God at Work in Rio
By Raemi Goen
Over the past few years, Impact has been blessed to send three mission teams to Igreja de Cristo do Campinho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Each trip has been a unique expression of God’s goodness—whether through hosting a youth retreat, painting and repairing the church building, visiting an orphanage, or helping the congregation connect with nearby schools. I have had the joy of being part of all three trips and watching God’s hand at work in powerful ways.
The church’s location, just steps away from two public schools, has opened doors we could never have imagined. Each visit, we’ve walked into classrooms to meet students, encourage teachers, and invite them to gatherings at the church. What began with simple seeds—smiles, games, dances, and prayers—has grown into genuine relationships. On our most recent trip, we saw those seeds begin to bear fruit. The preacher in Brazil, Jefferson Che, shares these words with us:
“Near our church building, there are two large schools: an elementary school with approximately 1,500 students and a high school with over 2,000 students. The elementary school is two minutes away from our building. The principal has been very open to our church, and this year we will be holding our second elementary school graduation ceremony at our church. I have a special time to preach at this graduation ceremony.
We also have young people who play volleyball at our church after school. The high school is also very open, and for two years we have welcomed young Americans to participate in activities with the Brazilian youth. These are two very needy schools, and the church has an opportunity to do great things in the lives of these young people. We pray and ask the Lord for wisdom to give us strategies to reach hundreds of these young people for Christ!”
In June, nine of our high school students traveled with us in partnership with South Plains Church of Christ. During the week, part of the team spent time in classrooms across the street, teaching kids about Texas and filling the room with laughter and joy. The rest of the team stayed at the church, hosting a day camp. At first, only a few students came. But by the end of the week, nearly 30 young people gathered at the church—making bracelets, playing cards, building friendships, and most importantly, worshiping God with us in both Portuguese and English.
What a beautiful reminder that God is faithful to water the seeds we plant. We return home deeply grateful—not only for the chance to serve, but to witness how God is moving mightily in Rio.
