Baptist Mid-Missions of Brazil

75th Anniversary: 1935 - 2010

Missionaries with last names starting with the letter

"B"

Last updated on November 20, 2009

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Harry and Peggy Babcock

Information gleaned from his “Over a Cup of Tea” series written in November 2004 when he was at 86 years of age, and from a telephone interview with Harry and Peggy on August 10, 2009 when they were 92 and 89 years old respectively.

Harry Babcock was born on April 15, 1918, into what he described as a “dysfunctional home”. As a teenager, Harry accepted Christ and was baptized at the First Day Baptist Church in Richburg, N.Y. He became very active in the young peoples' department of the church and they encouraged all of their youth to attend youth camps and do short missions trips. At one of the camp weeks, a missionary from Africa came and preached on missions. He asked that the youth that would be willing to serve the Lord as a missionary if the Lord would call them to come to the front. At the front of the tabernacle came 109 young people who were saying they were willing to go. Harry definitely sensed the call of God that night, as real and positive as his salvation.

After graduating from high school, he attended the Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City. When he left for school, he only had $l7.00 in his pocket and no assurance of any further income.

Harry thought he was to be a missionary to Africa. All that he had heard both at the Lime Lake Bible Conference, as well as at his church, was Africa. He said he was equating his call to missions to mean that he was to go to Africa. He made reservations to leave for Africa.

In his second year at Bible School, he made application to Baptist Mid-Missions (November 1941) to serve as a missionary and started raising support so that by the time he graduated, he had his passage, and his support (because Richburg church had officially assumed his full monthly support of $50.00, which was the required amount). 

He graduated from Bible College and was ordained by the First Day Baptist Church in Richburg, NY where he was a member.

After graduation he packed his trunks, secured his passport and finally received the date of sailing. He was ready to go to Africa, but because of World War II, the consulate would not give him a visa to travel to his mission field. Therefore, with his bags packed, support raised and having said goodbye to all of his friends, he was stuck in the USA.

Baptist Mid-Missions wrote and asked if he would be willing to pray about working in a church in Burton, West Virginia.  What was a big disappointment to him at the moment was truly a wonderful appointment by God. During his time in West Virginia, God showed Harry that He wanted Harry to go to Brazil as missionary, not Africa.

On June 21, 1941, Harry married Margaret Martin.  She was named Margaret, but most people knew her as Peggy.  Margaret was born on April 5, 1918. Harry had dated her during Bible College, but decided not to pursue that relationship because she was not heading to Africa. In 1942, God led them to pastor a church in Troy, Illinois.

They were on their way and they were the first missionary couple under Baptist Mid-Missions to enter Brazil after World War II.  Harry and Peggy arrived January 1946 and proceeded to Manaus, where they studied Portuguese.

After some months working in Manaus (1947?) with Walter and Mildred Warfield, they received a plea from a BMM missionary couple named Arlie (Bill) and Herthel Ross, who were working among the Indians on the upper Rio Negro River, at the station called Iucaby. They needed someone to substitute for them, as Bill Ross was quite sick and needed to go to the coast for medical help. Since Harry and Peggy were the only couple that possibly could respond to this plea, they packed their trunks and prepared to travel on the first available boat up the Rio Negro to meet this need. This was quite an undertaking for new missionaries still in Language study and becoming adjusted to the work. They had a small baby in arms, their son David, who was approximately a little over a year old, (about mid to late 1947) and their daughter, Barbara, who was about four years of age.

It was late afternoon when they reached Iucaby. They saw the station from a distance and it became even more attractive as they drew nearer. Their first sight of the station, on the banks of the Rio Negro, was three substantial buildings located in a beautiful grove of trees, all facing the river. They were surprised at how wide the river was at this point, knowing that the headwaters were not very far on up the river. They received a royal welcome from the Rosses. The Babocks became very busy, getting things organized to assume the leadership and the Rosses were busy packing their bags to be ready when that same boat came back to take them back down the river.

Bill Ross also showed Harry where they had several pigs that helped provide meat for the station. Since pineapple and banana trees grew very well and rapidly there, they also helped to feed the pigs along with the cassava roots.

Their new home was different than what they had in Manaus. The kitchen and dining area was in a building by itself. Also, one side of the building was like a storage room where they kept bananas and other fruits, as well as sacks of rice, and other staples that they would be using in the kitchen. Beside the kitchen was a screened dining area where they had a lovely view of the river. It was a simple room but very comfortable and quite attractive.

The Babcocks spent Christmas at Iucaby, on the upper Rio Negro in North Brazil. (in late 1947?). The New Year was to be a period of real testing. Peggy became extremely ill with malaria.

When the Rosses returned from the States, after their medical leave and furlough, they were hoping Harry and Peggy would stay on and be part of the work. Harry did not feel that was where God wanted them, but he knew that he had to get to Manaus and get medical help for Peggy, as she was not gaining the strength she needed.  It was hard to break the ties they had made because they did love the folks so much. They just couldn't feel comfortable in remaining at Iucaby since they felt it was not God's place for them. (This was sometime in early 1948?).

Harry and Peggy returned to Manus for Peggy´s treatment. Afterwards, they returned to the USA for their furlough. After they returned from their first furlough, they returned to Manuas. One day they got a long communication from Garnet Trimble who was stationed in Boa Vista, Roraima. He needed someone to come at once to assume help on the station named Bethel (Betel). The work had been started by a very fine couple under Unevangelized Missions Fields. Iucaby and Betel were two different missionary outposts on the upper Rio Negro north of Boa Vista in Roraima.

Garnet Trimble was in need of someone to come and help in this transfer.  So the Babcocks decided that the Lord would have them be the ones. Therefore, once again, they packed their bags and made a move from Manaus, Amazonas to Boa Vista, Roraima. Peggy and the two children went on a flight that made the trip once a week to Boa Vista. Harry decided to make the trip by boat, taking their baggage, household furniture and other items with him. Walley and Mildred Warfield accompanied Peggy and the children by plane to Boa Vista. This was a hard separation but the two couples were in full agreement that this was the right move.

Harry made the trip by boat from Manaus to Boa Vista and then from Boa Vista to the Betel Station. Harry and Peggy moved to Bethel, but for the next two years, they worked between the Bethel work and the church in Rio Branco, Roraima.

Harry had to proceed on to Bethel alone. Peggy had to stay behind in Boa Vista, Roraima with the Trimbles, because of a very serious situation with her liver and kidney functions. This was due to the effects of a malaria attack. It was a hard decision but they felt God would have them step in and handle the takeover of Betel from Rader Hawkins of Unevangelized Tribes Missions because he was past due to report for his new assignment.  So he made the trip from Boa Vista to Betel by the best form of transportation at that time and finally arrived safely on the station.

Rader Hawkins (a missionary with the Unevangelized Missions Fields) filled Harry in on the programs of the work, the mode of life, and the general facilities of the station. They were in the big house, and very close was another building which was the kitchen, dining room and a class room for the day school. About a small city block away was another house in which Helen Bryant, a Baptist Mid-Missions missionary and the Brazilian school teacher, resided. Also in back was a shed for the workmen where they could sleep and where all the tools were kept. The Betel station had the jungle on one side and the River on the other side.  The river was about one mile wide where the Betel station is located.

