An Incalculable Asset in Reaching Millions for Christ in Brazil
World
Missionary Press, Inc.
World
Missionary Press News June/July 2008
An Incalculable Asset in Reaching Millions for
Christ in Brazil
"I WAS A ROBBER and involved
with drugs," wrote Pastor
Soares, whose testimony echoes that of thousands. "I accepted Christ in
prison. When I was in prison, I came to know the booklet, Who Am I That
a King Would
Die in My Place? I love this booklet so much. Then I started
sharing Christ with others in prison. I didn't know how to read or
write, and I started learning to read through this booklet. . . . When I got
out of prison, I continued doing ministry work. When I go on buses now, I
say to the people, 'Before, I was a robber with a gun to steal; now I am
here to give you something good.' Many of the people who ride buses
or work on buses have
accepted Jesus."
Over
the past 19 years World Missionary Press (WMP) has provided 59 million
booklets in Portuguese for distribution in Brazil. Thousands of distributors
have gone into slums, remote villages, prisons, schools, and large cities.
Yet the impact of each Scripture booklet begins with a
one-to-one 
exchange:
One hand stretched out to share Christ's love reaches a hand stretched out
in need and longing. The Word of God penetrates one heart, and one becomes a
thousand. Brazil's 191 million people are being reached one by one.
Recently a man wrote,
"My father received a booklet when he was walking on the street, and he
was very interested. He would like to speak [to people] about Jesus, and he
thinks this booklet will help him."
Pastor Clovis Nogueira
has been a faithful partner with WMP for 34 years. To date
he has received more than 15,000 boxes containing more that
7,600,000 booklets.
"I have been
working with WMP since 1973 in this wonderful cooperation with the
[Scripture booklets] which has helped me a lot in my ministry to evangelize
a huge part of my country, Brazil. I work in almost all of Brazil's 27
states, several cities and slums, hospitals, houses, streets, prisons, and
among the Indians along the Amazon. About 2,000 souls per year are
saved, and thousands evangelized every day.
I thank all the donors who have helped WMP. Without their
help, thousands of souls wouldn't be evangelized and saved. . . . Without
[the booklets] my job wouldn't exist."
Erno Engelsdorf, WMP's longtime national coordinator for
Brazil, believes that many people have been reached through the booklets who
might not otherwise have come to Christ. "It is a chance for the
church to go out; it gives them tools to use. Sometimes
they have no tools to use, so they don't go out. It's a tool to start a
conversation. If you have nothing, it is difficult to start a
conversation."
A recent request from
Sao
Paulo, Brazil, described the need for booklets: "We are doing a
beautiful work in the hospitals, and we really need this material, because
it is much more interesting and easy for people to understand the
Word of God. They love when we give a booklet to them."
Paula Moura works among
prisoners and their families. "Every time I go, I take booklets and
have a service in the prison. Many, many prisoners come to hear
about Christ and receive booklets. When family members come to
visit prisoners, they ask for booklets to take home to give to other members
of the family. I have just a small problem now. I'm out of booklets! I
have a "debt" of over 20,000 booklets that I've promised to give
to the different prisons. More than 50 members of the church are
ready to work with me in the prisons. I take this work as a pleasure and a
challenge of God for my life."
"The Word of God
doesn't tell us about the truth; it is the truth. It doesn't merely
contain words about God; it is the Word of God. We don't have to try
real hard to make it relevant; it is relevant. Don't neglect it. It is the
foundation of a stable life. It feeds faith." —
Chuck Swindoll
WMP is currently printing more
than eight million Scripture booklets in Portuguese, not just for Brazil but
also for Mozambique, Angola, and Malawi. Each country, national coordinator,
and distributor is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a fresh supply of
Portuguese Scripture booklets. Many have been without booklets for
some time, their efforts on hold until the tools arrive. They depend on WMP,
looking expectantly for precious Scripture portions to share with those in
need.
A new national
coordinator has been established in Angola to help receive and
distribute booklets there. This southwest African country of 17 million
people suffered through a long civil war. Although peace has been restored,
the devastation and loss of thousands of lives has left Angola one of the
world's poorest nations. [Please pray for this new national
coordinator.]
Several WMP distributors in Angola have continued to receive and
distribute booklets despite difficulties. With the addition of a new
national coordinator, we can send larger supplies to help meet the growing
interest and
opportunity. A 20-ft. container will provide 1,187,000 Scripture
booklets as well as Bible studies in English and the two salvation
coloring books in Portuguese. Each item will speak of the love of Jesus and
bring hope and peace to many.
[A gift of $100 for Scripture booklets for Angola will provide God's
Word for 2,500 people. A $20 investment will reach 500 people. For a $1,000
donation, 25,000 precious people in Angola will receive life-giving truth
from God's Word.]
Focus
on Giving
Every
dollar donated to WMP provides for the production and shipping of 25
power-packed 48-page Scripture booklets, or its equivalent volume, on
average.
1. Remembering WMP in their will enables
donors to leave an eternal legacy, often at a crucial time of opportunity.
2. Transferring appreciated stocks as a
tax-deductible contribution is an immediate blessing. Our Edward Jones
account number is 943-07667-1-8; the DTC# is 0057.
"Half-Million Missions Marathons"
and "Midnight Missions Madness"
TWO SPECIAL EVENTS to
help increase production of Scripture booklets at World Missionary Press are
“Half-Million Missions Marathons” and - a new opportunity - "Midnight
Missions Madness."
For
a marathon, a group of 20-24 volunteers come and work all night in
teams to keep the bindery humming. During the marathon, which usually begins
at 7:00 p.m. on a Friday and concludes Saturday morning, a group can bind,
box, weigh, strap, and stack 500,000 Scripture booklets.
What a challenging, fun,
and significant event it is!
Recent marathons were these:
February:
Maple City Chapel, Goshen, IN.
April:
Trinity Assembly of God, Ligonier, IN.
May:
First United Methodist, Portage, MI.
Once-per-month marathons
are already scheduled through October. If your group is interested or has
questions, please e-mail Jay@wmpress.org.
A
"Midnight
Missions Madness" event
involves a group of 7 to 10 youth and adults working on a Friday night from 9:00
p.m. to midnight. During that time the group can put together about 100,000
Scripture booklets while having fun serving the Lord. If you are interested in
scheduling this event, please e-mail our Volunteer Coordinator: Steve@wmpress.org.
We praise God for a great host of volunteers
from many churches who help to share God's powerful Word with millions around
the world!
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