GR 2804 – Brazil Ministries helps support new work in Brazil and GR 2806 – Brazil Field Leader Support helps support the work of pastor Ernesto Nunes as he leads the conference in Brazil.
There are limitless possibilities for ministry in Brazil and I returned home encouraged by the faith of our brothers and sisters there and grateful that we do belong to one another.
Christ’s Peace,
Lance
CGGC eNews—Vol. 17, No. 13
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