Harry´s first days alone were most interesting. Helen Bryant was such a help to Harry and they would consult one another to discuss what needed attention.  There were other Brazilian couples and school teachers there at the Betel station. Harry went there to oversee the whole ministry.  Peggy joined Harry a few weeks later. 

Before going to Brazil Harry had taken a one year course which involved practical medical work at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He little realized, until he became part of the Betel work, how much this training would be of value in the work.

Life in Betel was so rustic and limited that Peggy just couldn't cope with the situation. She was teaching their daughter her first year of school, which was such a challenge to her. Harry´s travels took him from the home sometimes two to three days at a time and this caused her a loneliness beyond words. She lost an extreme amount of weight and Harry, along with his co-workers said that something needed to be done to help Peggy.

She never complained. She just struggled with the daily tasks but such was showing in her physical make up. The early history of malaria and its consequences was a contributing factor. Peggy's health continued to deteriorate to the point that the Boa Vista missionaries felt it imperative that she return to the USA with their two children and Harry remain at Betel until a replacement could be arranged.

So they made arrangements to go to Georgetown, British Guiana for medical help. When her doctor saw her and finished his examination, he said to them, “You cannot return to Brazil but must continue on to the USA.” So, they secured passage home and notified the mission of the situation. They concurred with the doctor's recommendations. Harry returned to Betel and made arrangements for someone to take over so he could follow her home. This was a very hard period in their lives but here again the Lord wonderfully took over.  Eventually, Wally and Mildred Warfield came to Betel, releasing Harry and allowing him to return to the States, join his family and begin a long overdue furlough. He went out via British Guyana.

Unfortunately, today, there is no longer a Betel, but the fruits of that very struggling, primitive life style when there was a Betel, are still being realized among the Machushi people. Many of the pastors, deacons and leaders in their churches got started in the school at Betel. So Harry appeared in the home office and Dr. Fetzer spent a great deal of time with him. He explained that the mission could only clear them to return to the Brazil, if they were to go to another area where the climate was better and perhaps food was more ample then what they were able to have in Manaus and Boa Vista. 

By 1953, they had moved to Ceará due to health problems.

They helped in the Carari Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista Carerí) in Joazeiro do Norte, Ceará. He also pastored the Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular) in Iguatú, Ceará.  Their major work was in the Regular Batista Church in Quixadá, Ceará. After leaving Brazil due to continued health problems, they ministered in Mexico for 16 more years.  They eventually had to return to the USA due to Peggy´s health. Today, (August 2009), Harold and Peggy live in Monroe, Georgia with their granddaughter.

Eric and Cindy Baker

After joining Baptist Mid-Missions in August 1985, Eric and Cindy Baker arrived in Brazil mid-December 1992. They moved to the city of João Pessoa, Paraiba, where they studied Portuguese with a private tutor using Fortaleza language school materials from the Fortaleza language school. In December 1993, they finished their language studies.

Upon completing their language studies, they began working with BMM missionaries Russell and Judy Gordon in the Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular) in the Cristo Redentor subdivision of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. While ministering at this church from their arrival in December 1992 until 1998, Eric and Cindy assisted in the building of the church. Eric´s ministry at this church included preaching, teaching, teen ministry, and serving as a co-pastor with Russell Gordon until a national pastor was called.

From 1995 to 1996, the Bakers filled in one year for missionary Jon Reiner while he was on furlough. Eric and Cindy worked at the Regular Baptist Church in Jose Américo (Igreja Batista Regular Jose Américo) in the José Américo subdivision of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba.  

Filling in for Ray Reiner while he was on furlough from 1997 to 1998, Eric and Cindy woked at the Valentina Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Valentina), in the Valentina subdivision of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. During Ray’s furlough, Eric was the pastor of the church.

In 1998 and 1999, and from 2002 to 2006, the Bakers moved to Fortaleza, Ceará, and worked with David and Ann Lind who were starting the Curió Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular de Curió). This church is in the Curió subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. Until they turned the church over to a national pastor, Eric served as co-pastor with Dave Lind.

In addition to church planting, Eric and Cindy were involved in the following BMM ministries:

1.  Dorm parents and taught PE and Bible classes at Fortaleza Academy (1998-1999)

2.  Dorm parents and taught PE and Bible classes at Fortaleza Academy (2002-2004)

3.  Camp Work - Paraiba Baptist Camp 1992-2007 (served as director several years)

4.  Eric also served as Vice-President of the BMM Northeast Region for one year.

Eric and Cindy resigned from Baptist Mid-Missions in September 2009 and are now living in the United States.

Wayne and Elva Barber

Wayne Barber joined Baptist Mid-Missions in August 1939. Arriving in December 1939 by ship in Belém, Pará, Wayne came to Brazil as a single man and went to Manaus where he studied Portuguese.

Before Wayne came to Brazil, Dr. Robert Ketchum introduced Wayne to a young college student named Elva Oeste. At that time, Elva was finishing up her nursing degree in New York City. When she graduated, she was a school teacher and a nurse. Before she met Wayne, Elva had already surrendered her life to serve the Lord as a missionary in Brazil. After Wayne came to Brazil, he started corresponding with Elva from Manaus. One day, she received a letter in the mail from Wayne asking her to marry him. Her answer was “yes.” A year and a half after Wayne arrived in Brazil, he returned to the United States to marry Elva. Elva joined Baptist Mid-Missions in February 1941. In October 1941, Wayne and Elva were married in the United States. 

While they were making plans to return to Brazil, World War II broke out, and ships were no longer taking passengers. In 1942, they found a Peruvian cargo ship that would drop them off in Lima, Peru. In March 1942, they left New York City. Aboard the Peruvian cargo ship, they sailed along the eastern coast of the United States where they were fearful of being sunk by a German submarine. After passing through the Panama Canal, the Barbers felt a sense of relief from the danger of the submarines. They arrived in Peru, went to Lima, and rented a car and a driver who drove them to San Ramon, Peru. There, they boarded a small plane that took them to the Rio Ucayali. From Rio Ucayali, they took an amphibious plane to Iquitos, on the Rio Solimões. Then after a three-week wait, they sailed from Iquitos to Manaus on a steamship.

Wayne and Elva Barber began their ministry as a couple at the Cachoerinha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Cachoeirinha) in the Cachoerinha subdivision of Manaus, Amazonas. From 1942 to 1944, they worked at this church. Walter and Mildred Warfield ministered with them at this work.

For fifteen months in late 1944 to early 1946, they worked at the Iucabi school for river children and Indians. In Iucabi, Amazonas, the Barbers studied the language. Their tutors were missionary Artie Ross and Indian children.

In 1946, Wayne and Elva moved to Rio Branco in the state of Acre. There, they assisted Dynes and Maxine McCullough at the First Baptist Church of Rio Branco in the city of Rio Branco, Acre. From about 1946 to 1951, the Barbers worked at this church.

Wayne brought the first four-wheel drive Jeep into the territory and later a Jeep pick-up truck. Not only did his Jeep serve as a fire engine with several drums of water in the trailer, but it also carried sick people, and furnished transportation. With this Jeep, he visited farms surrounding the city and held evening meetings.

