Gotta write about Brazil!  I was there for four days (about 361 days too short…), in Campinas, where the heart of Hope Unlimited’s ‘City of Youth’ is located.  This is a ministry that our church has been connected to for some time.  They exist “to transform the lives of children at mortal risk and provide them a productive future and an eternal hope.”

What they actually do is take kids off the street, where millions of Brazilian children live in the cities throughout the country.  These kids suffer every imaginable form of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation. The ministry provides these children with parents, schooling, health, special training, graduate opportunities, and Jesus.  

It was an incredible four days.  Hundreds of children are saved and over 50% of the support needed for this ministry comes in through Brazilian donations.  They are so aligned with what we are about - knowing God, developing community, bringing hope - that it is a natural connection for us.  

In the next weekend series, starting Thanksgiving weekend, we will be talking about this City of Youth as well as ministries in Mexico and Thailand with whom we want to partner.  Because God wants us to have a world-wide impact and we have the resources to do this.  Surely we can expand our vision to areas like South America, Central America, and Asia.  Surely we can spare a bit of what we have to see young children delivered and transformed.

Surely.