Dear friends and family:

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt. 4:17)

What part of Jesus' ministry, preaching, and teaching is most often neglected? "Money and possessions" is almost certainly number one on the list, but "the kingdom of God/kingdom of heaven" must be a close second. Yet there are 106 references to Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! We wrestled with what Jesus meant by "the kingdom of God" and what this implies for mission in today's world during the module we teach on "Holistic Mission" for new missionary candidates.

JAMI missionaries are engaged in church planting and disciple making around the world. This naturally involves them in holistic ministries that address the whole person and community: the spiritual, economic, emotional, physical health, and educational aspects of what it means to be fully human. Wonderfully, God has prepared us in a unique way to equip these new missionaries with the skills they need based on our ministry experience in Africa, Asia, and the US.

This was our second year to teach the module. Last year we struggled with a new language, new resources, and a new environment. This time with a year plus of Portuguese under our belts and more familiarity with the subject, we felt much more confident – and the learning was all the better because of it. Thanks for your support that

has gotten us this far! We discussed with our students the Biblical basis for holistic mission and how the good news of Jesus is expressed in ministries as diverse as community organizing and empowerment, literacy, health, economic development, cooperatives, and appropriate technology. So how do our new missionary candidates understand what "the kingdom of God" means for the way they do mission? In their own words:

• "I learned that ... Jesus preached and practiced the whole Gospel. God is concerned not only with people's souls but the whole person."
• "I learned to see mission in a holistic way where the Kingdom is established in a way that changes the situation of a community."
• "I learned to stop thinking of the Gospel only in terms of words but to live the Gospel in transforming ministries."

Holistic ministry is an important part of the unique style of ministry that defines American Baptists. One of International Ministries' mission priorities in its Go Global strategic plan is "Christ-like Ministry:" in other words, holistic mission. The Good News of Jesus that "the kingdom of God is at hand" involves both proclaiming and demonstrating God's kingship. As we make visible God's rule and God's love through Jesus in our world, we say it and we show it. Two actions but one mission, heads and tails but one coin, warp and woof but one fabric, two wings but one bird in flight.

Please join us in praise for:

• Faithful prayer and financial supporters (like you!) who are part of our ministry and enable it every day.
• Opportunities we have at JAMI to help shape and equip a new generation of Brazilian Baptist missionaries.

Please join us in prayer for:

• A group of pastors and leaders from American Baptist Churches of New Jersey who will visit in May and participate in JAMI's annual Consultation on Mission.
• Xtreme Team Brazil 06: 8 young people from American Baptist churches all over the US who will come together in July for a month of extreme mission experiences.

Com amor em Cristo,

Bruce and Ann