In 1952, Wayne and Elva were asked to be the first house parents for the dormitory at Fortaleza Academy, the new MK (missionary kid) school. At one point, they had twenty-six elementary school age children (grades 1-8) living with them at the "Big House."

In Fortaleza, Ceará, from approximately 1952 to 1966, Wayne and Elva worked at the newly established Fortaleza Academy and in the Aerolândia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Aerolândia), in the Aerolândia subdivision. Beginning this church in approximately 1952, the Barbers had older missionary children studying at Fortaleza Academy lead the children´s ministries. The Aerolândia church later changed its name to the Berean Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Beriana). After building two small houses near the original Fortaleza Academy campus, the Wayne and Elva used these houses for Sunday school and church services.

On Sunday mornings, the Barbers started a work in a thatched pavilion used on Saturday nights for dances. Every Sunday, Wayne, Elva, and the MKs would sweep the former dance hall and prepare it for church services for the people living in mud huts around the newly built Fortaleza Academy. Later, Wayne built his own pavilion on the school property. He then bought two small houses where a Christian day school and regular church services were held. After missionary, Neal Smith, moved the growing congregation to better property, this work developed into the strong Tevelândia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Tevelândia). Today, this church is called the Manacial Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Manacial), and is located in the Aldeota subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. It was in that beautiful new building that Wayne's funeral service was held.

In 1967, Wayne and Elva were asked to move to Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, and help the Cariri Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista do Cariri). Upon their arrival in 1968, they helped build a small church building. This church building was for a regular Baptist church in the São Miguel subdivision of Juazeiro do Norte. During their years at the Baptist Bible College, the Barbers served as dorm parents –first, the boys’ dormitory and, later, the girls’ dormitory.  Elva taught classes in Christian Education and developed the Bible college library.

In 1968, Wayne and Elva started working at the First Baptist Church (Primeira Igreja Batista do Juazeiro do Norte) in downtown Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará. Started by Guy McLain in 1947, this is the church where the Regular Baptist Association of Brazil was born. From 1968 to 2005, the Barbers worked at this church for almost forty years. Throughout their years of service at the Bible college, Wayne and Elva also helped in other churches and congregations in the Cariri Valley.

For her Christian Education students at the Bible college, Elva used the Sunday school of the First Baptist Church as a living example. Her students watched her teach, and she watched them teach. Each of her students had to do a minimum of six weeks observing and reporting on the different children’s and young people’s classes. On her last Sunday in Brazil, she team-taught with Dona Ivoneide, her Brazilian friend, in the primary children's Sunday school class. She left a complete two-year program of nursery to juniors children's Sunday school visuals, visuals that the church continues to use.

In addition to the Barbers’ church planting ministries, they were also involved with these ministries:

1. Iucabi school for river children and Indians, 1944-1946 (15 months)

2. House parents for Fortaleza Academy MKs, 1952-1967 (Fortaleza, Ceará)

3. Seminário Batista do Cariri (Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará), November 1967 to 1988.

Wayne and Elva have three children: Thomas Robert Barber; Gary Lee Barber; and Martha Ann Barber Wieringa.

After battling cancer, Wayne went to be with the Lord on June 29, 1988. Elva continued to teach and be the Seminary librarian until 2005. She currently (2009) is living with her daughter, Martha, and her family in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Gary and Kathleen Barber

In July 1982, Gary and Kathi Barber joined Baptist Mid-Missions. Gary Lee Barber, the son of BMM missionaries Wayne and Elva Barber, goes by the name Gary or G.B in Portuguese. His wife Kathi goes by Kátia. After they arrived in Manaus, Amazonas, on October 7, 1984, Gary and Kathi studied Portuguese in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará. Studying with a private tutor using the BMM Fortaleza language school materials, they finished their language studies in December 1985.

Since their arrival in Brazil in 1984, Gary and Kathi Barber have worked at the First Baptist Church (Primeira Igreja Batista) in the downtown area of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará. At this church, they worked with Gary’s parents, Wayne and Elva Barber.

Since First Baptist is an established church under the leadership of a Brazilian pastor, Gary and Kathi have worked in various capacities assisting the pastor: Sunday school teachers, youth sponsors, and coordinators and sponsors of the couples’ ministry. Gary has also served as a deacon, a board member, and a Christian school board member. On two different occasions, Gary has served as interim pastor for as long as two years.

In addition to Gary´s work in the First Baptist Church, Gary was the director of the BMM Iguatu Baptist Camp from 1985-2007. Since 1985, he has served as the professor of Christian Education at the Cariri Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista do Cariri).

James and Maxine Benefiel

On August 1, 1958, James and Maxine Benefiel joined Baptist Mid-Missions. After having previously served with another mission, they arrived in Brazil through Belém, Pará, on July 1, 1960, for their first term with Baptist Mid-Missions. During their ministry in Brazil, Jim was known to Brazilians as Pastor Jaime and to colleagues as Benny. The Benefiels started churches in Ceará and in Rio Grande do Norte.

Jim and Maxine´s first church plant was the Redemption Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Redenção) in the interior city of Redenção, Ceará. This church later closed their doors because many of their members moved to other areas.

Jim’s second church was the Pacatuba Baptist Congregation (Congregacão Batista de Pacatuba) located in the city of Pacatuba, Ceará. In 1974, this church had thirty members.

Their next church plant was the Emanuel Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Emanuel) in the Vila Peri (Parangaba) subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. In 1967, Jim and Maxine organized this church and continued to work there for another year.

Calvary Baptist Church (Igreja Batista do Calvário) in the Cidade dos Funcionários subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará was their next church plant. After completing the building, the church was organized in 1969.

In 1970, they organized the Mondubim Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular em Mondubim) in the Mondubim subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará.

In 1972, Jim and Maxine worked alongside Chuck and Joan Nichols in the beginning stage of the Maranatha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Maranata) in the Cidade 2000 subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. After one year, the Benefiels moved to Martins, Rio Grande do Norte, a location Jim had visited in his aviation ministry. 

The last church that Jim and Maxine worked in was the Martins Regular Baptist Congregation (Congregação Batista de Martins) in Martins, Rio Grande do Norte.  From here, they had to return to the United States because of complications in Jim’s health.

After heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, Jim was promoted to Glory on December 24, 1974. Presently (2009), Maxine is living in Maranatha Village, Sebring, Florida.

Tom and Karin Benefiel

After Tom and Karin Benefiel joined Baptist Mid-Missions on July 29, 1982, they arrived in Brazil on July 31, 1984. Tom is the son of Jim and Maxine Benefiel, BMM missionaries who ministered in Brazil from 1959 to 1975.

When Tom and Karin came to Brazil, they started the Valentina Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Valentina) in the Valentina subdivision of the city of Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. This church became the mother church for two other church plants: the Emmanuel Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Emanuel) and the José America Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular em José Américo). These churches were started as a result of the Benefiels’ seven years of ministry in Brazil.

The Emmanuel Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Emanuel) is located in the Cidade dos Funcionários subdivision in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. Today, this church is pastored by Janio Lira.

The Igreja Batista Regular em José Américo (José America Regular Baptist Church) is located in the José Americo subdivision in João Pessoa, Paraíba. After assuming this work in 1996, BMM missionaries Jonathan and Jenny Reiner worked at this church for ten years.

