Part of a Greater Vision

Our 2020 Vision

1. Plant 1,000 churches in the Xingu Region
2. Help Brazilians form partnerships to work in Angola, Mozambique, Portugal, and North Africa.
2. Prisoner Rehabilitation? – Start in Maraba.

Part of a Greater Vision

Our vision outlined above is part of a much bigger vision. In 1992 Deanna and I felt called to plant churches in Mozambique. The Lord made it clear to us that we were not to go to Mozambique directly. We called Luke Huber, of PAZ Mission in the Amazon, and asked him if he would train us to plant churches in the jungle with Portuguese-speaking people, in preparation for Mozambique. I used to tell people, “Maybe our next 30 years are just a dress rehearsal. Maybe our real ministry will start when I am 60.“ Luke died in a tragic plane accident shortly after we arrived in Brazil. This led to us starting the Xingu Mission and the Brazilian Vineyard Church.

100,000 churches

Luke always talked about planting 100,000 (one hundred thousand) churches in the Amazon Basin, an area the size of the continental United States. When we moved to the Xingu Region, we set a goal to start with 1,000 churches in our region. “When we reach this milestone, God will show us the next steps.”

We Learned Some Things.

1. CHURCH PLANTING – Disciple Making Movements are resulting in tens of thousands of churches being planted. Consider the New Generations report below, which is only one of several movements.

Quarterly Reports

2. MISSIONS – Mozambique, Angola, and Portugal all speak Portuguese. We are beginning to mobilize Brazilians to help in these countries.

3. PRISON REFORM – I was let into an inner cell. Alone. Twenty-eight prisoners were sitting or laying on the cement floor of the cell. None of them knew me. After a brief introduction, some of them gathered into a circle and I started a Discovery Group. “What is going good in your life?” Blank stares. “What is something good that happened this week?” Finally, after a long pause, “You came to visit.” 

I want start prisoner reform centers in every city possible.

These dreams are all way beyond our reach financially and in every way, but they are small things for God. We will keep taking our next small steps, keeping our eyes open in cheerful expectation.

*** We plan to have fun along the way, and we are looking for people to pray, support, and help.