Brazil Trip Report
January 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name, which is above every name, the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. A team of 7 of us worked from Jan. 21 to Jan. 30 in the prisons within the state of Santa Catarina. There were no Chaplains in any of the prisons. The team included: Willie, an ex-con, Constantin, Adrian, Aurel, Pavel, John and Vasile. The team visited 6 prisons and did two Prison Training Seminars as well as distributing over 435 Bibles in Portuguese to the inmates and distributing many bags of beans, rice, sugar, and cooking oil which were combined in one month packages to over one hundred families in some of the poorest areas in Blumenau and Jaragua do Sul. There was ministry to inmates with praying to commit their lives to the Lord. Also, there was ministry in 8 churches in the evenings. One of the greatest miracles occurred when a connection was made with the Ministry of Justice representative who said that if any of the directors of any of the prisons did not cooperate with us, he would fire him. We had access to every prison in the state.Jan 21, Sat. - the ministry began in Blumenau, 680 kilometers from Sao Paulo. At the first prison, Presidiu de Blumenau, evangelism took place in the yard with 70 women, 29 men and a group of about 100 homeless inmates including families of women, children and visitors. About 35 prayed to receive Christ as Lord. In the evening, there was a great visitation from the Lord in the Assembly of God Church with 1000 in attendance with many recommitments.Jan 22, Sun. – the group divided and ministered in three churches, one of which was in Blumenau. One young woman testified that she was prepared to commit suicide but she attended the church for the first time ever and the Lord delivered her and she rejoiced with tears that she was free of the torment the Enemy had put in her mind. The pastor will follow-up and help her in the faith
Jan 23, Mon. – the first Prison Training seminar took place in the afternoon with over 100 in attendance. Forty attendees were inspired to start prison ministry and to become affiliated with Chaplains for Christ. We also met Daniela Gherman who became our Romanian interpreter. Jan 24, Tues – we distributed the bags of groceries along with local pastors, including Senior Pastor Nilton dos Santos the brother of Daniel dos Santos, our main connection. Jan 25, Weds – our second and third prison visits took place in Floreanopolis, the capital of the state. Ministry to 165 men and 70 prayed to commit their lives. One director requested Bro.Willie and the team to pray and lay hands on him and to pray for the work of the prison. The evening was spent on an ocean tour on a charter boat and brothers Constantin, Aurel, and Adrian caught some fish.
Jan 26, Thurs – we attended two more prisons in Joinville. In one prison, we had the first evangelical services in the history of the six-month-old prison. The Gospel and the testimony of Willie Ripple touched about 300. There was such an impact, that over 200 men prayed the salvation prayer. We began the second seminar with 60 in attendance in Jaragua do Sul.Jan 27, Fri – we returned to another prison in Joinville. In one area, the inmates were so dangerous, we had to preach to them from the roof of the prison were 350 more men and 60 women heard the Good News and 200 men and 40 women prayed the sinners prayer. One woman was baptized with the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues and many tears. In the afternoon was free time in Barra Velha.Jan 28, Sat. – visited prison in Jaragua do Sul with 32 inmates ministered to and 20 committed their lives. At night, the team split to minister in four churches. Pastor Balici ministered with a word of knowledge that there was someone there who traveled along way to attend this service to be healed of an incurable disease. At the end of the service, one man testified that he was that man and that the Lord had healed him that night. Jan 29, Sun. – we gave the second session of the second seminar in Jaragua do Sul. At the end 30 more dedicated themselves to prison ministry. We also distributed food to 25 more families. We visited an elderly sister who had a word of knowledge from the Lord before the team arrived that our ministry in Brazil was according to His timing and that a sign of that was that we should trust that He would protect our families. In the evening was ministry to four churches.
Jan 30. Mon. – we toured Curitiva and returned to Sao Paulo for a night flight back to Chicago.
Praise God for all that He did in this place through our weak vessels. What a remarkable opportunity it is to serve the Master in this way.
