Why 90 Days?

I say we can end biblical illiteracy in 90 days because I truly believe that we can easily read the Bible through in that amount of time.  I’m trying to do this repeatedly now which will take me through the Word four times a year.  Here are a few of my thoughts since starting on the 90 day challenge.

Marlin 90 Day Bible Reading Plan

Back in the late 70′s, I started using a plan from Jack T. Chick’s book, The Next Step.  The basis was that we were reading a chapter from 10 different sections of the Bible each day.  This enables you to get the Law, History, Prophecy, Poetry, Gospels, Acts, etc all at once.  It was a great method for me back in the day.  Well, I took that method, and put it on steroids.  The end result is an Excel spreadsheet that charts your reading.  There are still 10 divisions, but in several of the sections you have to read more than one chapter.  You place an “x” in the box when you finish a chapter and you can see what percentage of the Bible you have read to that point.

Pros:  You get a lot of variety all at the same time as you’re exposed to each major section of the Bible.

Cons:  This is a great plan if you are using the computer to read the Bible.  You can easily mark the chapters off and all is good.  But, if you don’t use a computer, it can be a bit cumbersome.  Still, it’s actually a fun way to read through the Bible the first time.

Download: Marlin_Bible_Reading_Plan.xlsx

Kindle 90 Day Reading Program

On my second time through the Bible, I used a Kindle Fire.  This worked great!  I purchased the NKJV of the Bible and read it straight through.  Kindle tells you what percentage you’ve read as you go along, as well as when you close the book.  Since I was trying to read through the Bible in 90 days, my goal was 8% a week.  I roughly read about 1% per day.  Once you’ve done this for a few days, you can also use the amount of time you read as a fairly accurate guage.

Pros:  I could carry the Bible-loaded Kindle anywhere, and could easily read it in bed at night, or early in the morning.  A version of this would be to take your Bible, look at the number of pages it has, and divide by 90.  This will give you the pages you need to read each day to get through the entire Bible in 90 days.  For example, my Spanish Bible has 920 pages.  Divided by 90 gives me just over 10 pages.  So, if I can read 10 pages a day, I’ll get all the way through in only 90 days.

Cons:  I only used the NKJV book for reading [and not for studying] because it marks the percentage that you have read.  If you jump around, the percentage shows here you last where, and not how much you’ve read.  (To get around this, I used Olive Tree’s Bible for Android for church and for studying and kept the NKJV book strictly for reading).

Link to Amazon.com: Kindle Fire, Full Color 7″ Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi

Flexible 90 Day Bible Reading Program

Sometimes simple is best.  This is the method I’ve used most, and am currently using.  It give extreme flexibility.  I simply mark the beginning and ending date at the top of the paper, and then keep it in my Bible, marking off the chapters as I read them.

Pros: I can jump around as I choose.  If I want to mix in a few Psalms or Proverbs, I can.  If we are studying a certain book in church or at one of the home Bible studies, I can read it out of order.  In the end, I always finish by my written 90 day due date with a lot less stress.  The other thing I like about this method is that I can print out the page, keep it in the Bible, and mark off chapters as I read them.  Although I read quite a bit on the computer, I enjoy reading the Bible in a book format.  I can mark it up, reread passages, and in the end, I can visually picture were the verses are on a page.  I can mark verses in my Kindle, but all the pages look the same.  If you’re a complete, or at least partial ”visual” learner, reading from a physical Bible is  highly preferable to a digital version.

Cons:  I can’t really think of one.  :-)

Download: Personal_Reading_Plan_90.xlsx

Are Your Ready for the 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge?

The great thing is that you can start anytime… right now in fact.  This is the only way to eliminate biblical illiteracy.  As Christians, we tend to “know” a lot about the Bible, but we really don’t know the Bible.  The only way to know God’s Word is to get into it.  Mix up the methods.  Add variety.  Read the Bible in different languages if you can.  Use audio recordings as an option when you’re driving or laying in bed.

The key is to get into God’s Word!  When you do, you’ll find that God’s Word is getting into you!!!

Discussion Question:  Are you using other Bible reading plans that work for you?  If so, please share them with our readers.  You never know who you might be encouraging! 

