Investing in Rio de janeiro
Almost every day we receive e-mails or messages on Facebook asking for more information about the eight-month training program: a Discipleship Training School (DTS) and a Children at Risk School (C@R) that we are planning for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
2016 sounds like a long way off, but in reality it will be upon us in just a few more months. We are offering this training program together with the local YWAM bases. It is for (young) people who want to dedicate their lives to God and who desire to know His heart for the lost and for children at risk. The whole program will be presented in two languages (Portuguese and English).
Investing in Rio de Janeiro
For us the program is an investment in the city of Rio and we hope that through our students, many children at risk from the streets, slums and the red light district will be reached with the love of God and practical assistance.
At the end of October we plan to go there for a couple of weeks for some staff training. From our house in Belo Horizonte, it’s “only” a seven-hour drive. During this visit, we also hope to be able to rent an apartment for us, close to the church in the center of Rio where the students will be staying. I am already searching the internet, but haven’t found anything yet… In the beginning of January we hope to move there for eight months. We are very excited about this!
Preparations for the Olympic Games
The upcoming Olympics are getting more and more attention in Brazilian newspapers, like: “The Olympic village is far from ready; the main bay for water sports is still very polluted; many slums are still unsafe, etc.” But there is also good news: many churches in Rio and around the country are preparing themselves for outreach during the Olympics. During the 2014 World Cup, lots of churches and young people really enjoyed the intense weeks of evangelism and outreach. Individuals and groups are already contacting us, wanting to be part of this exciting event.
Many practical opportunities in the “Marvelous City”
We are very happy with the church building that was offered to us for the eight-month training program. We only need to adapt some toilets and showers. The rooms normally used for Sunday school classes will be transformed into student dorms. The nice thing about living in the center of Rio is that the teachings from morning classes can be put into practice in the afternoons—doing outreach in the slums, working with children and teenagers, going to the red light district to have times of intercession and to reach out to those trapped in sexual exploitation. And of course, during the Olympics, the students will spend even more time in all kinds of strategic activities, in what the people themselves call the “Cidade Maravilhoso”: The Marvelous City.
Johan and I really think that Rio is the most beautiful city in the world, but that is based only on the cities we have visited to date. So it’s a little bit subjective. J
What is our goal in all of this?
We hope that our students will learn how to the hear the voice of the Lord, to know His will for their lives, and to share His love with the people around them and especially with children in need--children who would never be able to achieve the purpose God has for their lives without the help of God’s loving people.
Some young people who apply for the eight-month program will come for a gap year, while others plan to stay on staff for a longer period in Rio, at another YWAM base in Brazil or somewhere else in the world. There are more than 12,000 YWAM bases around the world, so there are plenty of choices and opportunities!
Hurry with your application
We still have room available, so if you want to apply or know some young people who would love to come, it is still possible. However, time is getting short, as the visa process itself can take several months to finalize. Please take a look at the page Apply or email Johan: johan@jocum.org.br