Tom and Karin Benefiel also helped start the camp ministry in Joao Pessoa. This camp is named Paraíba Regular Baptist Camp. To help this ministry, Russell Gordon and the Dave Parmerlees, a short-term missionary family, contributed to start the camp. The tabernacle on the camp property is named after Thomas James Benefiel, Tom and Karin Benefiels´ son who died when he was fifteen months old. After Thomas’s death, the tabernacle was built.

Because the Benefiels’ other son Kristofer contracted spinal meningitis, Tom and Karin had to leave the field. After they returned to the United States in 1990 for their son’s treatment, the Benefiels resigned from BMM in 1994 when they saw they would not be able to return to Brazil. Kristofer´s illness and its effects have kept the Benefiels in the United States. Tom has returned on many mission trips to help build churches for many congregations in Brazil and Argentina.

At the Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida, Tom is now (January 2009) the assistant pastor. He is serving as Pastor of Outreach and Discipleship at that church.

Donald and Kathryn Bennett

Information from the 1974 History of BMM in Brazil, p. 22

Don and Kathy Bennett joined Baptist Mid-Missions in January 1958. They arrived on the field on November 6^th, 1959. They studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará. Upon finishing their studies, the Bennetts moved to Southeast Brazil where they worked in Jacarei, São Paulo (near São José dos Campos, SP). In 1961 and 1962, they helped in the church in Taubaté.  From 1961 to 1968 they were involved in the Camp programs in Southeast Brasil at the Maranatha Baptist Camp in São José dos Campos, SP. From 1964 to 1966, they were involved with the church at São Bernardo dos Campos, São Paulo (in the Greater São Paulo area).   From 1966 to 1968, they pastored a church in São José dos Campos, SP. During this time, Don taught classes in the Seminary and Bible Institute in São Paulo. In 1969, the Bennetts moved to Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul. They ministered at this church for the rest of their lives in Brazil. (end of 1974 BMM Report)

On January 4^th, 1976, the Bennetts organized the Maranatha Baptist (Igreja Batista Maranata) in Novo Hambrgo, Rio Grande do Sul. The church was organized with 26 members. Kathy passed away on October 28. 1997.  Don passed away in his sleep on March 7^th, 1999.  Don was still serving the Lord as a missionary with BMM in the city of Novo Hamburgo, RS. This church was started by Robert and Ethel Kempel.  George and Maxine Wells assisted at this church.  This church ran a local church Bible Institute for many years.

John L. Benson

John L. Benson came to Brazil as a single short termer. John joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1967. Later, he married Norma (Benson), a Brazilian. He arrived in Brazil in 1965 and moved to São Simão, São Paulo, in 1966. In that same year he started the Regular Baptist Church in São Simão, São Paulo.  In 1969, there was a church split and John Benson left the church and started the Good Shepherd Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Bom Pastor) in the same city. John resigned from BMM in July 1971, but continued to minister in São Simão until his death, February 5, 1990. He died of a heart attack.

John Stanton (Stan) and Velma (Pat) Best

This information comes from Stan Best´s obituary that was published in the Modesto Bee (California) Newspaper on October 8, 2002; from the Christian Comics International webpage about Christian Comics (see Anchor-John-63368), from the 1974 History of BMM in Brazil Report, and from information provided from BMM missionaries David & Grace Trimble and Terry Carruthers.

Velma Fries joined Baptist Mid-Missions on August 1, 1949. She arrived on the field exactly one year later on August 1, 1950. She studied in Manaus and did medical work in the area. John Stanton Best was born on October 3, 1923 in Los Angeles, California.  He earned a B.A. degree from Biola University and a Master of Divinity degree from Azusa Pacific University. He joined BMM in August 1950 and he arrived in Brazil less than one year later on July 16, 1951. John Stanton Best was known to his colleagues as Stan. Stan always called his wife, Velma, “Pat.” Stan studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará, at the BMM language school.

From 1952 to 1959, they worked in Manaus, Amazonas, at the Amazon Baptist College (Seminário Batista Regular de Amazonas). While in Manaus they worked in the São Francisco Church. In 1961 they moved to Belém, Pará. Years later they helped start the BMM Bible College there. They also assisted at the Sacramento church while they were there. Then from 1967 to 1970, they established works at Terra Firme, the Correiros, Santa Maria, and Coquerio. These works were in the Belem, Pará, area.

Stan´s obituary, that was published in the Modesto Bee (California) on October 8, 2002, stated that Stan “played a key role in starting 20 churches and was instrumental in founding a seminary in Belem, Pará”. According to the same obituary, Stan and Pat left Brazil and moved to Modesto Califronia in 1989. He was still with BMM.  He served as a pastor at Mountain View Baptist Church for 10 years (Modesto California area). During that time he taught missions for one year at Western Bible Baptist College, in Oakland, California.

Stan Best was a cartoonist and sketch artist. There are many Stan Best drawings and sketches that he drew during BMM conferences. There are still many of these saved in the files of the Fortaleza and Manaus archives of BMM. Stan was also a writer and he published his books through his own publishing company named Discovery Press. One  of the books that he published was Amazon Invasion. This book presented the work of BMM missionaries in Manaus and the Amazon region. He published the following seven children´s books: The Hidden City of the Amazon, The last 17, Birdfiddle Scores Again, Lost City of the Amazon, The Green Whale of the Amazon, and Time in a Shadow. He may have written more books than these. He also wrote and published many Christian tracks such as Londa (1980), The Miracle of Dr. Miller (date unknown), The Last Cup of Coffee, and Poison–A True Story (2000). He worked with other Christian Artists like Doug Chafey and Bill Webb. Stan also did a series of cartoons for the Biblical evangelist.

Stan was “a very humble man” with a whole lot of talent.  Stan and Pat officially retired from BMM on April 30, 1998. Velma “Pat” Best died on November 27, 2001 in Modesto, California. Stan died on October 6, 2002.

STAN BEST: SERVANT OF GOD

Written by Rick McLain and read for Stan's memorial service in Modesto, California after his home going to heaven in October, 2002.

 He started out as an all-american boy, and became an-american original.

Stan grew up in an area of Los Angeles that still had a lot of open space.  He remembered their old Model T Ford, his mom at the wheel and he and his brother, Newton, in the back, aware of being looked down upon by more prosperous motorists.

Stan's mom, Marie, came from the Midwest as a child in a covered wagon with her parents.  A pioneer heritage, the depression and the Second World War, plus a godly pastor, Dale Satterthwaite, combined to make Stan the unique person that he was.  Stan became part of the great post-war missionary outreach.

Trained at Biola in downtown L.A., and Prairie Bible Institute, Stan was for a long time the only Mid-Brazil missionary to have an earned Master’s degree.  Yet he was not impressed by higher education that didn't result in higher commitment.

Stan played the guitar and accordion.  He would play the accordion and lead singing in the humid tropical air, the sweat dripping off his forehead onto his chin, to the accordion and onto the floor.  He had a fine voice and had sung in the well known group, The Christian Cowboys, before arriving in Brazil.  An author as well, his Hidden City of the Amazon series was widely distributed.  One day a kid came up to him and asked, "Mr Best, did you know all your books start with the word, 'Rain' ?".  Stan spent many years in the Amazon region where it rains over 300 inches a year, so the opening was highly appropriate.  But he felt his most important books were those that defended the faith and encouraged service.  He was an artist as well, and his cartoons at conference time were always a highlight.  Stan always had a pocketful of tracts.  He never stopped being a missionary.

