Members of Highland Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Crestwood Baptist Church, and High Street Baptist Church in Somerset, joined together on a mission trip with Alto Riviera Baptist Church in the southern region of São Paulo, Brazil, and IMB missionaries Scott and Joyce Pittman.
They were the Pittman’s first mission team to visit since becoming mega-city strategists in São Paulo. Some of the team members previously had worked with the Pittmans when the missionaries served in Teresina, Brazil, prior to Scott’s work as partnership missions team leader for the Kentucky Baptist Convention and Joyce’s work at the Western Recorder.
The team made 30 evangelistic visits the first week of June. Five Brazilians made professions of faith, and six others agreed to continue to pray about making that step of faith. They also shared the good news of Jesus Christ through a Vacation Bible School, an Upward basketball clinic and English classes.
Orlando Lima, an Alto Riviera leader, marveled at how a small group of Christ followers armed with “a simple gospel message” could make a difference in their community.
Several members of Alto Riviera led three of the team members through the hilly streets of São Paulo, Brazil, to visit Norma in her home. Norma graciously welcomed her visitors and confirmed she had an on-going relationship with God. Her daughter, Amanda, and daughter-in-law, Gabriella, had not accepted Jesus as their Savior, but they were willing to listen to what the mission team participants shared.
The mission team presented the gospel using an EvangeCube and offering personal testimonies. Amanda realized her need to repent of her sin and turn to Jesus. Gabriella initially was hesitant, but after hearing another testimony, she sensed God was at work in her heart and decided to make her decision.
Gabriella said, “I am happy because I was a little indecisive about what I wanted, but I listened, and after I had a minute to think about it, I decided it was the best thing I could do. It is the best path to follow.”
Before leaving the house, Amanda and Gabriella were partnered with mentors so they could be effectively discipled.
Alto Riviera Baptist Church is in a section of the city called Jardim Angela where only two Baptist churches serve its nearly 292,000 residents. The Pittmans estimate that Southern Baptists need to plant 27 more churches there.
Kentucky Baptists churches are needed to become prayer partners that adopt a city district, an existing Baptist church, or a people group within the city. Further opportunities include becoming a volunteer church that commits to a one-time project or a partnering church that makes a long-term commitment to work with missionaries in a particular area or with a people group.
Vision trips are planned for June 8-13 and Nov. 9-14. For more information, email adoptsaopaulo@pobox.com. (WR)