Related Post: Barna Research Group: Megatheme: Biblical Illiteracy!

The Barna Research group listed “six” megathemes in 2010. The first one is that of an ever ”increasing biblical illiteracy.” Important?  You bet your sweet bippy it is!  Not only in the US, but around the world.  In fact, I think it’s been exported.  What we’re seeing here in Brazil, like in the US, is that when a person doesn’t know what they believe, they are apt to believe anything!

When the majority of adults do not associate Easter with the resurrection of Christ, something is wrong.   When many look at the Holy Spirit as a mere symbol of God’s power, something is wrong.

Just how bad is it?

Consider these results from various surveys…

• Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels
• Many professing Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples
• 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments
• 82 percent of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse
• 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife
• A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife
• A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham (This old saint has been around a while, but not that long!)

As George Barna himself says, “Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.”  I would add to this, the world has become increasingly biblically illiterate.

The devastating effects are seen in the lives of individuals, families, churches, communities, and by extension… to the entire world.

What’s the problem?

While the Bible is still highly revered, it is no longer being read.  We know that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:14).  I can attest to this.  My greatest moments of stepping out in faith are those when I am most in the Bible.  Unfortunately, I can also attest to the opposite.  Moments of fear and doubt occur when I neglect the Word.

Discernment of what is evil comes from knowing the truth.  The condition of our country, and the world, can be traced back to biblical illiteracy.  Isaiah 5:20 tells us, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;  Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  Our discernment has become so emaciated and wimpy from lack of studying the Word that we can no longer tell the difference between what is right or wrong?

What can we do?

Simple!  Get into the Word!  Take it seriously.  We must study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15).  Granted… this might require a little discipline, but both the short, and long-term effects will be well worth the effort.

The blessed effects will be seen in the lives of individuals, families, churches, communities, and by extension… to the entire world.

We’ll be talking about this theme over the course of the next few days, and we’ll also look at various Bible reading programs that should get us all off of “dead-center.”  In the meantime, chime in.  Add to our discussion.  Let us hear your concerns about this issue of biblical illiteracy as it relates to where you live.  This is not a competition!  We are in this together!!!

Discussion Question:  Do you think the issue of biblical illiteracy is a problem where you live?  If so, what do you think can be done about it?

Related Post: How to End Biblical Illiteracy in 90 Days

Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire. (Jer. 20:9)

Jeremiah

It is much like Jeremiah of old who could no longer contain the Word of the God burning within him. He had to communicate (Jer. 20:9). That’s how it is with me, both speaking and writing. What good is it to know the truth if that truth only stays within us? Will it not begin to burn! As we contemplate the world around us, as we see the intense needs on every corner, as we hear the news of hunger, murder, broken families, broken lives, and despair… can we just sit by and do nothing? Can we not speak of the truth that sets us free? Can we not use the technology at our grasp to multiply the saving grace of God to the masses?

Do something… anything!!!

I do have a “hot button” and it is with those that should know better, those squandering their time. Someone that calls themself a missionary yet lives in a “bubble” of the same culture and language that they came from does not make sense. Sure, there may be extenuating circumstances, but that should be the exception, not the rule. How can they do this? Doesn’t the Word of God burn within them with such intensity that they have to communicate it in some way… in any and all ways within their means?

Cowardly Living is Not Living At All

Sure, living on the mission field is not easy. If someone says it is, they must be in that “bubble.” There are things like handling passports and visas and residency. These things can take weeks, months, or even years to finish. Getting a bank account or a telephone line can take months. Try finding a plumber or an electrician for example that shows up when he says he will, doesn’t try to charge more than he originally agreed, and does a good enough job that he doesn’t have to return to fix what he fixed on the first visit… if you can get him to come back, that is. I’m not complaining. I’m just saying that all of this is so time consuming, and yet, must be done to some degree on an almost daily basis. Now back to the lazy person… they stop with this mundane level of survival. This is the difference. To the one that has God’s Word burning in his heart, these mundane events are opportunities to share Christ. The person that understands this is seeking to carry out a level of ministry that will continue on once he or she [the missionary] has left the field and returned home… which will inevitably happen for one reason or another.