Camp Radford in the mountains above Los Angeles, three hundred young people at the southern California  GARB camp.   Stan was there on his first furlough and I was there as a first time camper, 11 years old in 1954.  He mixed with the kids and spent some time in the cabins, talking missions, the Amazon, the Gospel.  He bought a 1955 Ford pickup that furlough and shipped it to Manaus, 1000 miles up river.  After a year it finally got released from customs and Stan used it for over 30 years.  The roads were so bad that once he bent the solid front axle and it had to be replaced.  He bought the last one available in Belem  The truck was used on the highways, off-road and on cow trails, taking the gospel to people.

I was with Stan again in 1960 at Hume Lake, the central California churches camp.  Wife, Pat (Velma), was home with their girls in Los Angeles.

During their 30 month furlough starting in 1966, when problems kept them from returning to Brazil immediately, Stan and Pat moved the family to Modesto.  He taught at Western Baptist Bible College in El Cerrito and started a church in Riverbank.  Pat helped in the work and also did nursing.  Gayle and I helped in the Riverbank church, and stayed in the Best home each weekend.  Becky, who loved to read; Betty, most like her mom; Barbara, generous, fun, like her dad;  Beverly, the baby, always smiling.  Stan called them the 4 B's.  We saw the girls grow up, first in Modesto and then on the field.  Becky lived with us in 1970 while we were in language school in Fortaleza and she was in high school at the academy.

Stan never forgot his first furlough car, a 1954 Mercury hardtop.  One day in about 1967 he came back from Los Angeles with a 1954 Merc convertible which he had bought for $105.00.   Pat was not too impressed.

Around this time a prudent investment his father had made many years before began to pay off for the heirs.  Stan bought a simple block house on Dora Street in Modesto, but instead of ratcheting up the lifestyle, put the extra money into the Lord's work.  "I'd rather invest it in the Bank of Heaven", he said.  Ten churches in the state of Para, one seminary and a Bible camp are the direct result of that stewardship.  Some of his Sunday school kids and preacher boys are pastoring in the Belem area.

A few years ago I was in the states and drove by 917 E. Rumble Road in Modesto.  Pat said that Stan was out visiting and distributing tracts.  He was, but fortunately, I found him at Perko's having a coffee break with pancakes.  We had a bite together.   I got back on the 99 southbound, and he drove off to do door-to-door evangelism.  First Baptist Church of Ceres meant a lot to Stan, and so did Mountain View Baptist, his last effort.

The loss I feel with Stan's homegoing has to do with not being able to fellowship with him, to ask questions.  Stan would always take his after dinner cup of coffee out on the veranda looking at the stars and sharing his insights and observations with his guests.  He knew everyone, knew the history of fundamentalism in the southern California area.  He had known or studied under many of the well known teachers and leaders.  I think it was Bernard Ramm that nominated Stan as a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society. 

But his greatest pleasure was rounding up poor, scruffy little kids, teaching them choruses, giving them the Gospel.  Many of them today remember when he would enjoy decorating the house for Christmas, then invite all of them to a party with lots of goodies and a gift for each one.   Some fine, active local churches now stand on modern, paved, illuminated streets that thirty years ago were muddy trails.  The simple wooden buildings with their kerosene lanterns are gone but Stan's work remains.

Dorothy Brannon

Dorothy Brannon joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1976. She arrived in Brazil on October 26, 1979. Dorothy resigned from the mission in July 1982. Dorothy later rejoined Baptist Mid Missions and returned to Brazil for a few more years. Dorothy worked in the Berean Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Beriana, now called IBR El-Shadai) which is in the Petrópolis subdivision of Manaus, Amazonas. She also worked in the Elim Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Elim) in the Compensa subdivision of Manaus, Amazonas. She later resigned from the mission a second time.

Penni Bresson

Penni Bresson joined Baptist Mid-Missions on August 1, 1991. She arrived in Brazil on April 27, 1993. Penni studied Portuguese in São Paulo at the language school for missionaries (Escola de Português para Missionaries Estrangeiros).

While studying Portuguese, Penni attended the Hope Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Esperança) in Vila Mariana, São Paulo, São Paulo, where Marv and Diane Fray were the team leaders.  Being an accomplished pianist, Penni was used in playing for the men´s cantata practices.

After completing her language studies in May 1994, Penni moved to São José do Rio Preto,SP, and began working with John and Karen Swedberg at the Good News Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Boas Novas) in the Cidade Nova subdivision of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo. She worked in this church from May 1994 until January 1997. During these years, Penni also worked with Nathan and Dawn Patefield. Penni´s ministries at this church included music (directing cantatas and other programs), AWANA, and youth.

Penni returned to the United States and resigned from Baptist Mid-Missions in January 1997.  Shortly after her return, she married Kent Burckhart.  Penni, her husband, and daughter are now living in the area of Melbourne, Florida.

Rebecca Brewer

Rebecca Brewer joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1993. She arrived in Brazil in November 1995. She came to teach missionary kids at the Curitiba Baptist Academy in Pinhais, Paraná. During her 10 years of ministry in Curitiba, she lived at the missionary school. She started attending the Ebenezer Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Ebenezer) in Weissopolis, Pinhais, Curitiba. V.W and Susan Peters lived nearby and they always took her with them until she purchased her own car. Rebecca was at the church in Weissopolis during the time it grew the most and relocated to its present location. Rebecca’s main ministry was the nursery and she loved serving in that capacity. The church changed its name and it is the Victory Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Vitória) in Weissópolis, Pinhais, Paraná. Rebecca taught at the Curitiba Baptist Academy until there were no more MKs to teach. Rebecca returned to the USA and resigned from BMM in 2004.

Pete and Louise Brooks

This work report was completed by his son Gene Brooks and covers from 1970 to 2009.  For their ministry before that, please see the 1974 History of Baptist Mid-Missions in Brazil.

1970-1972 – Pete and Louise returned to the Cariri Baptist Bible College (Seminario Batista do Cariri) in the summer of 1970. They taught and had administrative responsibilities. During their eight (8) year obligation in Juazeiro, Pete had been active with weekly evangelistic trips, using both airplane and car to reach numerous neighboring cities. He was also active in the various camp ministries in Iguatú, Casa Nova and Natal. In the beginning of 1972, they resigned from the school and went to Orós, CE.

1972-1974 – The couple moved to Orós to establish a church. They had been visiting Orós sporadically since 1953. Before they left for the States in 1974, a new building had been constructed and a church organized.

1975-1982 – In December of 1974, Jim Benefiel died and Pete and Louise were asked to consider moving to Martins, RN, to continue the work. In the summer of 1975, they moved into the Benefiel’s rented house. During these seven years, a congregation was established in the suburb of Lagoa Nova and many points of evangelism were established on the plateau and below it in the sertão (arid and remote interior). A strong youth program was created and from it came at least three pastors and several pastors’ wives. Pete and Louise also helped finance the sustenance of young couples in several of the neighboring cities on the sertão. One couple went to the city of Umarizal to continue the evangelism program in that city.

