Rejoice!!! God was at work through the lives and witness of many international volunteers during the More Than Gold Rio 2007 project (June through August) during the Pan Am and Para Pan Games in Rio de Janeiro!!!
Here you can see the statistics and read testimonies of how people like you and me came to Brazil and saw lives changed through their faithful service!!!
Here you can see the statistics and read testimonies of how people like you and me came to Brazil and saw lives changed through their faithful service!!!
(But keep in mind this was only the results from the international volunteers. MUCH MORE was done through Brazilian workers!)
| Number of international volunteers recruited directly or indirectly to participate in the project | 206 volunteer workers!!! |
| Where did the work take place? | In 60 strategic locations throughout Rio de Janeiro such as: Public and private schools, colleges, clubs, city squares, social projects, poor neighborhoods (called favelas), gymnasiums or sports fields, hospitals, arenas, and inside the Pan American Village itself! |
| What kind of work was done? | Evangelism training, preaching and mobilization, impact events through sports, sports training, personal evangelism, preaching, friendly games, public testimonies and church services in the Pan American Village |
| Just how many people heard the Gospel message through the work of international volunteers? | 16230 at least! |
| Just how many people accepted Jesus through the work of international volunteers? | 1960 for Christ and 2 for missions at least |
| What did they use to do the job? | 38 Sports Evangelism DVDs, 10900 evangelistic tracts (at least), 500 evangelistic bracelets, and lots of verbal witness! |
And now for some testimonies!!!!!
The Eagles (Sports Evangelism -- Soccer)
Chicago Eagles
At
one place in the Columbia Park neighborhood, the team met a young man.
He did not attend school anywhere. He was selling drugs on the street.
During the sports training, he was disrupting the activity and hitting
the children that were trying to participate. He was invited to
participate in the final church service at the Columbia Park Baptist
Church, and during the preaching of Pr. Rick McKinley, he came forward to
accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 
Charlotte Eagles
While in a poor neighborhood in Rio, our group went to a futsal court
to play with some local teens and build some relationships with them.
When we arrived at the court there were just a couple of young boys
kicking around. Within five minutes we had about a dozen teenage boys
asking us for a game. As we divided ourselves onto teams, mixing
together Eagles’ guys and girls, the younger boys and the older boys,
the air began to cool off and some clouds rolled in. Pretty soon the
kids were playing in a full downpour. People from the church and our
translators politely asked if we wanted to go back to the church, but
we decided that if the Brazilian kids wanted to stay and play, we would
as well. Across the street from the court were
a series of storefronts
with awnings that gave those who weren’t playing relief from the rain.
We had a handful of “Gospel bracelets” with us, which we began to
explain and give out to the boys while they waited under the awnings.
After handing out the bracelets we began to have some good dialogue
with a few of the boys, one of whom was already a Believer. Eventually,
the translator and I began to share our testimonies. After about ten
minutes of conversation, one of the boys indicated that he wanted to
accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. So, it was right there, in
the front of the shop, that we bowed our heads and led him to Christ.
It just goes to show that it is not the quality of our programs or our
ministry plan, but it is the leading of the Holy Spirit that brings
people to Christ.A woman from the (name eliminated) team had difficulty during the game. This young woman still has problems with lesbianism, but she heard the Word of the Lord and said she knew she was wrong and wanted to change.
William Adams (Mass Evangelism)
Our first day Joao & I were preaching at the outdoor mall. We were following one of the drama teams who had drawn a good size crowd. At the conclusion of our sermon an invitation was made if anyone wanted to learn more about Jesus or be prayed for. Well much to my surprise at least ten people lined up in front of Joao for us to pray for them. Prayer requests included: From personal healing, to safety from demonic spirits, to deliverance from sins -- people were genuinely seeking help from the power of God. Unlike anything ever experienced in the states you sensed that these people were sincerely trusting you & therefor your prayers to God for an answer. It was alwasy a very humbling moment & sign of the people placing their hope in Christ.
The "More Than Gold" effort was excellent!!! Brother Phil did an oustanding job organizing all of the teams to labor together as a team in different parts of the city each day to proclaim Christ!!! Each team we worked with truly showed a passion for Christ & the lost. They demonstrated a very disciplined & determined effort to draw people to witness their dramas so they could provide a testimony about Christ. Then the team would disperse into the crowds for personal ministry. Very impressive!!! We were exceptionally pleased & grateful to be part of the "More Than Gold" effort & praise our great God for allowing us this opportunity. A final special thanks to overall director Marcos Grava for his leadership to make it all possible!!!
