Northern Brazil stop kicks off visit to places significant for mission in Brazil, Argentina.
Published on: 8 hours ago
Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, recently visited the state of Pará in northern Brazil to learn about humanitarian projects carried out by mission boats across riverside communities. Together with his wife Nancy and assistant Magdiel Pérez Schulz, the delegation visited Ananindeua and Benevides, where they got acquainted with this decades-old ministry and participated in church meetings in both cities.
The work carried out through speedboats and boats has been offering medical and humanitarian assistance to communities in Pará since the 1930s. Through the years, the ministry was assisted by about 30 boats, two of which—Luzeiro XXIX and Estrela da Manhã (Morning Star) are currently active in the state. Under the coordination of Belém Adventist Hospital, the Morning Star seeks to impact more than 55 thousand people annually in the corners of Marajó, where about 590,000 people live. With five care rooms, including a surgical room, the boat is effectively a floating hospital, regional church leaders said.
During his visit to the region, which began on February 5, Wilson and other leaders also visited Manaus (Amazonas), Vitória (Espírito Santo), and Aracaju (Sergipe). They are also scheduled to visit Buenos Aires and Libertador San Martín in Argentina February 12-16. Along the way, Wilson will inaugurate church buildings and schools, visit mission projects, and share biblical messages.
On February 8, Wilson attended a large evangelism rally with about 7,000 members in the Manaus area under the theme of “Together in Mission!”
“They had a very touching presentation of wheelchairs under a special program that collects funds for the ‘James Wilson Wright International Needful Children and Family Fund,’ organized by the General Conference Adventist Possibilities Ministries office,” Wilson wrote on his Facebook page on February 9. He explained, “James was our grandson who died almost four years ago from an incurable disease. Nancy was able to speak regarding the wheelchairs that were donated to the recipients.”
Wilson and other leaders also met with a hearing-impaired group that attended the meetings. “We were delighted to meet [them], Wilson wrote. “They are precious members of God’s remnant people.”
South American Division president Stanley Arco said he and his team are pleased to welcome Wilson. “It is always a joy to welcome Pastor Ted Wilson to our territory to see the incredible work our members have done to hasten Jesus’ return,” Arco said. “I am sure that he will leave here inspired by the great involvement of thousands of Adventist church members in the work of announcing our great hope and working for those who need it most. It is beautiful to see our church involved in great projects that are impacting lives with the love of Jesus.”
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.
Gerllany Amorim, with information from Jefferson Paradello, South American Division, and Adventist Review
To bind together the Adventist people as we wait for Jesus to come back, by sharing news and information about the church plus articles on doctrine, spiritual growth and mission.