1982-1984 – Pete and Louis substituted for the Tim Reiner’s in Casa Nova and the Harold Reiner’s in Remanso. One of the young men from the youth group got married and took care of the congregation in their absence.

1984-2001 – When they, the Brooks, returned, the young couple went to the Bible School in Juazeiro for training. The Lagoa Nova Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Lagoa Nova) was established and began looking for a pastor. In the mean time, the men of the church were placed in homiletic and evangelism programs. When the young couple finished the Bible school training, they raised mission support and went to live in Umarizal to establish the Igreja Batista de Umarizal. Another of the young men finished his college program, studied Bible courses by correspondence and accompanied Pete and Louise regularly in the evangelistic outreach in Frutuoso Gomes. Later he married and moved to Frutuoso Gomos and established the Frutuoso Gomes Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Frutuoso Gomes).

The Lagoa Nova Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Lagoa Nova) called a pastor and Pete and Louise moved into Martins proper to establish the Maranatha Baptist Congregatoin (Congregação Batista Maranata). Pete was also asked to be the speaker for evangelistic conferences in many of the churches in the Northeast. Later these requests extended to other parts of Brazil. The airplane facilitated in making these trips. Shortly before Louise’s death in 2001, Pete spearheaded the establishment of a radio station on the plateau.

2001- Present- After Louise’s death, Pete resigned from the mission and concentrated his efforts to help with the building program in Frutuoso Gomes. He also continued in his vision of a radio station but, despite purchasing the necessary equipment and building a studio, the government did not grant permission for the station. In the last couple of years, he concentrated on helping in the establishment of a church in Pau dos Ferros. Property was purchased and a family moved to the city. Appeals were made for financial assistance in the construction of a building and part of the building is standing today.

Pete was incapacitated in October 2008 after surviving a stroke and lives in Natal, RN. On May 12^th, 2009, he passed away due to complications from a minor surgery he had that day or the day before.. He was buried in Martins, Rio Grande do Norte on May 13, 2009.

Daniel and Nancy Brower

Daniel and Nancy Brower were approved as missionaries with Baptist Mid-Missions in July of 1973 after completing Candidate School at Cedarville College. Their history with BMM goes back much farther, however, because they are both children of BMM missionaries and grew up on the field. Nancy´s parents are George and Elizabeth Norton. Dan was raised in the Belgian Congo and Nancy in Brazil. They met at Cedarville College, where Nancy was homecoming queen. They arrived in Brazil on May 14, 1975. Their port of entry into Brazil was Santos, São Paulo.

While Dan was in language school, they worked at the church which Bob Jones started in Diadema, São Paulo. Dan finished language school in June 1976. They moved to Uberaba, MG, in August to open a new work in that city.

Dan and Nancy´s first church plant was the Grace Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Graça) on Rua Diamante 35, in the Leblon subdivision, in Uberaba, Minas Gerais. They worked at this church from August 1976 to June 1988. 

They initially rented a building in the Sao Benedito subdivision and remodeled it while canvassing the area. Regular services began in January 1977. George & Elizabeth Norton helped them in this first stage of the work. They ended the first year with an average of 55-60 in all services. Then a priest put fear into the people and the average dropped to six (6) in all the services. After the second year, they bought two adjacent lots in a neighboring area and the first building was completed by May 1979. A young Bible School student took care of the work while the Nortons were on furlough. They built the social hall behind the church and a parsonage beside the church. They were then able to buy lots on either side of the church which were used for youth activities on the parsonage side, and a Christian Education addition on the church side. The church was averaging 85 in Sunday School and was able to support Pastor Jair and his family when they were called in May 1988.

While Dan and Nancy were on furlough, George & Elizabeth Norton and Bob & Janice Norton cared for the work at Grace.

The work at Grace Baptist Church was the most difficult because Baptists were practically unknown in Uberaba and there was great resistance from the Roman Catholics and Spiritists. The work began to grow when they invited the Pocket Testament League to have outdoor meetings in the public parks. This was mainly a seed sowing ministry as was the tract distribution ministry that went on for a number of years. Every night of the week they had meetings except for Friday, which was reserved for family. 

Dan and Nancy´s next church plant was the Bethel Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Betel) on Rua Rubi 168, in the subdivision of Costa Teles I, in Uberaba, Minas Gerais. The Browers worked at this church from 1986 to 1989. They started the church by holding meetings in a house they purchased and remodeled for services. In 1989 Dan and Nancy served as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church which had just been built by Bob Norton. Dan cared for both churches until furlough. They bought property for the Bethel church and built the church building and Sunday School classes in 1988 and 1989. Property for the parsonage was purchased and they completed the building in 1991. Pastor Jair from Grace Baptist Church helped them during furlough and the church called Pastor Euripedes in 1991.

The Browers´ work at Bethel was similar to that of Grace Baptist Church with the exception that some good couples from their first church helped. Also, the Maranatha Baptist Church gave some couples which gave a solid base to the work early on.

The church grew with Pastor Euripdes and they did well until they tried opening a Christian School in the building. Dan and Nancy had to return to Bethel Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Betel) in 2000 and spend five years to build it up again from scratch.

Dan and Nancy´s next church plant was the Calvary Baptist Church (Igreja Batista do Calvário) on Rua Joao Severiano Rodrigues da Cunha, 139, in the subdivision of Guanabara, in Uberaba. They worked at this church in 1986 and 1991 when the Bob Nortons were home on furlough. In 1993, they went full time to the Calvary Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Calvário) and stayed until 1999 when the church called David Sena as pastor. The founder of this church was the Bob Norton family, and George and Elizabeth Norton helped during furlough.

When the Bob Nortons had to leave Brazil because of family difficulties, the church already had a good attendance but few baptized members. For a year and a half, Dan pastored the Bethel Church together with the Calvary Church, which was complicated. At the same time they were starting a new congregation in an area known as Conjunto Uberaba I.

Dan and Nancy´s next church plant was the Faith Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Fé) on Avenida Reynaldo Boaretto, 50, Uberaba, Minas Gerais. They served in this church from 1996 to 1999. The city government donated 1000 square meters of property on which to build a Baptist church. They began the church building in 1998 and finished in 1999. In 2001, they built the educational wing on the rear of the property and in 2002 they purchased a nice three bedroom home near the church for a parsonage. The church has been supporting their pastor since 2001. Missionary George Norton helped them at this church.

At the present time, Dan is serving as interim pastor at the Blessed Hope Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Esperança Bendita) which was started by George and Elizabeth Norton. Soon he will be serving in that capacity at the Bethel Baptist Church or Maranatha Baptist, which was also started by the George Nortons. Dan holds a Pastor's Prayer meeting every Monday afternoon. It is something which he has been zealous to promote from the beginning. It is a means of maintaining unity and fellowship among the pastors and encouraging the cooperation of the churches in their efforts to evangelize Uberaba.

In addition to his church planting ministries, Dan has also served in the following areas.

