As we mentioned in our last ministry update, mission dynamics have changed dramatically in the last 20 years. The “receiving countries” have become the “sending countries” and visa versa. So here is a concrete example of the new thing God is doing: a small Brazilian church in a poor neighborhood is responding to God’s call to bring hope and new life to a community in the United States!

We want to share the good news of Jesus in Boston - can you help us prepare for this ministry?

That was the question Pr. Elias, Pr. Uelton and Miguel asked us a couple of months ago. On a recent visit, one of the church members who has relatives in a small town on the outskirts of Boston was overcome with love and concern for people she met. “They seem to be just ‘going through the motions’ of life in an endless rhythm: they spend long hours at work, come home and plop down in front of the TV, drink lots of alcohol to feel better, go to bed, and then repeat the whole process the next day,” she observed. They are desperate to experience the “abundant life” that Jesus promised (Jn. 10:10).

We were delighted when Pr. Elias invited us to lead a Short Term Mission Team training for their church. We presented five principles of Short Term Mission inspired by Jesus’ instructions as he sent out the disciples in Lk. 10:1-9: Team Unity , Prayer, Simplicity, Love & Respect, and Service. Participants learned about the culture shock cycle, how to leave the “excess baggage” of stereotypes at home, the need to “walk alongside” the people we’re trying to reach rather impose our ideas, and the call to be human beings vs. “human doings.”

Please pray that God will work in and through this team as it prepares to bring hope to families in a small town near Boston. May each of us also respond to God’s call to be messengers of hope in our community.

P.S. Thank you to those who faithfully support us in this ministry. Please give generously to the World Mission Offering - you can even direct your gift toward “the support of Bruce and Ann Borquist”. That would help us to reach the fundraising goal set for us by International Ministries.