Field: Brazil
Home State: Florida
Children: Naomi, Caleb, and Jordan

FIRST STEPS

After a year of language acquisition training beginning this June, 2010, in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil; Steve, Shannon, Naomi, and Caleb will move permanently to Morretes, Brazil near the Atlantic Coast just East of Curitiba.  In Morretes, they will serve the Brazilian Methodist Church as house parents in a local outreach effort to street kids and orphans.  The Church in Morretes has a vision that will eventually consist of five couples committed to raising five children each in a communal style of living, Steve and Shannon will be one of these couples. 

BRAZIL'S STREET KIDS

In Brazil a significant number of children are left to the streets.  Many children are orphans, however, many still have existing relatives and have either run away because of abuse or neglect or have been thrown out to the streets.  The goal is to restore the children to their families, when possible, through ministering reconciliation and healing and helping the families to find wholeness through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The day-to-day vision is to work out discipleship in the context of family and community, providing stability for the children in an environment that reeks of the healing, justice, and unconditional love of God's Kingdom. 

LOCAL DISCIPLESHIP WITH GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS

Beyond the scope of the home, Steve and Shannon will serve under Pastor Haroldo, a man ripe with age and young in spirit who has planted thirteen churches in the area.  Steve will focus on discipleship/teaching and equipping young believers; while Shannon will also focus on discipleship with a special attention to her passion for prayer/intercession.

Brazil is becoming a major sending country and will play a significant role in the future of world missions.  Steve and Shannon hope to have a long-term role in raising up Brazilian missionaries.  One specific theme that seems to emerge in their discussions is a passion to reach the Muslim world.  Brazilians, being non-Westerners, seem to be uniquely poised to connect and build redemptive friendships among Muslims with success and effectiveness in an opportunistic way that seems to be beyond the reach of "Westerners".

This adventure is messy and will require your support and prayer!  Feel free to email us at mersingerzoo@gmail.com and send us your email info if you'd like to stay updated with our monthly emails, prayer requests, and quarterly newsletters.

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