To read about the most current projects and needs click on the icon below for past BMS Newsletters.
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The Brazilian Mission Field
In the 1500's, Portuguese colonists introduced Roman Catholicism to the Brazilian natives. Today, Roman Catholics comprise roughly 74% of the Brazilian population. About 16% of the population is Protestant with significant but smaller percentages of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and African Cultists. Because of the influence of tribal religions, many Brazilians who claim to be Christian mix aspects of voodoo or spiritualism with their Christianity. It's clear many still need to learn of the salvation won for them by Jesus Christ!
Projects and Needs
From time to time the Brazil Mission Society is made aware of various ministry projects. See what God can accomplish in Brazil for just a small amount of money!
You, your congregation, mission society, youth group, Sunday School, or VBS can partner with the Brazil Mission Society to share Christ with the people of Brazil. Through cooperative efforts between the Brazil Mission Society and the IELB (Igreja Evangelica Luterana do Brasil) you can:
♦ Send a pastor to begin a new ministry for just $7000 a year.
♦ Place a vicar in a mission start for one year for $3500.
♦ Purchase a motor bike for a mission pastor for $2500.
♦ Provide a month's worth of food for 30 hungry children for just $50.
♦ Be a god-parent to an orphan for only $35 a month.
♦ Build a worship facility for a mission congregation.
♦ Add a roof to a church.
♦ Furnish a newly built mission church.
♦ Dream your own mission project - the sky's the limit!
The following are just a few of the projects and needs.
Collecting Garbage to Live
On the outskirts of Porto Alegre is a very deprived area. This area was formed by people who used to live in the landfill and eat the trash. They survive by collecting the garbage in the streets. They sort through it and then keep it near their homes so that it isn't stolen.
Most of the families are very large. Often the father is not present. The majority of the people are illiterate and they live without the basic conditions for living such as water, energy, sewer and paved streets. Some families have problems with alcohol, illicit drug use, and domestic violence.
The children spend the days by themselves or they go along and help collect the trash.
The Brazil Mission Society is helping to find ways to share Christ's lovewith these families. Land was purchased with funds from one of our United States donor congregations to build this daycare. By building this daycare center, the children will have a place to come and learn, have good meals, and a safe place to stay during the day while their parents are working.
There is still much to be done here at the daycare center. Any gift you can give will help with the supplies and equipment and furnishings needed to care for these children.
Christian Care and Education
The Brazil Mission Society cares for spiritual needs as well as the physical care and educational needs of many people in Brazil. Through the support of two orphanages, numerous schools, several daycare centers and special schools, the BMS demonstrates Jesus' love in real and tangible ways.
At the ALAN Crèche, a day care center for infants - 18 year olds, over 500 meals are served each day to needy children!
Parents are taught new skills and vocational training.
Along with food and education, they receive love and care in the name of Christ.
A simple donation of $50 will feed 30 children for one week!
Concordia Special School (CSS) is known as one of the finest deaf schools in
all the third world. It is a school for the deaf, offering programs beginning in infancy through high school. The children come from very poor families, and very few can afford to pay anything toward their own education. These children are taught how to communicate in spite of their hearing impairments. Using these new skills, they learn the special message that Jesus loves them.
Physical Projects and Needs
Meet Pastor Claudio SantosMost days you’ll find him walking the dirt streets of Scharlau in what was once the city dump. Pastor Santos has God-sized dreams. He dreams of bringing the light of Christ to this poverty stricken neighborhood.
With the help of the Brazil Mission Society, his congregation has already established a mission outpost in the neighborhood. Now he dreams of building a day care center on this open piece of land.
A roof was needed for Congregação Evangélica Luterana Cristo, São Borja,
They received $3,800 from BMS to build a roof on their new church.
The members of the Alto Alegre Mission received $1,500 to finish the interior and provide furnishings for their new church.
Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Paragominas received funds from BMS to construct a new mission congregation— Aliança (Covenant) Lutheran Church.
A simple shower may not seem like a big deal to you and me!
At the Sao Leopoldo Seminary, the original dormitory was built to house 4 single men with one bathroom facility between them. However, it was instead housing 4 seminarians and their families…still with only one bathroom between them!
So, the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth, TX donated funds to BMS to improve the living conditions at the seminary. Through their generosity, plans were made to provide for 3 additional bathroom facilities so that the families could enjoy greater privacy. Thank you, St. Paul! What a blessing!
Help a Seminary Student
Meet Paul Lantz and his family - Rose, Lucas, Karis, & Paul Alfredo. They returned to Brazil in 2006 so that Paul could attend the seminary there. This U.S. born seminarian met his Brazilian wife, Hosie (Rosie) on an earlier mission trip, took her to the U.S. and is now back in Brazil with his family to learn to become a pastor and share Christ with the people of Sao Leopoldo Brazil.
You can read all about Paul Lantz, his family and their ministry in Brazil, by clicking on the Newletters below and/or the "Newsletters" tab above.
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Jan_Feb_10
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_May_June_10
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Mar_Apr_10%5B1%5D.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Nov_Dec_2009.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Sep_Oct_09.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Jun_Jul_Aug_09.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Apr_May_09.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Feb_Mar_09.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Dec_08_Jan_09.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Aug_Sep_08.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Jun_Jul_08.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Apr_May_08.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Mar_2008.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Dec_2007.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Sep_Oct_2007.pdf
documents/Paul_Lantz_News_Aug_2007.pdf
Mission Trips
You've read about the wonderful work the Brazil Mission Society has done. Hearing about the work being done in Brazil can never compare with an up close visit. Many congregations and individuals are ready to jump in and personally lend a hand.
We’ve had visits from high school and college students. We’ve also had pastors and their spouses journey to Brazil to learn more about our work. Plan your mission trip to experience Brazilian culture an dthe exciting ministry occuring among the Brazilian people.
Your trip could include a visit to the offices of IELB (Igreja Evangelica Luterana do Brasil). This partner church of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod began work in Brazil 100 years ago.
You might end up on one of the many campuses of ULBRA (Universidade Luterana do Brasil). This vast system includes 14 University campuses, 20 Elementary and High School campuses and a number of hospitals and clinics.
"Everyone we met was so thrilled to meet people from the United States who would take thier time and money to come to their country to learn about their lives," says Karen Byer, a recent participant. "We returned home exhausted, but changed by our experience in Brazil."
To learn more about projects and needs and future trips, here.
Visit Brazil and develop a heart for God's people there!