It is not uncommon to visit villages that are six or more hours away by boat. Brazilians struggle with working for living expenses like everyone else, so time on mission trips is a labor of love, and frequent trips without outside money for a living are difficult. Still, if we feel called to start church-planting movements that sweep across the Amazon, it is helpful if the leaders find ways to serve God within their own reality.

I helped plant rural churches for years that met whenever we showed up, but when outside “professionals” stopped coming, many groups went dormant. “We’re waiting for someone to come visit us again.” With the Discovery Group evangelism model, they can keep developing their personal relationship with God, and even help others meet and grow spiritually.

A missionary friend who experienced success told me he invested their time and money primarily in training events with the hope that the new churches would develop a culture of helping others even as they have been helped.

Finding ways to help God start sustainable church-planting movements is a continual complex conversation for everyone involved.

Ideas or Thoughts?