Brazil
Your Gifts Make a Difference . . . One Life at a Time!
Ministry Description
Pioneered by Harry Bollback and Harold Reimer, Word of Life Brazil was the first international outreach of Word of Life Fellowship. With a growing burden to reach young Brazilians with the gospel, the Brazil ministry was officially established in 1957. The first youth camp was held in Atibaia the following year with 300 young people. Today, the ministry is led by John Reimer and based near Sao Paulo where it includes a four year Bible Seminary program with over 200 full time students, youth camp, the Estancia - a Bible conference center, weekly marriage and family seminars, and the EMME singing group. The ministry also extends to Recife with a well-developed youth camping program, one-year Bible Institute, and evangelistic outreaches. An additional youth camp has been established in Curitiba. An EMME music team regularly ministers in churches and participates in evangelistic crusades throughout the region. The Porto Alegre team recently initiated the Word of Life Bible Club program in local churches, regularly shares the gospel in public schools, and is developing a beautiful youth camp property. Another location in Belem began in 1989 and includes a Christian Day School, a camp and retreat facility, and a Missionary Training Institute where students are trained to minister to the Amazon people accessible by boat. A sixth ministry location has opened in the Gioas area with a conference center complex and ultimately a youth camp.
Country Description
With its 8,500,000 square kilometers, is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the world. Its land ranges from urban to rural to wild and unexplored. The country is best known for the Amazon River, its extensive jungles and forests. Brazilian culture has been shaped mostly by the Portuguese who gave the country its religion and language. 90 percent of the 158 million inhabitants have Roman Catholic ties. At the same time, Indian animism, African cults, separatism, and Eastern mysticism have gained a strong following.