Open Job List
The following is a current job listing of needs that Strategy Coordinator OR Strategic Partnership churches or associations could fill. Jobs available for SC churches will be marked as High Priority Zones (HPZ) If the job is ONLY for a Strategic Partnership -- it will be listed as a High Priority Target (HPT)
If you do not see a job you believe is available, contact Mark Johnson for further clarification.
Southern Brazil
Porto Alegre – The great missions challenge in Rio Grande do Sul (HPT)
Porto Alegre is the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul, which is the southernmost state in Brazil, sharing its borders with Uruguay, Argentina, and the Atlantic Ocean. Porto Alegre is a city with a population of one million, three hundred and eighty six thousand, but it is the center of a 
metropolitan area, surrounded my many cities, so that we have well over four million inhabitants in the greater metropolitan area (within 50 miles of the city center of Porto Alegre). The city of Porto Alegre itself is recognized by all Brazilian evangelicals as having the lowest percentage of evangelicals of any of the state capitals in Brazil - all evangelical groups have found that church growth here is much slower than the national average. Based on a 2002 Brazilian Census, 15 neighborhoods were identified as “critical” for church planting, with a total combined population of 297,728 and 22 “evangelical” churches. (By Brazilian government definition “evangelical” would encompass even those churches/denominations that do not hold a “salvation by grace” theology, but rather a “salvation by works” theology. So, in actuality, the situation is even more desperate than it might appear at first!) That leaves us with a ratio of one church per 13,533 residents. Project Brazil 2010 and the Jesus Film Project (Great Commission Partners with whom we work) suggest as a healthy church growth measurement, the ratio of 1 evangelical church per 1,200 residents. This would gives an immediate, urgent goal of at least 11 new churches needed just in this small, unchurched area. To reach the national average (1:1200) for the entire Porto Alegre metropolitan region would require 980 new churches planted! Porto Alegre has the highest number of followers of Spiritism and Umbanda (an African tribal religion) in the country of Brazil. Porto Alegre is so large that it could easily be divided into smaller zones, making engagement by several CMC churches or associations possible to be involved in strategic partnerships with the IMB missionary team.
Statistics of Porto Alegre download here
Churches in the Porto Alegre area download here
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Northern Coastline of Rio Grande do Sul (HPZ)
In this large area, from the eastern part of Porto Alegre, up to the border of Santa Catarina, composed of 15 counties, there is only just one Baptist work and two small Baptist congregations, as well as very little other evangelical work of any sort. The population in this area grows, especially during the summer
months (Dec-Mar), as all of Porto Alegre empties out onto the coastline for vacation. Many of these people, however, have decided to live in these cities year-round. Because of the way houses are built in this area, it is fairly easy to actually get to people to bring them in contact with the gospel. If we could start new churches in these coastal cities, these churches could then not only reach out to the stable population, but also to the seasonal population who returns to the same place year after year for vacation, and then returns to their closed-off apartment complexes in Porto
Alegre during the rest of the year.
Due to the nature of these resort towns, this is an excellent place for a CMC church or association. Because the area is so large, it could even be divided into three portions (Southern, Mid, and Northern), each composed of five counties.
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Interior Cities of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (HPZ)
The interior of Rio Grande do Sul is among the most varied regions in all of Brazil. From the coastal plains to rolling hills to the mountains of the north east, this state offers a little of everything geographically. But even more diverse are the 6.5 million residents of the interior.. From small communities of the Tupi-Guarani tribes to the large cities and towns of Italians, Germans, Poles, and more than a dozen other ethnic identities the interior of the state is unique in its mixture and diversity.
Besides claiming the heritage of the migrations and immigrations, the people claim a common identity in the person of the “Gaúcho” the traditional rancher and cowboy of the Pampas of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and other countries of South America. This character is the strong, determined, independent individual that works with his hands and skills to make a home for himself and his family. The love of tradition and the over-riding self-confidence make the gaucho difficult to reach with the Gospel because they want to work their way to heaven or they do not want to change which the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires.
