Brazil

Ben first went to Brazil in 1996 for a one year career break. During that year two very important things happened. Firstly Ben felt God calling him to a long-term commitment to the work in north-east Brazil and, secondly, he met Miriam, a Brazilian girl who loved and shone Jesus. After a short time back in Basingstoke, Ben left the UK in 1998 to live and work in Ibiara, a small rural town in Paraiba, one of the poorest states in Brazil. Later that year he married Miriam, and they now have two children, Josias (born in 2001) and Ana Louisa (born in 2004).

Ben and Miriam are linked with Acao Evangelica, a Brazilian based mission which seeks to bring to the people a combination of practical help and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ben leads the ACEV church in Ibiara and also has oversight over two other churches in the region. Over the years many church projects have blessed the region. These projects include wells, goat loans, small business loans, food parcel distribution and the Moringa Tree project.

They run a reinforcement school, for 30 children, to help poor children with their literacy and numeracy levels (the local schools are generally inadequate). They also provide a meal for the children there and give them lots of love. The old church building has been developed over the years with the aim of creating a community centre which will offer all kinds of free activities and courses for the locals. Apart from the reinforcement school, the church also runs a mums and toddlers group, arts and crafts courses and English lessons with other activities planned once the building work is complete.

All these initiatives encourage non-church people to come to their building as there is quite a lot of prejudice against the evangelical church. Miriam also teaches English in the local schools – this is a really good way to help their finances and develop relationships within the community.
 

(March 2011) Please see below a recent video from Ben & Miriam