| Tim & Vicki Reiner in a Far Place |
| Baptist Mid-Missions do Brasil |
| Our Most Recent News |
| OS EVANGÉLICOS BRAZIL´S NEW MISSION FIELD THAT NEEDS TO HEAR THE GOSPEL |
When Vicki and I arrived on Brazilian soil as missionaries of the
Gospel in the late 70’s, Catholicism still held almost 90% of the
population’s religious thought-process. Evangelicals were still
comparatively few, and often seen as fanatics because of their
convictions and zeal. Even up through the 70’s, the term
evangelical meant that most believers held to what is known as
the Five Solas. Salvation comes by God’s grace alone, Grace
comes through faith alone, our sins were paid by Christ alone,
our faith is based on the Scriptures alone, and this all brings
glory to God alone. This was in direct opposition to the traditional
Roman Church which held supremacy for roughly 500 years.
In Latin America as well as many African countries, evangelical
stats now include a hybrid of charismatic Pentecostalism termed
by some as renewalists. These teachings exported from the U.S.
during the 1970’s and 80’s are now producing celebrity
preachers and religious superstars that draw millions toward
hope in material wealth and miracles of all sorts. Through media,
mega gatherings, and temples open seven days a week, health-
wealth ministries manipulate millions of extremely desperate
people. This misplaced hope eventually leads to more
disappointment because our basic problem is not the lack of
health or wealth, as hard as that may be to see when you have
neither.
As Brazilian evangelicals (evangélicos) have grown in numbers
far beyond what was predicted even 30 years ago, the meaning
of the term evangélico has broaden far beyond what could have
been imagined. Today, when one says he is an evangélico it is
far more confusing than defining. There is no doubt that
evangelicals are having a major identity crisis. Most of the
gargantuan religious growth in Brazil is not evangelical at all
under the classical definition of the term. This drift of
inclusiveness has been so broad and so rapid, that there is a
new mission field on the horizon, the evangélicos. According to
religion annalists such as Paulo Cristiano and Flavio Martinez,
statistics indicate that if this type of growth continues, by 2045,
Brazil will be 50% evangélico. It is Brazil’s new mission field that
needs to hear the gospel that was once delivered to the saints.
Developing countries that struggle with substandard education,
endless poverty, extensive illness, and especially widespread
superstition are the perfect breeding grounds for this theology of
prosperity. Superstition rarely stands alone but attaches itself to
one’s religion. This can make religion dangerous. It has the
power to bend one’s thinking away from reality, particularly away
from propositional biblical truth.
So…for those of us who are orthodox evangelicals, we must
compassionately show the hungry heart to find the Bread, and
carry the sick soul to the Physician…there we find true
deliverance.
Grace, then Peace,
Tim Reiner
Gospel in the late 70’s, Catholicism still held almost 90% of the
population’s religious thought-process. Evangelicals were still
comparatively few, and often seen as fanatics because of their
convictions and zeal. Even up through the 70’s, the term
evangelical meant that most believers held to what is known as
the Five Solas. Salvation comes by God’s grace alone, Grace
comes through faith alone, our sins were paid by Christ alone,
our faith is based on the Scriptures alone, and this all brings
glory to God alone. This was in direct opposition to the traditional
Roman Church which held supremacy for roughly 500 years.
In Latin America as well as many African countries, evangelical
stats now include a hybrid of charismatic Pentecostalism termed
by some as renewalists. These teachings exported from the U.S.
during the 1970’s and 80’s are now producing celebrity
preachers and religious superstars that draw millions toward
hope in material wealth and miracles of all sorts. Through media,
mega gatherings, and temples open seven days a week, health-
wealth ministries manipulate millions of extremely desperate
people. This misplaced hope eventually leads to more
disappointment because our basic problem is not the lack of
health or wealth, as hard as that may be to see when you have
neither.
As Brazilian evangelicals (evangélicos) have grown in numbers
far beyond what was predicted even 30 years ago, the meaning
of the term evangélico has broaden far beyond what could have
been imagined. Today, when one says he is an evangélico it is
far more confusing than defining. There is no doubt that
evangelicals are having a major identity crisis. Most of the
gargantuan religious growth in Brazil is not evangelical at all
under the classical definition of the term. This drift of
inclusiveness has been so broad and so rapid, that there is a
new mission field on the horizon, the evangélicos. According to
religion annalists such as Paulo Cristiano and Flavio Martinez,
statistics indicate that if this type of growth continues, by 2045,
Brazil will be 50% evangélico. It is Brazil’s new mission field that
needs to hear the gospel that was once delivered to the saints.
Developing countries that struggle with substandard education,
endless poverty, extensive illness, and especially widespread
superstition are the perfect breeding grounds for this theology of
prosperity. Superstition rarely stands alone but attaches itself to
one’s religion. This can make religion dangerous. It has the
power to bend one’s thinking away from reality, particularly away
from propositional biblical truth.
So…for those of us who are orthodox evangelicals, we must
compassionately show the hungry heart to find the Bread, and
carry the sick soul to the Physician…there we find true
deliverance.
Grace, then Peace,
Tim Reiner
| "...ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 3 |
To Contact Us:
Surface Mail:
Tim & Vicki Reiner ٠ C.P.111 ٠ 56.300-000 ٠ Petrolina, PE ٠ Brazil
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: www.inafarplace.com
Surface Mail:
Tim & Vicki Reiner ٠ C.P.111 ٠ 56.300-000 ٠ Petrolina, PE ٠ Brazil
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: www.inafarplace.com
| P.O. Box 308011 Cleveland, OH ٠ 44130-8011 ٠ USA (440)826-3930 Baptist Mid-Missions of Canada 187 McLaughlin Drive ٠ Moncton, NB ٠ E1A4P4 (506)386-6601 |
| We are located in Brazil´s Northeastern desert, which is called the sertão. |
| Tim enjoys preaching in area churches. |
| Getting Acquainted with our church |
Ana Carolina Conrado de Sá
Her favorite Scripture verse is Matthew 18:3 -
"And [Jesus] said, Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven."
“I was converted on April 31, 2004 during the
children´s worship service. I understood that I
could only go to heaven by believing in Jesus,
so, I made my decision on that very day, my
life changed and the Holy Spirit came to live in
me.”
Her favorite Scripture verse is Matthew 18:3 -
"And [Jesus] said, Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven."
“I was converted on April 31, 2004 during the
children´s worship service. I understood that I
could only go to heaven by believing in Jesus,
so, I made my decision on that very day, my
life changed and the Holy Spirit came to live in
me.”
SUPERSTITION ATTACHES ITSELF TO ONE´S RELIGION