I Dare You… Try to Keep Quiet

Yes… try to keep your mouth shut. Hold the truth within. Don’t even consider ministering to others… Try it! Let it burn within until you can’t hold it in anymore. The pressure will build… the guage will start climbing… the safety valve will blow… and hopefully, the love and truth within us will pour out and lives will be changed.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20).

With Jeremiah, a sense of dejection overwhelmed him and compelled him to seal his lips (Jer. 20:9). He feared being a failure and the mocking of those without (10). But God’s presence was too great (11). God’s faithfulness in his life had been too great (12). There comes a realization that there is no other alternative than to burst out in praise and tell others of God’s awesome love and provision.

A Challenge

Come on people. Wherever you may be on this small sphere called “earth” there is something you can be doing to get the good news out. Start this very moment. Call someone, talk to a neighbor, send an email, start a blog, leave a tract, etc. Gather up some friends from church or do it on your own. Whatever the case… Let’s get moving… Come on, let’s roll!!!

Discussion Question: Does this resonate with anyone?  What are your thoughts? 

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or my favorite, as many raisins as you like (optional)

The boundaries we once found as missionaries are being erased by the urbanization of the world.  At one point in time, you went to Brazil, Zimbabwee, the Congo, or Spain, and you knew pretty much what you were up against.  You could grasp the culture, the language(s), and you had a pretty good idea of the religious atmosphere you would encounter.   Things fit neatly in a box.

Increased Complexity in Urban Centers

As people began moving to urban centers, these tangibles became a little less clear.  Missions has never been an easy task, but with the advent of megacity monsters such as Sao Paulo, Brazil and other similar giants around the world, there has evolved a series of problems and needs more complex than anyone ever before imagined.  And all of these much more frustrating and challenging for today’s missionary than for his pioneering counterpart of the past.

New Opportunities for Missionaries

Still, within these complexities are new challenges and a host of new opportunities.  This is what calls missonaries, and their partners, to take on that new sense of mission… to take on these new challenges with a fresh boldness in Christ that we have not recently seen.

Needed: Doers of the Word With a Sense of Urgency

For the most part, our theological foundation for missions is right on.  And I don’t think we need to greatly revamp our methodologies, especially here in Sao Paulo.  We may need to dump some of our brilliant ideas and get back to the basics, but for the most part, we’re there when it comes to how to evangelize and disciple and gather people together to form local churches.

What we do need is fresh inspiration when it comes to the task.  We need a renewal of our motivation to share the life-giving gospel with a dead and dying generation… We need a new found love for seeing hurting and suffering people find that Jesus is the answer for whatever problems they have, starting with breaking sin’s grip and continuing on to every other aspect of life.  We need a sense for the time and effort we have so previously squandered away on meaningless and trivial pursuits.  We need to stop talking about the task and start doing something about it.  Are we merely “hearers” or are we “doers” of the Word?  We need a sense of urgency!  What part will you play?  Would you consider going to the mission field?  Would you support those that do go?  Would you fall down on your knees and seek the Lord’s leading?  He’ll definitely give you an answer when it comes to this new challenge we’re facing today in missions!

Discussion Question:  What is it going to take to motivate God’s people to not just sit on their laurels, but to put feet to the gospel, and move out into the world with the life-transforming power that comes from knowing Jesus?

TRANS 2012 – Jesus Transforma!

God is moving in a great and powerful way in the megacity of Sao Paulo, Brazil! Baptist believers are giving feet to the gospel of Christ and making Him known in all areas of the city! This movement is happening across Brazil with 100,000 Christians boldly proclaiming a message that truly transforms lives.

Join us in prayer from wherever you may be around the world. TRANS 2012 has begun, and will continue on through the summer. Be a part of it!!!

Discussion Question: Let us know how you are being a part of this movement for God through your presence or prayers. We’d love to hear from you!

… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Short term mission trips are a great way to have your eyes opened, your faith strengthened, and your soul refreshed! Nothing is more exciting and life-changing than stepping out of your culture and comfort zones to do something for Christ!

