By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (LBM) – A Louisiana Baptist-led mission team which ministered in Brazil witnessed more than 700 people turn to Christ and celebrated the fulfillment of Wayne Jenkins’ dream to construct 75 church facilities in the country.
Jenkins, who had led 34 mission trips to Brazil, died of cancer on Nov. 13, 2018, having catalyzed the effort to build 68 chapels. Prior to his death he served as the director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists and co-founded Beyond the Walls, the Louisiana-based ministry that continues to serve in Brazil.
In 2019, his son-in-law, David Denton, picked up the baton and began leading this overseas emphasis.
m members constructed the chapel for Lagoinha Fazenda Castro Baptist Church, which ful lled Wayne Jenkins’ dream to construct 75 church
facilities in the country. Hannah Verzwyvelt photo
“The theme for this year was God’s faithfulness,” Denton, senior pastor with Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia, told the Baptist Message. “We were eyewitnesses of God’s faithfulness to work through His people but also in His people.”
“This trip was not just about reaching a goal,” he continued. “It was about the treasure of the Gospel in jars of clay. We heard testimonies of what God was doing in people’s lives to bring healing and to further them along in their walk with the Lord.”
GOSPEL HARVEST
Sixty-nine members of a Louisiana Baptist-led mission team from Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Utah saw a harvest of 700 Brazilians, July 11-22.
While there, they split into 14 ministry teams and participated in personal evangelism visits, drama ministry, construction of two church buildings, compassion ministry that included food distribution, and street evangelism ministry.
IN THEIR WORDS
Craig Beeman, pastor with First Baptist Church, Winnsboro, participated in his fourth mission trip to Brazil and third with Beyond the Walls. His wife, Susanne, and son, Joshua, taught Vacation Bible School while Beeman shared the Gospel in homes.
During one home visit, Beeman and one of his members, Neire, shared Jesus with a woman. This was the only day that the other translator, Natalia, was unable to accompany the team, so Neire stepped in to fill the role.
Not only did the woman turn to Christ but Neire was able to use her experience working with autistic children to communicate with the woman’s son who has this condition.
“Out of all the days that we visited this lady and of all the days that Natália was unable to be with me, Neire was with me,” Beeman recalled. “She was just the person we needed. I also found out later that she had been beaten three times by autistic children. She was a little cautious but felt that this child’s mother needed to know Jesus, and so she took him to be with his brother and to play with him while I shared. God knew I needed Neire that day. He knew I would encounter that family that day. He had a plan long before I got off the plane of what He was going to do on that day. All I had to do was join Him in His work.
“My prayer is that many others will open themselves up to an adventure of allowing God to use them in this world,” he said. “Every day, people need to hear about Jesus. It only takes a moment of our time. Sometimes we will find that God was at work long before we decided to open our mouths.”
Phillip Boone, pastor with First Baptist Church, Bunkie, shared the Gospel with more than 150 Brazilians and counseled 50 of them who declared Christ as Lord. Despite the poverty, drug use and brokenness he witnessed, Boone said God’s power was evident in every interaction.
One such moment was through a conversation with young woman named Brenda. She kept saying, “it’s not my time,” as she resisted giving her life to Christ. Boone then shared how Jesus gave him hope during his second battle with kidney failure. Once his interpreter, Aline, translated his words, Brenda leaned forward and wrapped her in a fierce hug. They two embraced for a long moment. Through tears, Aline shared with Boone that Brenda’s grandmother was currently experiencing kidney failure and having to endure regular dialysis.
“It felt like a Romans 8:28 moment,” he said, “It was a reminder that God truly does work all things together for good, in ways only He can.”
