Since the official launch of Esperança Curitiba Com Will Graham (“Hope Curitiba With Will Graham” in Portuguese), churches in this metropolitan area have enthusiastically joined forces to reach their city with the Good News.
Between May and June, over 3,500 people from 65 churches participated in evangelism training opportunities offered by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). These training courses explore how to live out your faith and share it with others.
Despite fears that often keep Christians silent about their faith—being criticized, questioned, or pushed away—believers in the region are experiencing a unique spiritual awakening.
“This is a moment of liberation from all the bonds, fears, worries, and anxieties of believers for evangelization,” said Pastor Alexandre of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil.
Pastors are thrilled to see so many people in their congregations—large and small—express a desire to reach their neighbors with the Gospel.
“My church is new. We have an average of 90 members … and we received a pleasant surprise [when] about a third of the church came to the training,” said Pastor André Viana of Bairro Alto Presbyterian Church. “Thirty people came to learn how to speak more about Jesus.”
BGEA has offered two training opportunities in Portuguese: the Christian Life and Witness Course (CLWC) and Andrew in Action. CLWC helps believers deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and gives them practical tools to share that faith with others. Andrew in Action inspires Christ followers to be like Andrew, the disciple who, after meeting Jesus, immediately went to his brother, Simon, and told him that he found the Messiah (John 1:41–42).
“The church really embraced Andrew’s vision, where we can … evangelize through friendship,” said Pastor Ian of Tabernacle of David Church. “The church has allowed God to flow in their lives [to] understand that the true Gospel is to go to all nations and preach to every creature.”
Preparations for Esperança Curitiba Com Will Graham have also unified churches across denominational boundaries.
“I call on my denomination to unite with all evangelicals,” said Pastor Alexandre. “It takes the mobilization of every church member for the Lord’s work. … Every church member is an evangelist [who can reach] many souls for Jesus.”
Thirty-five more training classes are scheduled for July and August.
*Leonne Ferreira contributed to this article.
Please pray for the seed of the Gospel to fall on good soil in Curitiba, Brazil.