The Megacities offer some rare opportunities to reach out with God’s love.  The Sao Paulo metroplex, with its nearly 27,000,000 people has it all.  A myriad of classes, races, and religions exist here.   There are pockets everywhere with people groups that are barely being reached.  The upper middle class is less than 2% evangelized!

We begin with prayer.  Then we engage people using a creative blend of sports, music, food, and English.  Once we have the contact with people, the opportunities are limitless!

This year, we are going to bring teams in to help with several of the areas in which we’ll be working.  If you are interested, please contact us so we can talk more about the opportunities that exist to serve the Lord and others here in Sao Paulo!

“Discussion Question:  Can you picture yourself here in Sao Paulo?  Perhaps somewhere else in the world?”

Brazil is one of the most unique and strategic countries in South America when it comes to world missions and evangelism. Whereas some countries in South America are predominately of a European, Amerindian, Asian, or African makeup, Brazil is characterized by mixed races and diversity. Brazil has been called the “melting pot” of South America with 54 percent European, 33 percent Mestizo and Mulatto, 11 percent African, 1.5 percent Asian, and 0.1 Amerindian. This particular unique make up, along with several other factors, makes Brazil one of the most strategic places in the world for evangelism for several key reasons.

Reasons that Brazil is Strategic

When the Apostle Paul carried out his missionary journeys, we see that he was very intentional about what he did and where he went. Strategy was of utmost importance and as we read the New Testament accounts, this coincided with the will of God in his life (Rom. 1:10; 15:32). Today, we need to consider what is strategic as we too work to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). The following is a list of reasons why Brazil is one of the most strategic areas of the world for carrying out ministry.

Language

Portuguese is spoken by 200 million people worldwide and is becoming increasingly popular. Several countries around the world speak Portuguese as their main language providing an open door of interaction between these countries with the gospel. Even China has a city and region that speak Portuguese and have diplomatic and economic relations with Brazil, Portugal, and other Lusophone countries. Brazil has approximately 80 percent of the Portuguese speakers worldwide. Other Lusophone countries include Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, and East Timor. Other countries with large pockets are the United States, Canada, Venezuela, South Africa, Switzerland, and Andorra. In China, Macau speaks Portuguese. In India, the Goa and Kerala states speak the language and in Malaysia, the town of Melaka is Lusophonic.

The multiple countries and areas of the world that speak Portuguese have created an open door for evangelical interaction and dissemination of the gospel. One of the ways this is occurring is through international students coming from other Lusophonic countries to study in seminaries here in Brazil. One such student is Francisco Janota Domingos. He is attending a seminary in Guarulhos in the suburbs of Sao Paulo. He is partially sponsored by Igreja Batista Conexão Nova Geração where he attends. In 2013, he will return to his home country of Angola to begin a Bible college in Luanda. Partnerships like these are made possible by the language connection.

Diversity

Brazil is a true melting pot. When slave trafficking was ended in 1850, immigrants replaced the African slaves in coffee plantations. This brought in an influx of German, Swiss, and Portuguese laborers. When slavery was finally abolished in 1888, increasingly large numbers of immigrants came to the country from Portugal, Spain, Germany, Japan, Israel, and Lebanon. In 1897, Italians alone comprised more than 50 percent of Sao Paulo’s population.

Openness

One of the most exciting aspects of Brazil at the moment in terms of evangelization is it incredible openness to spiritual discussion and resulting responsiveness. Missionary work in the past century has paved the way to what is being experienced now. This openness to spiritual things is part of the Brazilian culture.

This being said, there is a second side to this story. The openness to spiritual things also allows for cults, cult-like churches, spiritism, animism, and a whole host of other “religions” to also be accepted, and many, at the same time. Even the Roman Catholic Church that so represented Brazil in the past was not exempt. The syncretism of religions overlapped equating many of the Roman Catholic saints with African deities as well. This is evident in the spiritist religion of Candomblé. This Afro-Brazilian religion was very present in the North of the country, being introduced by the African slaves. In order to hide their deities when Roman Catholicism came in with the Portuguese, these deities were mixed with Roman Catholic saints. For example, Ogum, the Orixá (orisha in English) or semi-god of war in Candomblé is represented as Saint George. Another Orixá is Oxalá. He created humanity and is compared to Jesus. Yemanjá is identified as the Virgin Mary.

