Recently Marta and I participated in the Third (annual) Consultation of the Brazilian Diaspora near Frankfurt, Germany, and the Third Iberian American Missionary Conference (COMIBAM) in Granada Spain (the first was held in São Paulo in 1987 and the second in Acapulco in 1997). Both were moving events and encouraging especially to the two of us as we continued to encounter Brazilians from all over the world who, at one time or another, had studied with us or read some of the material we’ve produced. My overall sense was that the Brazilian missionary movement is moving into a new phase, beyond the initial enthusiasm of the 70’s and 80’s and the discoveries of the challenges of ministries in other cultures and often lack of adequate infrastructure and support of the 90’s, to some real contributions that can happen after 20-30 years in cross-cultural ministry, as some of these missionaries now have. Of course, the “former” two phases also continue to accompany the movement and will do so simultaneous to this newest phase. I believe that will require the following responses pertinent to us:

For North American or European based mission organizations, it will require some discernment and selectivity as they seek to partner with increasing numbers of Latin American missionaries. They come to the U.S. and Europe in all stripes and sizes and I think the North Atlantic operations can benefit from careful screening and recommendations from their overseas partners and mission personnel. For some mission personnel involved in this movement, we may contribute to this movement in a number of ways. We basically need to: first, encourage the movement; second, allow room for talented Latin Americans to assume leadership positions; and third facilitate the networks of relationships that the movement needs to further their outreach.

First, we need to encourage the movement itself. When we were at COMIBAM last week, I met a Presbyterian couple with OC International who had worked in Brazil for some 20 years in the area of mission research. They have now moved to Malaga, Spain to be available to train and pastor the 300+ Brazilian missionaries ministering in Northern Africa and the Muslim world! Another couple, also Presbyterian and working with OC International, have left Brazil after 20 years and relocated to England, basically for the same purpose.

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