Almost 400 municipal districts exist in the region and less than fifty have Baptist work. The vast majority of these communities have less than 10,000 people but each of them needs to hear the saving message of our Lord. But there are also cities of 40,000 where little is being done to share the Gospel. Cities like Pelotas and Rio Grande on the coast which together have more then 500,000 people and six small congregations of Baptists.
The Baptist Church in Pelotas
Or the city of Bagé with its 90,000 plus people and the Baptist church has only a handful of active members.
A smaller city but of great cultural importance is Alegrete. Just 100 miles north of Uruguay and 120 east of Argentina, it is the center of the culture that identifies the state and the people called the Gaúchos. If a means to reach the people so interlaced in the culture could be developed, it is possible to see the winning of the more than 20,000,000 gaúchos spread over the interior of the continent.
The mountains have a different challenge with the people being the descendents of immigrants, the cultures are special and require strategies that respect the past but proclaim the promise of Jesus. The Italians settled in the mountain regions of the state and have built strong agricultural and industrial centers such as Caxias do Sul and its more than 400,000 residents. These people work hard and enjoy life but most have not found the true joy that comes from knowing Christ.
These are a few of the challenges for the interior of Rio Grande do Sul. God is calling someone to accept the challenge and to participate in the victory he has in the region.
Central Brazil
São Paulo (HPZ)
This important Brazilian state (see above image which you can click and save to your computer) has within it one of the world’s largest cities with a population of over 19 million. While the city has a number of Baptist churches within the city, there are large “pockets” of lost people groups and population segments that need to be engaged, as well as huge numbers of urban poor dwellers known as favelados. This is a task that could easily be divided between several churches and associations.
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Southern Minas (HPZ)
In the state of Minas Gerais, there are huge numbers of small rural towns that are culturally Catholic in upbringing where the Gospel has not penetrated, or where there are very small numbers of believers. Several churches could divide the work in this area.
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Minas Triangle (HPZ)
In the state of Minas Gerais, in a section known as the “triangle” -- there are huge numbers of small rural towns that are culturally Catholic in upbringing where the Gospel has not penetrated, or where there are very small numbers of believers. Several churches could divide the work in this area.
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North Minas (HPZ)
In the state of Minas Gerais, there are huge numbers of small rural towns that are culturally Catholic in upbringing where the Gospel has not penetrated, or where there are very small numbers of believers. Several churches could divide the work in this area.
_______________________________________________________________________________________North East Brazil
This semi-arid western portion of the state of Alagoas is characterized by rugged terrain, simple farming communities, and few true evangelical churches. The Alagoas State Baptist convention has been somewhat interested in planting new churches but they need much more done in the way of simple church planting. The state convention actually has a team set up for helping to receive volunteer teams (with logistics, etc) but could do much more with trained CMC churches or associations that have developed a mission strategy for church planting. The Sertanejos of Alagoas, with an evangelical population of less than 3%, need advocates to come along and help them by praying, researching, and introducing biblical church planting strategies that will be adopted by the state convention and contextualized in the Sertanejo culture. A CMC team is needed to help in introducing biblical church planting methods to the state Baptist convention and local church planters, modeling biblical church planting methods, investing in local leadership training, and reaping the harvest among the nearly 1 million unreached Sertanejos of Alagoas.
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Agreste Peoples of Arapiraca (HPZ)
This eastern agricultural region of the state of Alagoas is characterized by rolling hills, farming communities, and a people that are very geographically spread out. The Agreste of Alagoashas an evangelical population of less than 3%. The churches are very small and there are few of them. The average church has less than 100 members and usually has an average attendance of only 20. Church planting has been very slow among the Agreste region of northeast Brazil. Due to the fact that there are 8 million people in the Agreste region of Brazil and the fact that the people are so geographically spread out, we desperately need churches to come work and partner to plant churches among the Agreste people. In the state of Alagoas, the Agreste region has 2244 sq miles. The state of Alagoas has more than 3 million people which is more than live in the entire state of Arkansas, and it is only a little bit larger than the state of Vermont. We are looking for an SC church to come and work in the city of Arapiraca which has almost 170,000 people which is about the same population as Little Rock, Arkansas. Arapiraca is a municipality located in the center of the Brazilian state of Alagoas. It is the second largest city in the state, was founded in 1924, and is only 52 miles from the state capital Maceio, which is the largest city in the state. The city is known mostly for its tobacco and thus considered "The Brazilian Tobacco Capital".