1.         Camp Maranatha Board, helped write the constitution

2.         Seminary Board, helped write the constitution

3.         South Region President 8 times

4.         Bible Institute in Uberaba 2 years

5.         Home-schooled our children through high school

Terry & Wendy Broyles

Terry & Wendy Broyles joined Baptist Mid-Missions in the year of 2000. They had originally served as missionaries in Brazil with ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism). They arrived in Brazil while serving with ABWE on December 11, 1991. They officially arrived in Brazil serving with BMM in 2002. Their port of entry was the Guarulhos Airport in the greater São Paulo area. They studied Portuguese in a language school in São Paulo, SP, and graduated in June of 1993.

After moving over to Baptist Mid-Missions, Terry and Wendy Broyles started a church in the Medeiros subdivision, of the city of Jundiai, São Paulo. They started this work in 2002 and they are still ministering at this church today (December 2008).

They started this church in their home, then they moved into a rented facility and then into another facility. They eventually purchased 10,000 square meters of land that had been owned by another church. This new property had several run-down buildings which needed to be renovated. They are just finishing up the auditorium. The Broyles have had John and Beverly Leonard working with them at this church since 2007.

Terry and Wendy started this church through home Bible studies and then joined these studies to form the core group.  The church met in the Broyles home for one year and 3 months. Then they stepped out in faith and rented their first location. The people raised enough money to purchase the church piano in two months. They continued with home Bible studies and up until the last two or three years almost all of the members have come into the church from these studies.

Terry served as President of the Sao Paulo station in 2008 as well as BMMB´s Vice-President of the South Region.

Helen Bryant

Helen Bryant served with Baptist Mid-Mid Missions in from about 1946 to 1952.  Prior to joining Baptist Mid-Missions, Helen worked in Mexico from 1942 to 1945.  Her sending church was in Belmead, Pennsylvania.

Helen arrived in Brazil on September 7, 1946, and proceeded to Manaus. On February 6, 1947, the Manaus station (Amazon field) granted permission to move to Boa Vista, Roiraima, but was not given permission to go “no further north.”  At that Tim Garnet & Fern Trimble and Lois Martenson were station in Boa Vista. In late 1948, she was granted a furlough.  When she returned to Brazil, she continued to minister at the Betel Indian work and School until 1952.

The Betel Station was located north of Boa Vista, Roiraima, and was located on the banks of the Surumu River. The Betel station consisted of 6 to 8 acres of land and was bought for four payments of $500.00 each for a total of US$ 2.000.00.  Betel was a BMM medical post and school which ministered to the Makushi Indians and their children. Helen wrote an article that was printed on page 2 in the BMM´s “Mid-Missions Bulletin” in the May 1948 edition. It tells of the work at Betel.  Helen was feeding and clothing 20 boys and girls 24 hours a day at the school.

After 1952, Helen married Mario Rodriguez-Illobre, who was a Cuban national.  He was a missionary evangelist. Mario and Helen ministered with World Missions Far Corner s mission board.   They worked in Spanish speaking ministries and countries. Mario died on May 27, 2001.

Barbara Burhow

Barbara Burhow joined Baptist Mid-Missions July 27, 1979. She arrived in Brazil September 3, 1986, studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará, and then moved to João Pessoa, Paraiba.  From 1987 to 2004, Barbara worked at the Valentina Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Valentina) in the Valentina subdivision of João Pessoa, Paraiba. Working at this church for more than five years, Barbara served in the Awana Club, youth programs, and women’s ministries. She worked at this church with Tom and Karen Benefiel and helped Russell and Judy Gordon in the Bancários Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Bancários) in the Bancários subdivision of João Pessoa, Paraiba. Later she also helped Jonathan and Lois McLain´s work in the Baptist Church in Campina Grande, Paraiba.

Returning to the United States in 2004, Barbara lived in the greater Tampa, Florida, area.  Although she resigned from Baptist Mid-Missions, she attends Wesley and Tina Oliveira’s church planting ministry with Brazilians in Tampa, Florida. 

John and Merrianna Burnette

John and Merrianna Burnette joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 1969, and arrived in Brazil in September 1971. Their port of entry was Campinas, SP. They studied Portuguese at the Escola de Português para Missionários Estrangeiros in downtown São Paulo. Merrianna Fray Burnette is BMM missionary Marvin Fray´s sister.

In 1972, after completing their language studies, the Burnettes moved to the Maranatha Camp (Acampmento Maranatha) near São José dos Campos, São Paulo, and lived in the “Schoaf House.”  After living on the camp grounds for a year, they moved into São José dos Campos, São Paulo.   John continued to organize the camp program and maintain the camp grounds.

John and Merriana assisted Bud and Evie Taylor with the Maranatha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Maranata) in São José dos Campos. They joined this church planting team shortly after the beginning of the work.  At that time, the church was located in the Kanebo subdivision on the outskirts of São José dos Campos, São Paulo. It eventually moved to São José dos Campos proper and became the Maranatha Baptist Church renting the facilities of the International School. 

In 1979, the Burnettes moved to Piraquara (now Pinhais), Paraná, to help start the Paraná Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista Regular do Sul) and worked at the First Regular Baptist Church of Curitiba (Primeira Igreja Batista Regular de Curitiba) while Neal and Alice Smith were on furlough.  During their years in Curitiba, they were always active in the ministry of the Bible college.

From mid-1980 to mid-1981, the Burnettes ministered at the Atuba Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Atuba) in Colombo, Paraná, while George and Maxine Wells were on furlough.

In 1982, John and Merrianna moved to the campus of the Bible college (SBRS) in Vargim Grande, Piraquara (Pinhais), Paraná. During this time they helped C.A. and Thelma Nichols at the Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular) in Wiessopolis, Piraquara (Pinhais), Paraná. Today this church is known as the Victory Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Vitória).

From 1982 to 1983, the Burnettes worked at the Faith Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular da Fé) in the Osternack subdivision of Curitiba, Paraná. This work began in 1979 by Wesley and Tina Oliveira. While ministering there, the Burnettes bought a piece of property on which the church is presently located.

John and Merrianna returned to the United States in 1993 for John to become the director of a newly formed mission agency, Open Door Baptist Mission, located in Greenville, South Carolina. John has continued to work full time at that mission.  He plans to retire in mid-2009. Since 1995, John and Merrianna´s daughter, Katrina (Burnette) Geurink, has been working a missionary in Brazil.

Harold and Miriam Burns

The first two and last two paragraphs were written by S. David Smith. The rest of the information in this report is a tribute that BMM missionary Terry Carruthers wrote at the time of Harold´s death.

Miriam Gilbert was born in Elmira, New York. She graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton Illinois, with a B. S. degree. She came to Brazil in 1948. She arrived by ship and traveled with Willard and Grace Stull since they were also coming to work in Brazil in the Amazon area. Harold Burns joined Baptist Mid-Missions in August 1949 and came to Brazil as a single man.  Harold left New York City on a British Cargo ship on Feb. 1, 1950 and arrived in Belém on Feb. 14th, 1950. Harold arrived in Brazil in Belém, Pará, and then proceeded to Manaus, Amazonas. Harold usesdthe name “Haroldo” in Portuguese. Miriam used the name “Miriã.” Julie Collins said that when Harold met Miriam, it was “love at first sight.”  Harold and Miriam were married in October 1953.  Miriam died in June 2001 and Harold died on February 3, 2009.

