by Dr. Robert Brennan, Brazil Director

Brazil is a country whose people have been open and responsive to the Gospel. BIMI has had a presence in Brazil for 34 years, ever since Bob and Marilyn Brennan went in 1961. Today, 21 missionaries are laboring there or are on deputation to go there, including two second-generation missionaries: Bob Brennan, Jr., who first traveled to Brazil as a three-year-old boy, and Kevin Hickok, son of Kirk and Kathy Hickok. These workers know that Brazil is a needy, yet exciting, place to spread the Gospel.

PLACE

Of Brazil’s 130 million inhabitants, 70 percent are under the age of 30. Brazilians are a friendly people. They live in a land that makes up nearly half the total area of all South America. To the north, west, and south, Brazil borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. To the east, it has 4,604 miles of unspoiled South Atlantic coastline, including some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Brazil’s land mass totals 3,285,632 square miles, more than all the European countries combined or the continental United States.

PURPOSE

BIMI’s stated purpose in Brazil, as in any country, is to act as a handmaiden to independent, fundamental Baptist churches, helping them send missionaries to every country in the world as God calls them. In these 34 years in Brazil, over 40 churches have been founded and established in the faith as well as one national mission to the Jews, five Bible institutes, and three Christian camps. A Brazilian church-planting mission has also been started.

PRESSURES

Satan does everything he can do to thwart our purpose to win souls and start local churches. He attacks the missionaries spiritually, physically, psychologically, and financially, seeking to sidetrack them.

One significant way Satan has discouraged them is financially, which leads to other pressures. Inflation has run wild in Brazil for many years. Just recently the dollar has lost 20% of its buying power. Prices have skyrocketed on top of that increase, especially rent prices. One missionary’s rent went from $250 to $2,500. He had to leave that place. Another’s jumped from $400 to $800. He had to sell his car to alleviate the situation. All of them are under greater financial strain than ever.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Christians in supporting churches can take one very practical step to help missionaries in Brazil. Each supporting church could increase its support by at least ten dollars a month as soon as possible. That would avert the drastic measure of having to bring missionaries home to try to find new supporting churches to make up their deficits.

But the most practical and vital step we can all take is to increase our intercessory praying that missionaries might be strengthened in the inner man to withstand the onslaught of satanic hosts. As we look at what God has done in evangelizing Brazil, we know that thousands have already been praying. We are grateful to every one of you that has prayed and supported the work in Brazil, and we thank the Lord for what He has done through you.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

MR JOHN & DOROTHY HALSEY -  INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
WILLIAM A & ELIZABETH HAMILTON -  MILITARY - ITALY
NEAL & JERRI HAMPTON -  USA - NEVADA