Hugs and laughter, music and memories, profound gratitude and deep joy filled the room when more than 300 people gathered in late March to dedicate a new International Ministry Center in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Staff from Back to God Ministries International and its partners in Latin America recalled God’s faithfulness over the course of 40 years of media ministry and looked forward to new opportunities made possible by the new facilities.
“Our partnership in mission today jumps language barriers and links continents,” BTGMI director Bob Heerspink said. “Our partnership testifies to the unity of Christ’s church and witnesses to the one mission we all share as we bring the gospel to the people of Brazil, Latin America, and the world.”
The project started three years ago when LPC (Luz Para o Caminho, Light for the Way), BTGMI’s Portuguese ministry, outgrew its facilities. Visionary leaders had purchased a vacant lot in 1997, with a dream that someday God would make possible a state-of-the-art ministry center that could serve all of Latin America.
Thanks to the generous response of ministry partners in North America and Brazil, the dream became reality. The new ministry center will serve not only Latin America, but has the potential for media production in several languages to reach people around the world.
Rev. Jerry Dykstra, executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, sent a letter of congratulations to the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB), a ministry partner in this mission. Dykstra noted the appointment of Rev. Hernandes Lopes as the new Portuguese ministry leader and said, “It is our prayer that God will use him and the staff of LPC to continue the good work in Brazil.”
LPC reaches millions of people in Latin America through its Portuguese media ministry. Much of BTGMI’s Spanish outreach is also produced and distributed from the ministry center in Brazil.
About the Author
Nancy Vander Meer is a staff writer with Back to God Ministries International in Grand Rapids, Mich.
