by Linda Epeards, Team Expansion
This is part of a series on our strategy to impact the world with the Gospel through the 30 largest cities.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is one of the premier tourist destinations in the world.
What do you give the city that has everything?
Well if you are a missions organization working with a church wanting to impact the 30 largest cities in the world then, just like in Sunday School, the answer is Jesus.
This answer is obvious for cities in China, India, the Muslim world and even in Paris, the most irreligious city in the world. But what about South American cities, where the name of Jesus has been known for almost 500 years?
The Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo seem to have everything, including Jesus.
Two Brazilian Cities
São Paulo is a global city with a strong influence in the arts, entertainment, finance and commerce.
São Paulo is the largest economy in Latin or South America. It is a cosmopolitan melting pot, which has attracted people from 196 countries. It is a global city with a strong influence in the arts, entertainment, finance and commerce. Eighty-six percent of the population identifies as Christian.
Rio de Janeiro is one of the premier tourist destinations in the world. The city boasts some of the nicest neighborhoods in the world. Seventy-four percent of the population identifies as Christian. And, the famous 120-foot tall statue of Christ the Redeemer watches over the city.
With 25 percent of the population of Brazil identifying as Evangelical Christian, the church seems well positioned to meet the spiritual needs of the population and bring revival and renewal to the city.
Brazil as a Mission Field
So, what can the American church do for Brazil? Why would we even consider Brazil a mission field?
- Because Brazil has 58 unengaged, unreached people groups (UUPG’s).
This is more than any other country in the world except China and India. An unreached people group is a group whose members are less than 2% evangelical Christian. An unengaged, unreached people group has zero known Christian members and have no known missionaries working among them.
- Because in these rich and vibrant cities, poverty and crime are rampant.
São Paulo is home to the largest slum population in South America. As much as 70 percent of the São Paulo area is occupied by sub-standard housing. More than 2.5 million people live without adequate shelter and basic services like sanitation and clean water.
São Paulo has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Teenagers commit robberies armed with assault rifles and seem unafraid to engage police in shootouts. Police kill an average of one teenager per week in shootouts in the city.
In Rio de Janeiro, the city with the highest per capita income in Brazil, 25 percent of the population lives in slums at great risk of diseases related to lack of sanitation, poor diet and inadequate health care. The premier tourist destination in the Americas also has a high rate of human trafficking, drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution and violent crime.
Still Work for the Church to Do
While the name of the Jesus has been known for a long time in São Paulo and Rio, the church there has a lot of work to do.
So, while the name of the Jesus has been known for a long time in São Paulo and Rio, the church there has a lot of work to do.
Team Expansion is partnering with a sending base in Brasilia to equip the local church in these cities. They will be able to make disciples who make disciples and make the name of Jesus known and revered throughout the city and the whole country.
Trainers from Team Expansion headquarters and Brasilia will provide discipleship trainings in these cities. Workers from Brasilia will provide ongoing coaching as believers in São Paulo and Rio make disciples and plant churches throughout the cities.
We are equipping local churches to fulfill the great commission in their cities and offer the certainty of eternity to their neighbors.
So, what do you give the city that has everything, including Jesus? More Jesus, and more Jesus-followers so that His kingdom will come, and His will be done in every corner of the city.
Read the other posts in this series: Overview | China | Japan
