Brazil Church News

Curitiba, Brazil

Brazilian youth confront Carnaval

For the second consecutive year, teams of Mennonite Brethren young people in Curitiba went out witnessing in the streets in front of dance halls and clubs during the wild celebrations of Carnaval, February 17-20. In previous years youth leaders organized retreats during the Carnaval holiday to protect young people from the rampant carnality.

The transition to evangelism, bathed by Bible study and prayer, has given the participants new strength and determination in countering the culture with the positive message of Christ. Last year one dance hall manager allowed a team to come in and distribute literature to all his customers. He said, "We need something like this." So, because of the resulting changed lives, either when unbelievers submit to Jesus as Lord or when young people gain new boldness and skill for witnessing, Valdemar Kroker (the originator of the alternative program) is enthusiastic in spite of all the work involved. "It turned out to be a successful experiment," he concludes.

On the other hand, the Sao Paulo churches opted once more in favour of a retreat in 1996. That was beneficial too. In the Vila S<139>o Jose church, MBM/S missionary Victor Wiens reports, "I have two youth in a new believers' class as a result of the Carnaval retreat."

New Brazilian Conference celebrates first birthday

"COBIM (the new Convention of Brazilian Mennonite Brethren) is working quite smoothly. There is a sense of unity and expectation that the future is promising." That upbeat assessment from Victor Wiens, MBM/S team leader in Sao Paulo, sums up the mood one year after the heralded merger which united the German-speaking and the Portuguese-speaking conferences into one multi-cultural body. Optimism seemed to infuse the first anniversary celebration of COBIM, March 15-17 in Curitiba.

In its business session the Convention adopted a five-year project called "Rescue 2000", a visionary plan put forward by Valdemar Kroker, youth pastor of Brazil's largest MB church, at Boqueirao in Curitiba. Rescue 2000 would create Brazilian youth outreach and training similar to North America's Youth Mission International; calling youth to greater commitment to Christian service. In addition to providing opportunities for service and mission, the new program would train young people for future church leadership.

Two Sao Paulo churches moved closer to COBIM recently: 1) the Boas Novas (Good News) Church was an independent congregation that began to rent our facilities about ten years ago. Ray and Judy Harms-Wiebe have ministered there for a number of years, developing cell groups, training leaders and teaching our Anabaptist understanding of the Scriptures. As a result, the Boas Novas Church informed COBIM that they are studying the possibility of affiliating--possibly in 1997 (the Harms-Wiebes expect to conclude their ministry there at about the same time). 2) Diadema, a church begun by the German-speaking Jabaquara Church, had remained independent for a number of years. But at this assembly the Diadema Church was warmly received by the convention delegates. "Their decision to affiliate with COBIM represents an answer to our prayers over many years," says Wiens.

Transition

Vic and Martha Wiens plan to take a study leave, beginning in July. To prepare for that change, on March 3 the Vila Sao Jose Church joyfully appointed a team of lay pastors to shepherd the flock for a year and a half, until the pastor intern finishes his seminary studies and takes office in January 1998.

MBM/S news release

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