By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
MANAUS, Brazil – Even a battle with cancer could not keep Wayne Jenkins from helping lead his 31st consecutive mission trip to Brazil.
“I’ve been doing this 31 years and I couldn’t see me not going,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins, who serves as evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists, was among 162 men and women who were on mission in Manaus, Brazil, as part of the Louisiana Baptist-led evangelism outreach in the country.
While there, the teams participated in street evangelism, puppets, Vacation Bible Schools, drama, sports clinics, construction of churches, BMX demonstrations and medical, dental and eye clinics. The majority of those ministering in Brazil were from Louisiana, though a handful came from Canada and states including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
By the end of the group’s mission trip, 3,500 people accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
Among those who went on the trip was Brad Bennett, who led the BMX and gospel presentations. Bennett is president and founder of Real Encounter Ministry of Springfield, Mo.
“We counted it a blessing to be able to work with the Louisiana Baptist Convention on the mission trip to Brazil,” Bennett said. “We were able to do ministry shows in some spiritually oppressed areas and it was incredible to see people pass from death to life. I believe God blessed all our efforts and we will cherish it for all of eternity.”
James Agnor said that of the 16 churches he has helped build during his mission trips to Brazil, the one on the last trip stood out in his mind the most.
With 48 members, the church has a five-year goal that Agnor said would be the envy of some of the largest churches in the US.
Their goals include make 1,500 disciples of Jesus, implant 300 small groups, send and financially support 10 missionaries, plant two new churches and construct a home church. Agnor, who went on the trip with his wife Nancy, said the pastor of the church emailed him with news of five decisions for Christ and one request for baptism since they returned to the US.
“The church is engaged in training Brazilians to go out through the state of Amazonas,” Agnor said. “They expect 20 students to train with them for three months. After they complete their training they will be sent out to live in primitive conditions for two years ministering to the people of the Amazon jungle.
“I guess you can see why I am excited about being a part of such a church,” he continued.
For his part, Steve Masters led an LSU team of students.
Some worked from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm for six days building a church while another group of students was involved with evangelism in schools.
Masters, who is Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at LSU, said the team is just some of the 5,000 college students serving Christ around the world through various mission endeavors.
“The students enjoyed seeing the commitment from the people at the church they worked with and building those relationships all week,” Masters said. “Those working in the schools enjoyed sharing the gospel with hundreds and hundreds of other students. It was very encouraging to see the faith and commitment of the Brazilian Christian youth there.”
Jenkins said with the three churches the college students and others on the trip built, teams in the 31-year history of the Brazil trip now have constructed 59 churches. His goal is to eventually reach 100.
Sean Keith, Sunday school and discipleship strategist for Louisiana Baptists, spent much of his time handling logistics. In the midst of several times of frustration, Keith said he could see God at work.
“I was thinking that I wanted to be out there with the other team members and here I am inside a hotel room,” he said. “Then I would see someone walk in from a member and they would get all excited, sharing with me things God was doing.”
When Keith was able to get out into the city, he enjoyed seeing God moving, especially within his daughter, Leslie, who served on a medical team.
“Being able to be with my daughter and seeing her use her abilities and gifts was incredible,” he said. “It was an experience we both will never forget as father and daughter serving together.”
That generational service of Keith and his daughter and others is one of the fondest results that come from the more than three decades of mission trips to Brazil, Jenkins said.
“The children and grandchildren who go with their parents or grandparents become mission minded,” Jenkins said. “I can testify that people go and become stronger church people after going to Brazil. They meet the missionaries that we support as Southern Baptists and come back to their churches as an advocate for the Cooperative Program.”