All of this underscores the openness for spiritual things in Brazil, making it a strategic place for mission work today.

Brazilian Youth

One often overlooked factor is that Brazilian society is largely young people. Nearly 42 percent is under 15 years old, and another 27% is between 15 and 30. It is commonly accepted that youth are more receptive to the gospel. This is an area that is wide open to ministry. The current open doors may not be open for long as many youth take to the universities and become increasingly resistant to the gospel. The trend toward postmodernism is rampant on college campuses. Still, there are many pockets of youth in different sectors that are highly open to the gospel. Igreja Batista Conexão Nova Geração is working with second generation Lebanese youth that are very open to the gospel and once saved, want to reach their community.

Economy

Brazil is one of a group of countries referred to as the BRIC’s, along with Russia, India, and China. Goldman Sachs publishes a BRIC’s Monthly newsletter to track this group. In a recent newsletter they made the following comment, “As the G3 countries face a slow and difficult recovery, final demand will need to rise in the rest of the world to sustain global growth in the future. The world can look to the BRICs to increase their contribution to global domestic demand through higher consumption.”
Brazil was one of the last countries to enter into the recent recession and one of the first to come out of it. It is clear that the economy of Brazil is booming, making it one of the largest consumers and a major economic international player.
The Appian Way and other such roads in the first century showed us that trade routes were not only for economic purposes but were also routes that the gospel could be carried on. In much the same way, the economic strength of Brazil and its inclusion in the BRIC is also a strategic way in which the gospel could be carried throughout the world.

Acceptance in World Arena

One of the most exciting, and positive trends to watch is that of Brazil’s acceptance among the nations. Brazil claims to never have had a war. (Of course, they did crush Paraguay once, but they don’t seem to count that). As such, they are known as being very pacific in nature. This non-aggressive appearance does much to allow Brazilians to entry into countries where United States citizens might not be as well accepted today.

A second factor comes from Brazil’s strength in Soccer. This opens doors in countries around the world for Christians to enter and have a platform to share the gospel. Guilherme Thomé is a pastor in São Paulo that has a ministry that helps professional level soccer players enter into other countries as “undercover” missionaries. In a recent interview, he shared how the acceptance of Brazilians because of the game of soccer was helping him to get the gospel into typically Muslim countries.

Two Brazilian Jungles

Brazil is vast.  It is larger than the continental United States, and as a result, has incredible diversity.  Among that diversity is what has been called Brazil’a two jungles:  the one made of vegetation and the other of concrete!

Dense Brazilian jungles are real.  We all know of the rain forests of Brazil.  There has always been a strong move to send workers to the unreached people groups of the world.  These groups are highly represented here in Brazil, especially in the Amazonian and Pantonal regions.  Many workers are called by God to go into these areas, and as such, should go.  Operation World shows there are 58 unreached people groups in Brazil.  The Amazon basin has many tribes that have never been contacted by the outside.

Current Evangelical Data in Brazil

It is difficult to get accurate information regarding the current evangelical data in Brazil. There is an effort going on now by different agencies to gather this information. There are several challenges though. The information gathered by the national census bureau asks any member of a house hold about religious faith. They may respond, “Baptist” and this then means everyone in the house is counted as such. The other challenge comes from the evangelical exaggeration. Teams come and lead people to Christ and count these numbers. Caio Sayeg, a church planter in Sao Paulo, commented in a recent interview that he had “accepted Christ” ten times before really becoming a Christian. Some reports have shown more Christians in Brazil than people!
In April of 2011 several agencies, including the International Mission Board and Joshua Project, met in Atibaia, Sao Paulo to look at gathering more accurate data. The current Joshua Project website lists 89 ministries in Brazil for example, but the International Mission Board is not on the list. The IMB has had hundreds of missionaries in Brazil over the years and maintains a strong force today. This is just an example of the challenge in presenting accurate data.

