They began arriving last Thursday morning. Five adults unfolded themselves from a little Fiat compact after a four-hour drive to participate in the "Consulta Missionaria " (Mission Consultation) at our missionary training center. The theme of the gathering was "Mission: Myth or Reality?" Pastor Wagner picked up three more irmaos (brothers/sisters) at the bus station. They left at 4 a.m. to make the 8-hour trip. But the prize went to the pastor and his team who drove 15 hours from western Brazil to find out how they could be more faithful in fulfilling the church's responsibility to prepare, send and support cross-cultural missionaries. By the end of the day, about 60 pastors and church leaders had squeezed their sleeping mats into every available nook and cranny at the center. What an amazing time of fellowship, worship and learning we had over the next three days!

Myth: Pastors are more concerned with their own congregation than with reaching out to people in other countries. Reality: Meet four pastors whose passion for sharing the Gospel has touched hearts literally around the globe: from L to R, Pr. Luiz, Pr. Ziffi, Pr. Paulo, and Pr. Adonias. Pr. Luiz and his family are preparing to return to a Central Asian country later this year where they minister to refugees and work to strengthen a new church. Pr. Ziffi coordinates mission projects for the state of São Paulo. Pr. Paulo's church of 600 members supports more than 20 missionaries serving in various countries. Pr. Adonias and his wife, Adriana, minister to the Kalunga people in central Brazil, a community of descendants of escaped slaves.
Myth: Churches in North America and Europe are the "missionary senders." Reality: Brazil is one of many former "receiving" countries that now sends and supports hundreds of missionaries. Glaúcimar completed our missionary training program last year and is on her way to Senegal in the next week or two. She will work alongside another Brazilian missionary family that ministers to street children and runs a theological education program for local church leaders. God continues to empower Pr. Ronald, JAMI's Executive Director, as he provides administrative support to over 60 missionaries in 21 countries. Myth: "Our church is too small or too poor to get involved in global mission." Reality: As one speaker said: "No church is so poor that it cannot do mission and no church that does mission is poor." Below are some of the topics that small groups discussed during the conference's Reflection and Action times. * God has uniquely equipped the Brazilian church to send and support missionaries. * We need to wake up our church to faithfully share the transforming gospel of Jesus.
Myth: All you need is God's call and a good heart to serve as a missionary. Reality: In order to minister effectively, cross-cultural workers must develop skills in a wide variety of areas including: Linguistics, Missiology, Contextualization of the Gospel, Holistic Mission, Anthropology, Spiritual Growth, and others. We (Ann and Bruce) presented a skit as part of a workshop on the role of the local church and its mission agency in providing cross-cultural missionary training.

* Pray for new missionaries like Ana Paula, who leave their families, jobs, and everything familiar to share the Good News of Jesus with those who have not yet heard.

* Pray especially for missionaries serving in North Africa and the Middle East who literally lay their lives on the line for the Lord every day.

Com amor em Cristo (with love in Christ),
Ann, Bruce, and Asa JAMI Rua Alecrim 100, Bairro Jaqueline Belo Horizonte/MG 31787-150 Brasil borquist4all@mindspring.com For more information about our ministry: http://profiles.internationalministries.org/profiles/view/36