Flag and Crest of Alagoas
Festival of St John Tobacco Farming
Click here and download the full job description
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Sertão of Paraiba (HPZ)
This semi-arid western portion of the state of Paraiba is characterized by rugged terrain, cactus, small cities and few churches. But there is a growing enthusiasm evident among the region’s newly trained church planters. A CMC team is needed to work together with the state Baptist convention and local church planters to develop strategy, facilitate new church starts, model discipleship, invest in local leadership training, and enjoy the harvest the Brazilians have been praying for among the nearly 2 million unreached sertanejos of Paraiba.
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Sertão of Sergipe (HPZ)
This semi-arid western portion of the state of Sergipe is characterized by rugged terrain, simple farming communities, and few true evangelical churches. The Sergipe State Baptist convention is interested in planting new churches but needs more folks trained in simple church planting. The Sertanejos of Sergipe, with an evangelical population of less than 3%, need advocates to come along and help them by praying, researching, and putting into practice biblical church planting strategies that are contextualized in the Sertanejo culture. A CMC team is needed to work together with the state Baptist convention and local church planters to develop biblical strategies, model biblical church planting methods, invest in local leadership training, and reap a harvest among the nearly 1 million unreached Sertanejos of Sergipe.
Interior Western and South Maranhão (HPZ)
If a CMC team is looking for adventure, then interior Maranhão may provide the opportunity. This region is characterized by a mix of mountains, rivers, questionable roads, and the beginnings of the Amazon Rain Forest. This huge area of small cities, farms and rural communities may hold as many as 2 million people with few or no churches. A CMC team would need to start with research and exploration (since the area remains virtually unknown by our field missionaries), followed by the development of carefully planned strategies for planting simple, reproducible churches. An ability to motivate and work with local leadership will be as necessary as a pioneer spirit to make this project a success.
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Interior Southern Piauí (HPZ)
The state of Piauí ranks among the lowest in number of believers for all of Brazil -- and no area needs the Gospel more than the southern half of the state. Characterized by wide expanses of green farmland, low, dense forests and small cities, this region may be home to as many as 2 million residents who need to be reached for Christ. A persistent, prayerful CMC team is needed to explore the region, develop church planting strategies, and then work side-by-side with local believers to implement them. The difficult access, treacherous roads and rustic living conditions will be far outweighed by the friendly receptivity of Piauí’s interior people.
Nationwide Works
Quilombos (HPT)
There are small villages, perhaps as many as 5000 in number, spread throughout Brazil, of descendents of escaped slaves who originally came from Angola. After they escaped from their Portuguese and Brazilian masters in the 18th and 19th century, they fled to isolated areas, principally in the northeastern part of Brazil, although they can be found throughout the country. While most speak Portuguese, many still speak their original language, and maintain a witch doctor in the village. Because even to this day some fears remain that they may be forced back into slavery (even though this would not happen in modern day Brazil), the preference would be for an Afro-American CMC church, association, or group of churches to cooperate in a joint strategy to work with these peoples. This work truly will be about seeking and saving those that are lost (Luke 19:10) – an important part of the job will be exploring and mapping where they live – finding them first – and then following up with evangelism and simple church planting that will spread from village to village. There is a Strategy Coordinator who is currently engaging this group, but would welcome the help that CMC churches could provide in reaching this people group with the Gospel.
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Deaf and Hearing Impaired (HPT)
There are over 8 million people in Brazil that are deaf or hearing impaired, spread out all over Brazil -- in both rural and urban settings. The Brazilian Baptist Home Mission Board and larger Baptist churches are working to develop ministries in these areas, but more can be done. If your church or association is interested in assisting the Home Mission Board to help start simple churches among the deaf, we would welcome that help!
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