Jesus the Hope Boat

Dr. J. K. Warrick, jurisdictional general superintendent for the South America Region, reports that church growth in Peru and Brazil is yielding new Nazarenes and large congregations while efforts are being made to reach areas where people have yet to hear the gospel.

After visiting most of the Peru districts in the fall, Dr. Warrick recently preached at district assemblies and ordination rallies in 4 additional districts, ordaining 8 men and 3 women as elders in the Church of the Nazarene. It was his special privilege here to preach in the Jaen Central Church of the Nazarene on the Peru Alto Maranón District, the third church begun by  pioneer missionary Roger Winans, and to visit Monsefu, where the Winans began a church and established a regional office of sorts in the early days. Some of the original buildings are still in place. Dr. Warrick also visited with Rev. Esperidian Julca, now 98 years old, who is the only surviving pastor of the original group in Peru. “I had the opportunity to express the appreciation of the church for his faithful service and ministry,” Dr. Warrick said. “I am so impressed with the early pioneers and their faith, courage, and determination to preach the gospel to people they did not know and had never seen. What giants of the faith they are!”

In Brazil, Dr. Warrick ordained 60 men and 12 women and noted times of great outpouring of the Holy Spirit as people were sanctified at altars. Over 700 attended the Sudeste Paulista District ordination service. With ordinands from two other districts joining those from Sudeste Paulista, there were 22 candidates. “It was by far the most God-honored ordination service of my time in this assignment,” Dr. Warrick related. “The people were shouting and celebrating. Wave after wave of glory swept across the room as God anointed the hour and ordained the candidates. I do not think I will ever forget this service.”

Percentage increases in the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil overall are projected to be in the double digits this year, and it appears they will top the 100,000 mark in members. This growth was evidenced by recent ordination rallies and district assemblies where Dr. Warrick went. The original plan to combine the Grande Río and Río Baixada districts ordination rallies was changed when it was determined that neither district had a large enough building to accommodate the anticipated attendance, nor was there a building to be reasonably rented that could hold them. The Nordeste Paulista District met at the Río Claro Church, whose pastor also serves as district superintendent. They have only recently purchased the land on which they have been worshiping and are now planning to build a permanent sanctuary. The tent-like structure they are currently using holds over 1,000 people, and it was filled to capacity for the Nordeste Paulista District Assembly. Over 60 percent of this crowd appeared to be age 25 or younger. The Meridional District met at the Natal La Goa Nove Church, which is also pastored by their district superintendent. Since its founding 18 years ago, the church has grown from a handful of people to an attendance approaching 1,000. “There is little doubt that God is moving in Brazil in unique ways,” said Dr. Warrick. “The people are so receptive to the truth of God and so hungry for His fullness. It is refreshing and encouraging to see.”

At the same time, there are still many people to be reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Brazil Norte District encompasses an area of the Amazon River Basin where God is using a boat ministry in efforts to reach more than 17,000 villages in the Amazon area that have not yet heard the gospel.