"And Jesus went throughout all the cities... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." -Matthew 9:35-36
That is a portrait of the people living in the sprawling slums (favelas) of Rio's hillside- harassed and helpless. Terror is always lurking at their doorstep and they don't know who to trust. The drug lords? The police? Their neighbor?
The following is an excerpt from the Restore Brazil Vision Doc:
"Drug-trafficking in the favelas, kidnapping, and robbery are part of daily life for many in Brazil. Despite the "South American Revival" of the 1990s, there has been very little gospel transformation that has resulted in a safer or less corrupt nation. This is tragic."
But thankfully, it doesn't end there.
"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" -Matthew 9:37-38
In Rio alone the "harvest" consists of over 11 million people. It is the 4th largest city in the Americas, bigger than London, Hong Kong, or Paris. Restore Brazil seeks to resource and train indigenous leaders to plant churches that plant churches in the slums of Rio. They pray earnestly, and they equip these men that the Lord sends out with a sustainable framework of practical theology.
This is ONE reason why we love Restore Brazil and are proud to serve alongside them!
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I feel so blessed to have met you guys before you left! It brings tears to my eyes and heart to read this entry, and to have seen some of this first hand while I was in Brazil. I feel grateful to be apart of your mission, until God calls me to come ane join your efforts in Brazil. Keep up the good work, and "Give 'Em Heavan!" That is a saying that a friend of mine tells me every time I leave on mission... God Bless You!!!
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