The Road Less Traveled: Porto Seguro Update

Tuesday was our exposure to the ongoing ministry in Porto Seguro – and we experienced a full day of activity. Annette and I began our day with breakfast at our hotel. Picky eater that I am, I came prepared with US-born breakfast bars and consumed one of those before leaving the room, but I ventured over to check out the hotel breakfast. The offerings included many fruits, cereal, and a wide variety of baked goods. A local favorite seems to be a cheesy bread that was quite good. I downed a couple of those and considered breakfast a success. By the way, the instruction on food is “if it’s not cooked or not peeled – don’t eat it.” I can live with that.

After breakfast, we boarded our bus and headed to the ministry site. Those initiated to ministry here call it “the project”. Calvary Baptist Church – Igreia Batista Calvario – serves as host for much of what will take place this week. Our time there began with a reunion of our team with the members of this local congregation. They were ready for our arrival. Much of the setup for the ministry to come had already taken place. We greeted one another, and then enjoyed a sweet – and energetic – time of worship led by our team. Following worship, setup continued… eyeglass area furnished with the glasses brought from the US, Happy Feet area prepared, drama rehearsed… training for those who were new to their respective ministry areas (Annette worked at the vision / glasses distribution ministry area)… Pastor David led an evangelism refresher for everyone using evangelism bracelets… several of us prayer-walked to the site where a new facility for Igreia Batista Calvario is being constructed… It was a busy morning indeed.

The Igreia Batista Calvario team provided a hearty lunch – and then the doors were opened to the community. Those attending are ushered into an area where they are introduced to the Gospel through drama. This is followed by a clear presentation of the message of Jesus we are here to share. Strategically, there is no call for a commitment to Christ for fear that those attending will feel that they must indicate a choice to follow Christ in order to have access to the ministries provided. This is certainly not the case.

Following the presentation of the Gospel, children and adults alike are invited to several ministry areas. There is a face-painting station for the kids. Haircuts are offered. Those needed reading glasses are given a vision test and then supplied with glasses. There is a station offering basic dental care, and a Prayer Room. And then there is Happy Feet… offering washing of little feet, socks, and a new pair of shoes to children, some of whom have worn flip-flops all of their lives. This station was my favorite… the one that moved me deeply… as members of our team, assisted by an interpreter, lovingly washed and powdered little feet before clothing those feet with new socks and shoes, all the while gently sharing with children and the adult who accompanied those kids how much God loves them… how He sent His Son to die for them so they could know the love of God personally and be assured

of eternity in a place called heaven… and giving these least-of-these people an opportunity to give their hearts to Jesus. This was the case at every ministry station: care provided as conversations about Jesus and His love took place. Our team being and bringing Jesus to the people of Porto Seguro proved to be a beautiful experience! This all went on until late afternoon. A bus ride back to the hotel offered time for a shower and a brief time of rest before dinner for most. (The production team and some of the band conducted site visits to the venues where we will play Wednesday and Friday in place of that “brief rest time.”)

After dinner we gathered for ministry reports, inspiration, and worship. I had ice cream – and we called it a day.

So there ya go… an idea of what our first real day of ministry in Porto Seguro looked like. Real ministry. Life transformation. Good stuff. Good stuff indeed!

It’s Wednesday morning now. Most of our mission team is serving again at Igreia Batista Calvario – this time, morning and afternoon. The Production Team and I are at a local convention center, setting up for a Pastors’ Conference to take place all day Thursday. (I’m writing this as setup is taking place.) The band will join us after lunch for sound check and rehearsal. After an early dinner, we’ll head to a local church to lead in worship for a gathering of local believers. It’s going to be another long day. It’s going to be another productive day. And I am confident that God will use the effort put forth – the sacrifice of time, energy, and effort – to bring glory to Himself to and to bring precious people into His Kingdom.

For now, there are images of more of what we experienced on Tuesday. Updates on what God is doing in Porto Seguro to come...