José Carlos Pezini - July 2020 Update

Portuguese-language Ministries Coordinator

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Since March we have been receiving reports about the number of people infected by COVID-19 and the number of deaths keeps rising. Here in Brazil, more than fifty thousand people have died and the number of people who are infected is countless. As if this were not enough to take away our peace and cause fear, it has also brought uncertainty because it demands that we reinvent ourselves and seek new means to fulfill the mission that the Lord has entrusted to us. These challenges have helped make clear how our work makes a difference in the lives of pastors and churches. God has been faithful and tremendously blessed us and those we serve in this new way of accomplishing the ministry.

I am happy to inform you that even with social distancing and being forbidden by the government to travel from one place to another, I have continued to minister through the internet and social media. The SARA Ministries mentoring group, composed of 15 groups of pastors spread across the country, usually holds two retreats annually. Now, we meet remotely by Zoom once a month for two hours. We now realize that this new approach to mentoring is more effective. We have reached and cared for more than 500 pastors virtually, helping them overcome their problems and stress and finding new ways to carry out their pastoral ministry. Click HERE to view a recent video about my ministry.

The master's degree in Spiritual Formation program which I helped to create also continues virtually. Because the problems we are facing today will bring changes that we have not yet been able to predict, I have just formed a partnership with the Theological Seminary of the Independent Presbyterian Church in São Paulo. We will offer a master’s degree in Church Revitalization 100% online beginning in August. We continue to give virtual training to lay leaders, and I am still coaching and consulting with church planters and pastors leading their churches through revitalization.

To respond to the needs of churches, I created several small courses of two to four hours each in the areas of conflict resolution, breaking the 200 barrier, time management, and discipleship, all offered online. Also, thinking about the day-to-day ministry of pastors and the problems they face during the pandemic, I created a talk show featured on Instagram every Tuesday at 10:00 am. and at 8:00 p.m. It is viewed by almost a thousand pastors every week. That is surprising to me and a testimony to the importance of the work that you are helping to make possible. God is really wonderful.

Odete and I are grateful to God for having you as a partner in our ministry. Without your prayers and contributions, we would not have witnessed the accomplishments of this wonderful ministry, glorifying God for all that he has accomplished in our lives and through us in the life of the church in Brazil.

We had hoped to return to the States in the spring to visit with our partners, individuals and churches that are making our work possible, but of course that could not happen.

Thank you very much. You are a blessing to thousands of church leaders here in Brazil.

Pezini and Odete

Read more about Pezini’s ministry HERE.

THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $95,000 for ministry and support funds. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.