When Discovery started in 1980 it was with a small band of seminary students and people from Temple Baptist in Tacoma. They were ready to help plant a church in Gig Harbor. One of them, Jon Mitchell, was a classmate of mine at Northwest Baptist Seminary in Tacoma at the time. Jon was an American who was raised in Brazil as a “missionary kid”. Jon and Dee jumped in to help us. It would be practical training for them and a blessing to Nancy and me as we became friends for the “long run” ahead. They set up chairs, taught Sunday School, and many other things.
When Jon graduated from NBS they applied to Baptist Mid-Missions to help them prepare for Brazil. Jon knew the country, culture, and language so it was a natural for him. Then they began the hard work of raising financial support for their life-long ministry.
Finally in 1984 they became the very first missionaries to be sent from our church to a foreign field. That was a milestone for our little church at that time. They were willing to leave the comforts of American, local family, and their church to begin this work reaching a world that was very “religious” but largely ignorant about the simple gospel of Christ.
Brazilians like their flag. This one was made out of the bottoms of plastic drinking bottles, the blue represent the starry sky, and the curved white band is the national motto “Order and progress. See the real thing in our foyer. The Mitchells serve there as well as Jerry & Linda Neuman, and Tim and Martia Franklin and families.
Jon, Dee and their ministry associates in Brazil. Pray for these and other Brazilian ministry families that we were able to meet in 2008.
Welcome to our church. Churches in Brazil often have bars on their doors to protect the church entrances and windows. Note the graffiti also next to it. .
The local “Safeway” is a lot different there.
The “long run” ahead had begun. Children would be born and a small church too near the capital city of Brasilia. Nancy and I visited them in 2008 and were amazed by the mystical nature of the culture. Brazil has a lot of crime so they had bars on the windows of their small house which was connected to the house next door. It was often dangerous to even go out on the sidewalk. We were blessed to meet the people, be involved in their ministry and see some of this unique country. Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world just behind the U.S. It is also the most Catholic country in the world. It has a warm climate and warm and loving people. But it also has mystical cults which have made dramatic inroads to some churches. The simple Gospel of grace was needed.
Missionary families often park their cars in their houses to protect them. Houses are often stacked together. Local security patrols on small scooters are paid to ride up and down neighborhoods and announce their coming with small horn on the handlebars. This alerts thieves to leave before getting caught.
A few years ago Jon’s ministry expanded. He now works with a group of seasoned mission pastors to go to countries where little or no ministry training available. He has been in seven different countries. This is exciting to see the faith passed on this way and multiplied. This Sunday Jon will be reporting on that. Don’t miss it. Why? Because we have an important role in supporting and praying for them as he goes to difficult and sometimes dangerous places.
By the way. When Jon was in college he and a small group of other students ran across America coast to coast one summer to promote Cedarville College. I’m not kidding. He wore out two pair of shoes. That is the kind of perseverance that makes for long term ministry through difficult times. Ask him about it.
Pastor Mark
PS Jon will be reporting and preaching both services Sunday August 28th. Watch him on our Livestream. Bring a bag lunch for you and your family and ice-cream to share at noon. Its going to be beautiful day.