Planting Churches with Harvest Radio
Brazil
This spring, Avant Missionaries Ivan and Mary G. set out into the Brazilian semi-arid brushlands in search of a man named Antonio. Antonio is a regular listener to Harvest Radio, and he calls in from time to time with song requests. Ivan and Mary wanted to meet and encourage him. Their journey took them down a dirt road to a humble home where they found Antonio and his wife sitting on their porch.For the next hour, Ivan and Mary visited with Antonio and his wife. Like many Northeastern Brazilians, Antonio is a subsistence farmer, so the conversation touched on topics like crops and weather, but it always came back to spiritual things. Antonio explained that his bad vision makes it difficult for him to read his Bible, so the programs on Harvest Radio are important to him. “All my spiritual food, everything I have learned from scripture, I have learned from Harvest Radio,” he said. “I want to learn everything I can about the Bible.”
As they were leaving, the Ivan asked Antonio if he knew of any other families who were regular Harvest Radio listeners. Stunned, they watched as Antonio pointed out houses all around his neighborhood, listing off each of his neighbors who listen.
The visit to Antonio sparked an idea in Ivan and Mary’s minds. How many pockets of listeners like Antonio and his neighbors were scattered throughout Northeastern Brazil? Was it possible for these listeners to band together, possibly starting small cell churches in areas where there isn’t an evangelical church nearby?
As a result, Ivan and Mary decided to embark on a new ministry initiative to take survey trips to the small villages in broadcast range, visiting with listeners in those areas. These trips will help them determine communities where a cell church, comprised of Harvest Radio listeners, might be formed and encouraged.
Since visiting Antonio, Ivan and Mary visited a friend in another village named Chiquinho. Fifteen years ago, Chiquinho gave his life to Christ after hearing the gospel on Harvest Radio. Today he and his wife lead a group of believers from their area in fellowship and Bible study. This church is the direct result of Harvest Radio and proves churches like the ones we will be facilitating do work. How many more listeners are there like Antonio, hungry for the word of God?
By partnering with Ivan and Mary and Harvest Radio, you can help lay the groundwork for an entire network of churches to spread across the listening footprint of Harvest Radio. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this exciting new outreach.
Indicate your gift is for 71750 – Planting Churches with Harvest Radio.
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