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September 6th, 2008
02:24 pm - Pray for Brazil
(from email from BGEA)
 Brazil stands alone among its Latin American neighbors, the largest and most populous among them, and a land of striking contrasts.
With a landmass just slightly smaller than the United States, Brazil is heavily populated along its coastline to the east, while much of the country’s western regions are sparsely populated and virtually untouched by modernization.
It is a country rich in natural resources, with a strong national currency. And with national roots primarily in Portugal and Africa, Brazil is, surprisingly, home to the largest settlement of Japanese people outside of Japan.
Its diversity is not limited to what can be seen. The spiritual landscape of Brazil is also tremendously diverse. About 90 percent of Brazilians report they have some kind of religious affiliation. Those affiliations range from Roman Catholicism to Spiritualism. Brazil is a country hungry for God.
This November, millions of Brazilians – from the urban center of São Paulo to the rainforests and semiarid desert regions – will experience a unifying event that will, undoubtedly, transform their country’s spiritual landscape forever.
Reaching Homes & Hearts
My Hope, a ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, will make it possible for the truth and power of the Gospel message to reach into the homes – and into the hearts – of all Brazilians.
The My Hope approach to presenting the Gospel is uniquely successful in world evangelism as it utilizes nation-wide television, churches and relationships between people to carry the message of eternal hope in a powerful yet personal way. Pastors train members of their churches in the “Matthew and Friends” approach to reaching family, friends and neighbors for Christ.
Following the example, of Matthew, who invited friends to his home to meet Jesus, believers are challenged to host friends and family members in their homes on the evenings of the My Hope television broadcasts.
The goal of the evening gathering is to enjoy fellowship, share a snack or a meal and, together, watch the evangelistic telecasts. At the conclusion of the broadcast, hosts share their personal testimonies and invite guests to begin their own relationship with Jesus Christ.
Already plans for My Hope Brazil featuring Billy Graham and Franklin Graham are in full swing. Filming for the programs is underway in the city of São Paulo, one of the most populous cities in the world. Over the three-night broadcast, Brazilians will hear clear evangelistic messages – Billy Graham on the Rich Young Ruler, and Franklin Graham on the Prodigal Son.
They will also experience a powerful music video entitled “Perhaps Today” performed by well-known Brazilian artist Paulo Baruk, and a new composition sung by popular recording star Aline Barros.
Preparing Audience through Radio, Too
To build a country-wide audience for this immense project, 13 radio programs, carrying 15-minute messages from Billy Graham in Portuguese were prepared and have already begun airing on Brazilian airwaves.
In these messages, Mr. Graham answers foundational questions about Jesus, Heaven and conversion. My Hope organizers are also running full-page advertisements in Christian magazines and newspapers across Brazil, as well as 30-second promotional TV spots.
Through the Christian media pastors and church members learn about My Hope and are catching the vision to reach men, women and children in every area of Brazil who are without hope. In addition, a network of nearly 2,000 My Hope local coordinators and trainers are contacting pastors individually.
These coordinators and trainers lead informational meetings in cities and towns all across Brazil explaining how the My Hope project empowers believers to win friends, family and neighbors to Christ and to grow churches throughout the country. To date, more than 53,000 churches from over 52 denominations have committed to participate in My Hope Brazil.
Since 2002, the My Hope project has been effective in 42 countries, and more than 9 million people worldwide have made decisions to follow Jesus Christ. The goal of the ministry is to reach every country in the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The BGEA is asking Christians around the world to pray for this international evangelistic project, and to help share the cost.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? ~ Romans 10:14 (NKJV)
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