The current information on the Joshua Project website does show 89 ministries currently serving in Brazil. We can add the IMB and make that an even 90. This figure is not correct, but it is the best number at the moment. As for the number of evangelicals in Brazil, this website says there are 15.5 percent of the 195 million that are evangelical. This matches the 15.4 percent given by the census department. To give a comparison with another agency, recent research conducted by the Datafolha institute shows that 25% of Brazilians are Protestants, of which 19% are followers of Pentecostal denominations. The reality would be much less with most conservative missionaries claiming 5-10 percent, the majority of which are members of Pentecostal, neo-Pentecostal, and prosperity churches.

What is Needed to Reach Brazil

I’ve quickly narrowed this down to three starting points.  We could sit in our offices and analyze this to the nth degree and never see anyone reached for Christ.  Or, we could get out among the people and see what makes them tick!

Understand Brazilian Idiosyncrasies

Brazilians are unique.  Study their culture and you’ll begin to see why they are as they are, and then… enjoy it!  Remember, this IS a tropical paradise!

Here are just a few of the cultural idiosyncrasies found in Brazil. The Brazilian is very relational. He is non-confrontational. He is generally lacks commitment. In business, Brazilians need to know who they are doing business with before they can work effectively. Being critical of others is not acceptable, especially in public, as it causes someone to lose face. This is an unwritten rule. If you break it, you have limited your effectiveness. Oral communication is preferred over written communication. Face to face meetings are preferred over written communication. It is impolite to get to the topic of the conversation before asking questions about how people are doing, how is the family, etc.

Based on the above paragraph, the best way to reach Brazilians with the gospel is by first becoming their friend. This is easy to do and is a “must” first step. Brazilians are easy to meet and will often pray to accept Christ with a team from a US church because they are non-confrontational. Generally though, this is not a salvation experience. Evangelical teams often come and leave a list of their “new converts” upon leaving. This is when the work really begins. It must be determined if these people really made a decision in response to the gospel and drawing of the Spirit, or if they just didn’t want to hurt the feelings of their “visitors.” Another struggle comes with arguing a point to convince a Brazilian of his error. If he is put in a position in which he “loses face” or is embarrassed, it’s over. By far, the best way to reach Brazilians is by spending face to face time with them, accepting them, and winning the privilege of sharing Christ with them. It is a lengthy process sometimes, but one that is both enjoyable and well worth the effort.

Understanding these and other aspects of the Brazilian culture are very important if one hopes to reach them with the gospel. The Apostle Paul said, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Cor. 9:22b). This principle holds true for the Christian worker in Brazil. Too often, the church tries to bring in a foreign version of the “church” and though, they sometimes see some fruit, in the long run, it will not have as lasting an effect toward reaching the country with the gospel. It is important to adapt as much as possible to the culture in both language and respect of cultural norms. For example, certain perfectly accepted hand gestures used in the United States that convey positive messages tend to send a “dirty” message here. Something as simple as being impatient at the store checkout line will mark you for life as being grossly rude. All of these things can be easily understood and mastered with a little study. This is easy to do for the person that chooses to follow Paul counsel knowing full well that souls are at stake.

Working Together With Brazilian Nationals

An often overlooked aspect of reaching Brazilians for Christ is that of working with the nationals. Lone Ranger missionaries tend to hang with a their single convert, Tonto, but that is about it. The Brazilian culture makes it easy to build a strong base with national workers by building relationships. If you are accepted by nationals, you have won half the battle. They tend to do the rest by doing what they do best, that is, gathering groups of people together. The culture is that way. For example, if you are in a restaurant by yourself and a Brazilian comes in, he will get his tray and either sit near or next to you. In the United States, a person would sit on the otherside of the room to give you space. These distinctions must be learned and capitalized on. Failing to do so will label you in some derrogatory way.

