Brazil Amazonas District pastors and leaders gathered at Manaus Church of the Nazarene for training and to hold their 10th District Assembly, February 14 and 15.

Fifty individuals representing all district churches attended the event. Some pastors and leaders traveled 24 hours by boat just to get to the meeting.

Training for Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International and church planting was held simultaneously on the first day. Regional SDMI Coordinator Patricia Picavea came from Argentina to give an SDMI Organization Administration workshop. Pastor Jean Jerley from Puerto Viejo, who participated in a Dynamic Church Planting International training in November, presented a workshop on church planting. To close the day's activities, Stephen Heap, retired Nazarene missionary to Brazil, gave a message.

In 2006, when Manuel Lima became superintendent, the work in Amazonas consisted of two churches, a mission, and 170 members. That is where the Jesus the Hope boat ministry was born. Through the district's hard work, 19 riverside communities have been reached and there are now 10 organized churches, five missions, and one preaching point in the north with a total of 708 members.

During the training time, attendees went to see a new boat that has been under construction for two years. The boat will serve to evangelize, do social works (medical clinics, eye exams, etc.), discipleship, and help with the construction of new church buildings. Given the conditions of the area, the boat is necessary to reach and minister to river communities. While the boat is being built, additional boats are being rented to reach those communities and expand God's kingdom. Thanks to the boat ministry, 12 young people from the river community of Canaa were baptized the week before the training and assembly.

The boat is being built thanks to donations from various sources. One church in Santa Cruz do Río Pardo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, sold 200 plates of food and raised R$2,000 (about US$858). A Brazilian businessman offered US$50,000 when he heard Lima speak about the boat. Another businessman from North America donated US$40,000 when he heard Campinas Central Church of the Nazarene Pastor Flavio Valvassoura talk about the boat.

The final cost rose to US$250,000 and US$120,000 is still needed for the engine, the electric generator, electrical wiring installation, and other details. For more information, contact Manuel Lima at limagali@uol.com.br.

The two-day event continued with the 10th District Assembly, presided by Heap. Elders and licensed ministers gave reports and celebrated the 31 percent growth in membership last year.

Saturday night they closed the event with a service in which all those attending worshiped God with enthusiasm and celebrated the goals met in 2013. The elected leaders of the assembly were installed by Lima, who launched the challenge to reach 1,000 members for next assembly. All participants responded positively to the challenge. Heap once again inspired and challenged those present.
--Church of the Nazarene South America Region