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| Capital: Brasilia Population: 172,860,370 (estimated July, 2000) Language: Portuguese Religion: 88% Roman Catholic, some Protestant groups, much spiritism Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Olson Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Olson Rua Tereza Paula de Jesus
The most recent missionaries appointed to Brazil under the IBPFM are Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Olson, who served in Cameroon for seven years. They arrived in Brazil in January 2008. It is hoped that they will strengthen the faculty of our seminary in Limeira, with better quality and consistent teaching of our doctrinal standards, as well as teaching, bu invitation, in other fundamental seminaries. The Olsons will also be engaged in evangelistic and church planting ministries on the weekends. Before Kenneth enters into any of the above ministries he will attend a Christian language school for nine months to learn Portuguese. Although the Olsons have other children which will remain in the USA, they have also taken one son to Brazil until he finishes high school. Mrs. Olson is Brazilian, so she will not have to study the language. PRAISES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PRAYER REQUESTS/GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
Rev. and Mrs. Woo Sun Kim (Sook Ja Shin) Rua Basilio da Cunha 889, Apt. 61 Phone: 011-55-11-6163-3231 The long history of the Independent Board in Brazil began in 1948, when Miss Margaret Harden and her brother Evans, along with Rev. and Mrs. Howell Gerow joined the IBPFM. They began a new ministry in the area of São Paulo, Brazil. In 1953, Dr. and Mrs. Irwin Steele came over from Chile, to develop a training program for Brazilian ministerial candidates, in cooperation with the Conservative Presbyterian Church of Brazil. In 1953, Rev. and Mrs. William Le Roy were appointed to serve in Brazil in cooperation with this new seminary program, and arrived in May of 1954. They were soon followed by Rev. and Mrs. Harold Ricker, and Rev. and Mrs. Earl Pinckney in 1955-1956. These were joined in 1960 by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Rapp. Aside from his Mission obligations, Dr. Le Roy, in 1960, was elected to the office of Executive Secretary of the ICCC (International Council of Christian Churches) Regional fellowship of all Brazil. This opened the door for many opportunities to speak in churches and seminaries, to evangelize, defend the Christian faith, and warn Christians against the various false theological trends in the church at that time, especially Liberation Theology, and the false concept of “unity” promoted by the WCC (World Council of Churches). An office was rented in downtown São Paulo, and a newspaper was initiated in 1961, with the help of Marlan Michel, who soon left the area for another field of service. The paper began with 3000-4000 names, and had only four pages, but soon developed into a 16-28 page paper going to over 10,000 readers (free of charge), and sent to all pastors, elders, deacons and laypeople from any denomination in Brazil. Miss Evelyn Moulton was also appointed to Brazil in 1954, ministering in the northern states in cooperation with the Fundamental Presbyterian Church of Brazil. Rev. and Mrs. Dennis Leaman also came to the northern city of Recife from 1971-1976, to cooperate with Miss Moulton in the administration of the orphanage, and also teach in the newly founded Recife seminary of the above mentioned new denomination. Rev. and Mrs. Marlan Michel came to Brazil in 1958 to administer a Bible Institute in Recife under this new denomination. Later they came to São Paulo to teach in the seminary there, and in 1961, they went to the southern state of Parana to teach in another training program in Ponta Grossa. After a few years they moved again in northwestern Brazil, to construct and administer a new Bible Institute in the state of Rondonia, until 1966. The Rev. and Mrs. Woo Sun Kim, having immigrated to Brazil in 1972 where he was in business for thirteen years, moved to New York in 1985, where he felt called of God to study for the ministry. He was ordained in 1993 and they both were appointed to Brazil in 1995, where they have been ministering for twelve years. Rev. Kim is pastor of the Bethesda Presbyterian Korean Church of São Paulo which started with thirteen members, and has grown to around 200 members. It is an independent church, not associated with the Fundamental Presbyterian Church, but gives very generously to missions, which has enabled Rev. Kim to purchase many properties to the north and to the south of Brazil. He not only buys the properties, but covers most of the cost of construction for adequate temples of worship, through the church planting and administration gifts of a national pastor, Rev. Osmar Damasceno Sanches. Rev. Kim is presently President of the Fundamental Presbyterian Seminary, where he also teaches in Limeira, about two hours travel from São Paulo where he lives and has his church. This seminary program began in 1986, by Rev.Vasconcelos and Dr. William Le Roy, who became President of the new seminary, until they were called home to direct the Home Office in 1991, and classes were suspended until Rev. Kim arrived in 1995. Then he began construction of a permanent seminary building, and dormitory, through the generous giving of his church, and hired local pastors to teach certain courses. Now graduates from both the seminaries in Recife, and Limeira, (two thousand miles apart) have taken over some of these new churches, which are growing in number, to the glory of God. New churches are being constructed as funds become available. Rev. Kim’s teaching responsibilities extend beyond the Limeira Seminary to portions of northern Brazil, nearly 2000 miles from São Paulo. Every three to four months, he would spend up to two weeks to lecture and preach in two different schools, on located five to six hours by truck from the nearest city, on dirt roads, in a jungle area, where he teaches semi-civilized Indians (in Portuguese), and in the second school, which is our seminary in Recife, Pernambuco, under the direction of Rev. Jose Vasconcelos da Silva, former colleague of Dr. Le Roy in south Brazil. The Kims have already initiated the purchase of properties, and the planting of churches (with the help of national leaders), in Ipojuca, Pernambuco, and in João Pessoa, Paraiba, plus a number of other through the constant support of his local church in São Paulo. Rev. Kim may retire soon, but he will continue to work in Brazil, in cooperation with these institutions, while he trains a new pastor to take his place in the church in São Paulo. PRAISES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PRAYER REQUESTS/GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
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