It is also important to team up with existing churches, associations, and conventions. This is healthy. These groups are often excited about working together with missionaries to see churches planted. One of the biggest mistakes in the recent past occurred when missionaries cut ties with the conventions and tried to do the work by themselves. This occurred because missionaries in the past gave large financial support to see works flourish. This actually became a detriment to future church planting since nationals thought that it was a necessary part of the church planting process. The recent economic downturn is an example of how this strategy can backfire. The national churches, associations, and conventions become dependent upon foreign help and when it is gone, hard feelings can easily develop. Today, missionaries are trying to work together with nationals to do the work and are no longer footing the bill. All of this is being done to foster a more healthy environment that allows for church planting to be done by everyone, not just the person with the checkbook or the person receiving help for the person that has the checkbook.

Language Learning

One last suggestion for reaching Brazil with the good news is that of learning the language. Brazilians are easy to work with. They want to try to understand you even if you are bumbling through their language. Brazilians also have a huge capacity for understanding foreigners when they speak. Much of this has to do with the melting pot aspect of the country.

Even with this, many missionaries make the mistake of climbing into the missionary or evangelical bubble by sending their kids to English speaking schools, hanging out there themselves, going to English speaking international churches, etc. They often have a very limited connection with Brazilians and this tends to render them ineffective as church planters.

Learning the language, and learning it well, is the best way to open doors that will be long-lasting and beneficial for sharing Christ and carrying out a flourishing ministry in Brazil. The Brazilian is gracious and will work to understand you no matter how poorly you speak or in what language you speak. But, the Brazilians will bend over backwards to work with you if you make every effort to speak their language and speak it well.

Conclusion

Brazil is one of the most unique countries in the world and is definitely worth any effort and sacrifice we must make to reach it with the gospel. The entire process can be very enjoyable if one understands the culture first because it requires believers to focus on what is really important in life and eternity, and this is to build relationships with people. Beyond this, the impact the gospel could have on the rest of the world by reaching Brazil is evident. The connections or bridges that Brazil can have through its language, multi-cultural diversity, openness to the gospel, energy of youth, a global economy, and cultura acceptance around the world position this country as one of the major missionary sending countries of the world. There is still work to do, but Brazil’s time is coming.

“Discussion Question:  What other reasons make Brazil so strategic for world missions?”

But nevertheless, we did happen to get one lady taxi driver a second time. Earlier in the week, my friend Jeff had the opportunity to share the gospel with her.  She wasn’t ready at that point.  It seemed somewhat new to her.  Now, four days later, she not only was grasping the concept of salvation more easily than before, but was eager to know more.  We later found out that in between our two rides, she had another passenger that gave her a devotional book in Portuguese (Streams in the Desert) which she was devouring while waiting at the “Ponto de Taxi” for clients.  God was in this… all of this, from that first encounter three days earlier, followed by the unknown rider, then our second encounter, and then… even beyond that… all of the circumstances that were currently taking place in her life.

The Lord had orchestrated this for a purpose, He wanted to see “Salete” come to Him!  This is His will for all of us.  It’s just that on this day, it was her time.  As she drove to the drop off location in front of the convention center, we asked her if she wanted to pray and let Jesus be the Saviour and Lord of her life.  She bowed her head behind the steering wheel and prayed a sincere, from the heart prayer, and gave her life the Christ.  It didn’t matter to her that cars had to navigate around her taxi, or that pedestrians where trying to crossing where her cab was parked.  All that mattered to her was that she was about to enter into a saving relationship with the Creator God that loved her beyond anything she could possibly imagine.

“Like Salete, there are people all around us wanting, craving to know God.  Do you have a story about recently telling someone about Jesus?”

It’s exciting to watch how things take shape though.  We are focusing on the basics; prayer, discipleship, evangelism, and fellowship.  There is such a hunger for these things.  Other aspects are byproducts of these basics; worship, getting together, inviting friends, etc.

With all the growth though comes an added element of responsibility that also needs to be taken care of.  There is the training of leaders to carry on the work.  There is the constant guarding of the unity we currently have against the misunderstandings and relational issues that always exist among human beings.  Still, there is nothing in the universe that equals church planting!  All of the sacrifices pale in comparison to the joys that come from seeing the body of Christ grow and see lives changed into the image of our Lord and Savior.

Question: How about you? Do you think God might be talking to you personally about getting involved in a new church plant?