Opening Day 2015 in Brazil
On Saturday, February 28th our mission stations throughout Brazil kicked-off the school year with a record number of children participating. It was big start, with many of our programs having more than 100 children in attendance on the first day. Opening day started with a variety of activities from soccer, dance, logic & reason games, painting, and more. Most importantly there was “Quest,” our
Family Fun Night a Big Success
Team Building and Fun Go Together! On Friday February 20, the RBC Family-Quest Brazil team hosted a Family Fun Night at Reston Bible Church as a team building exercise. About 230 people (55 families!) came out despite record cold temperatures to play games, make crafts, watch movies, and devour pizza, popcorn, and ice cream. The mission team had its first chance to work together
Open Arms participates in 4º Annual Justice & Mercy Amazon Pastor’s Conference
In February this year Justice & Mercy Amazon held their 4º Annual Amazon Pastor’s Conference outside of Manaus, Brazil. For the second year Open Arms founder’s Michael & Patricia Meyers, joined with JMA for this amazing work of encouraging and equipping the pastors and missionaries who are on the frontline in the effort to carry the gospel throughout the Amazon basin. We were also blessed
2014 Year in Review
Dear Friends of Open Arms, It is hard to believe we have come to the end of another year of ministry. Since 2006 God has taken Open Arms from one humble gospel outreach, led by my wife and I along with a half dozen volunteers, working with 30 or so children, based out of a store front in Brazil, to a growing movement in
Giving Thanks
Brian Fikkert, in his book “When Helping Hurts,” says, “Poverty is rooted in broken relationships, so the solution to poverty is rooted in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection to put all things in right relationship again.” A key part of restoring those relationships is restoring the value of thankfulness. Open Arms’ Agent of Hope, Mariane Rodrigues, has done an excellent job of connecting
A Moment for the Children
Thank you for taking a moment from your day for our children. Prayer Request – One of our new volunteers in the US shared the following story with me this week, her first time serving in our homework club. “The child I was working with shared with me that he was living with his father, but that his mother and siblings stayed behind in
Meet Agent of Hope, Sarita Romeiro
Meet my dear friend and Open Arms’ Agent of Hope, Sarita Romeiro, Tia (Aunt) Sarita as she is known among the children. Sarita is a member and commissioned missionary of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Jardim Paulista in Assis, Brazil. She is currently partnered with the UNIEDAS church in the District of Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil [Click for Map] Tia Sarita has
Cohab IV Community
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: August 2006 Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 60+ Local Church Partner: Independent Presbyterian Church of Paulista Garden Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration, youth prostitution Interesting tidbits: This, the very first Open Arms outreach project, was started by our founders, Michael & Patricia Meyers,
Assis – Boys Soccer Outreach
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: 2009 Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 100+ (Ages 6-15 years) Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Approach: Through the vehicle of sport our coaches and volunteers use God’s Word to mentor these young people and develop in them Christian character traits that will serve
Colinas Park Community
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: May 2010 Local Church Partner: A partnership of Baptist and Presbyterian Churches Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 100+ Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Interesting tidbits: This neighborhood became the largest slum in the city of Assis when a government housing project was completed