Click the link below for photos of Bill, his wife, and translators at work!
http://www.revival-usa.org/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=55
Reid Lamphere (Chaplains)
From the beginning we were met with resistance – a spiritual battle designed to keep us from having a presence at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. After months of vacillating on a decision for having official chaplains in the Athletes Village, the Rio Organizing Committee decided to give accreditation to 10 people. Seven of those positions went immediately to Brazilians – leaving only three spots for internationals. In the end we were able to get accreditations for four: Cristobal Chamale, Denny Norris, Reid Lamphere, Carolyn Lamphere. However, our project team included 18 other people: 10 Brazilians and 8 internationals. All 18 of these staff and volunteers arrived in Rio with almost no possibility of getting into the Village to meet with, and minister to, the athletes. It would take too long to chronicle the events that transpired, but in the end every one of the 18 project members received passes to enter the Village. In fact, for the last week of the project the 10 Brazilians and 3 Trinidadians had received the highest level of accreditation possible – having the freedom to eat in the athlete’s dining hall and to enter all of the competition venues for free! Riad Oke (Colombia) was able to meet with the Colombian soccer team and share the Gospel with them. All of them prayed out loud, making a commitment to Jesus Christ.Riad met many other Colombian athletes. More than 20 of them gave Riad their e-mail addresses so that he could stay in contact with them. The day before returning to Paraguay Bartolome felt a burden to be in the Athletes Village. But on this day he had no pass. By faith he showed up at the gate and by the grace of God someone working there just wrote his name on the list and let him come in. Later during the day he met the Chief of Mission for the Paraguay delegation. This person was supposed to have turned in Bartolome’s name for a pass – but never did it. When he saw Bartolome he asked, “How did you get in the Village?” Bartolome replied, “I have a God and I have a friend.” On that day he met the women’s soccer team and invited them to come to the chapel. He shared the Gospel with them and most of them made a commitment to Christ. He is now in a position to do follow-up back in Paraguay. Cristobal Chamale (Guatemala) also spoke to a soccer team – actually 2 soccer teams. He shared the Gospel with both teams…in two different languages (neither of them his native Spanish.) He shared with the women’s soccer team from Jamaica (in English) and with a local Brazilian professional team (in Portugese.) The entire Brazilian team prayed a prayer with Cristobal inviting Christ into their hearts. In the end, hundreds of athletes heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dozens of Christians were encouraged in their faith and strengthened in their spirit to compete to the glory of the Lord. Many doors were opened for our staff and volunteers to carry on an effectual ministry among elite athletes when they return to their countries.
Click here to read their full and exciting report
NC AllStars (Sports Evangelism -- Basketball)There were 1600 conversions through many different witnesses. I remember that one referee who had judged the game Tuesday accepted Jesus during a game and stayed with us until the last day. Inside the bus, he shared his joy of being with all of us!
George Carstens (Sports Evangelism -- Tennis and Fencing)
Our team of 3 have just returned from Brazil after 2 weeks (although it feels like a month with all the things we experienced) in the wonderful city of Rio.
Our trip has been amazing, every day was full of adventure. We thank the Lord for one of the most amazing times in our lives, definately the most enjoyable. Here are some of the highights in short:
Teaching what we love (tennis and fencing) while talking about the One we love almost every day at various places - at city plazas, beaches, zoo and sport academy. We would usually give a demonstration, then teach a short sport lesson, and then teach a life lesson or share the Gospel.
Giving our testimonies at a local churchOur trip has been amazing, every day was full of adventure. We thank the Lord for one of the most amazing times in our lives, definately the most enjoyable. Here are some of the highights in short:
Teaching what we love (tennis and fencing) while talking about the One we love almost every day at various places - at city plazas, beaches, zoo and sport academy. We would usually give a demonstration, then teach a short sport lesson, and then teach a life lesson or share the Gospel.
Visiting the Mare favela (slum), playing soccer and sharing Jesus with them. Later found out that it is one of the most dangerous favela in the city.
Met Frank, who was almost bitten by a shark, gave his heart to the Lord after the event, and then opened a surf school where he teaches the kids about surfing and having a relationship with the Lord. We also got free surfing lessons with him and gave clinics at his surfing school.
Seeing many churches and ministries coming together and work on one mission.
Many friends we made, the people are so warm, friendly and passionate about the Lord. They showed us how to truly serve others.
Learning from the Ball Out Front Soccer Institute on how to run an academy and how to attempt to impact a community where aged 12-25 years, 50% survive due to gang violence.
Encouraging the believers there, praying for/with them
Learning from Cesar as he uses soccer to impact a community where he often finds kids walking around with guns.
Learning to constantly search for opportunities to impact people for the Lord.
Learning how to be more effective with our gifts in the kingdom of God.
Learning to step out of our comfort zone more and more. Hearing gun shots almost every night was a bit out of the comfort.
Great fun we had together as friends, we had many laughs. Soccer game, Christ Redeemer Statue visit, surfing, etc.
I'll end off with a quote from Stewart, "I will take the passion for God and heart for other people that you (Brazilian Christians) showed and taught me, to go back and be a missionary in the States".
Thank you for your support.
Blessings,
George, Stewart and Ryan
Phil Kesler (Coordination and Mobilization)It was a blessing to participate with my Brazilian brothers and give support for this project, planned almost totally by Brazilian evangelicals -- a project so important for the life of the country and the city of Rio de Janeiro. We are happy with the high number of decisions -- be praying that all of them were serious and for the churches that will follow up with each new convert.
A special thanks goes to Marcos Grava, who has been a true brother and partner in the work of the Lord!!!
We appreciate each and every volunteer and translator that participated with us!!