Terry Carruthers knew Harold and Miriam Burns during their later years. They worked in the same state of Roraima in the north Amazon River basin. Terry Carruthers wrote a tribute at the time of Harold death.  Terry Carruther´s tribute to Harold is presented here in its entirety.

A Tribute to Harold and Miriam Burns

By BMM missionary Terry Carruthers

Webster defines pioneer as “a person who goes before, preparing the way for others.”  God in His grace used Harold and Miriam to open up a great field of ministry among the Macuxi Indians in north Brazil.  Harold Burns was not the absolute first missionary to enter into the native villages, but he was one of the earliest missionaries to have an eternal impact and continuity of ministry in the Cotingo region of Brazil’s Roraima state, located between the Amazon River and the Guyana and Venezuela borders.

Harold first arrived in Brazil by ship in 1950.  He made his way to Boa Vista, Roraima, where he studied the Portuguese language with a local teacher.  Harold later continued his languages studies in Manaus where he met Miriam Gilbert, a single missionary.  Returning to Roraima, Harold was soon involved in a Baptist Mid-Missions/Unevangelized Fields Mission school called Betel that was started to teach native children to read and write and to be a means of evangelism.  Shortly after arriving at Betel, Harold found himself alone, carrying the whole load. Health needs prompted him to close down the school and take an early furlough. Back in the US in 1952, he and Miriam Gilbert were married. Returning to Brazil, Harold and Miriam were completely surrendered to serve the Lord, working among the Macuxi people, who lived in villages along rivers and streams in the savannas and in the mountains.

A ten-year wait for the harvest in Contão

The Indian village of Contão is a large Macuxi village on the banks of the Cotingo River that flows through the great savannas of Roraima.  Today Contão village has a population of about 1000. In its early years, Contão was known as the “party center of the region.”  Sugarcane liquor was produced in a nearby village and traded with the Indians for cattle. As a result, every weekend wicked parties were held in the village, drawing many natives from surrounding areas and the gold miners who worked the rivers.  One resident at the time called the place a Sodom and Gomorrah. An earlier missionary with another mission had to leave the village when his house was burnt down.  It was to this village, Contão, that God called Harold and Miriam Burns to preach the gospel.

In their early years of ministry at Contão, Harold and Miriam lived at a Brazilian village called Villa Pereira on the Surumu River about 25 miles from Contão village. At the time, there were no roads or bridges in the region, just trails and foot paths crisscrossing the savannas.  Harold and Miriam would head out to Contão by foot and by bicycle. Harold would leave first by foot and Miriam would later catch up to him on the bike.  They would keep trading off till they arrived in Contão!  Later on Harold bought a jeep to make life a little easier. To get it to Villa Pereira, Harold had to drive it from ranch to ranch until arriving at the Surumu River. Not to be defeated by obstacles, Harold built a small barge of planks mounted on oil drums and thus was able to get to the other side. When Harold and Miriam made their first trip to Contão, it was the first vehicle ever seen in the village. 

They spent long years working at Contão with few visible results. Apart from being a village totally given over to drinking and the pleasures of the flesh, the local priests were always spreading stories that Harold was deceiving them, and as a result the Indians were afraid of him. It took a long time to gain the confidence of the people. 

One day in November 1960, after patiently working among the people and teaching God’s Word in Contão for 10 years, Antônio Marcolino, the village chief, came to Harold and wanted to be a believer.  In the following two weeks, 70 more people accepted the Lord.  At first Harold wondered, “Are they really accepting the Lord or just following the chief?” 

Time showed that the people had made true decisions.

The gospel made its impact in Contão.  Services were held under a large mango tree until the believers were able to build a mud-block, thatch-roofed building for a place of worship.  One day, a short time after the conversions, the chief came to Harold with a problem: “We were planning a three-day party during Christmas with many Indian villages invited.  There would be drinking, horseracing, and sin.  What do we do now?”  Harold replied, “Plan on having your party; we will just make it a spiritual party!”  So at Christmas 1960, Contão held its first Christmas Bible Conference among the Macuxi Indians.  These conferences continue to this day, alternating between six villages where churches have been started.

In 1961 Harold and Miriam started a small school in the village to teach reading and writing.  They were also able to build themselves a small house next to a young man named Paulo, who was one of the first to get saved.

Today the Igreja Batista Regular de Contão (Regular Baptist Church of Contão) is the largest Macuxi church in the region. It runs about 260 in Sunday School and has its own native pastor, deacons, and Sunday School teachers.

Picking up where others left off in Araçá

Araçá is a native village composed of both Macuxi and Wapixana Indians.  This village is located where the savannas meet the mountains about 10 miles east of Contão. These people lived from their gardens as well as from hunting and fishing in nearby rivers and streams.

The gospel was already being preached in Araçá in the 1960s before Harold and Miriam began ministering there.  Native pastors of the Pilgrim Holiness movement from a Patamona tribe in northern Guyana had crossed over into Brazil by foot, evangelizing in different areas.  Their ministries were progressing well until the Indian Affairs bureau denounced to the Federal Police the presence of foreigners without documents.  The Pilgrim Holiness missionaries were expelled from the country and also took some of their converts back to Guyana.  What remained of their work began to fall apart until Harold and Miriam were invited to help out. Around 1961, the Burnses took the work with the understanding that it would become a Baptist church.  Again Harold trained deacons to take leadership until the time that they could find a pastor. 

Today Igreja Batista Regular do Araçá (Regular Baptist Church of Araçá) averages about 200 on Sundays, and over the years has established two congregations.

Pacu: the gospel spreads from Contão

Pacu is a Macuxi Indian village in the mountains situated at the base of a high rocky ridge.  The Indians at Pacu live by hunting wild pigs and deer and by planting manioc, corn, beans, and squash in gardens near the village. In the early days, Pacu was accessible only by foot.

The spread of the gospel in Pacu was in part a connection with the new work in Contão.  Natives from all around had traveled to Contão to participate in the party life and later to attend the Christmas Bible conferences. Some of these people were from Pacu and returned home with a thirst to know more of God’s Word.  Two new Christians in Contão guided Harold by foot across the savannas, up the side of the mountain range to Pacu village.  This would have been in the early sixties. It was a long, difficult walk amidst rocks, steep slopes, and the beating sun.  A present day Macuxi pastor, who was only about seven years old at the time, says he remembers seeing Harold for the first time on that trip.  He was lying in his hammock reading his Bible.

The first services in Pacu were held in the house of the chief, a man named André. Pacu was a village much smaller than Contão, and almost everyone turned out to hear the gospel, and eventually most of the people accepted the Lord.  A small mud-brick church was built near the brook that ran through the village, with two deacons put in position of leadership until they were able to have their own pastor.

Sometime after the Igreja Batista Regular do Pacu (Regular Baptist Church of Pacu) was started, Harold went with the men of the church to search out an area for a landing strip.  They were able to build this strip and then have a Missionary Aviation Fellowship pilot come in to check it out.  From then on Harold and Miriam were able to come by plane to minister among the Macuxi brethren.  It was in Pacu village that the New Testament was later translated into the Macuxi language by BMM missionaries Ross and Cathy Hodsdon. 

Today in Pacu, almost everyone is saved and goes to church. Their attendance is about 90 in their services.  About 10 years ago, a group left Pacu to start a new village and with it, start a new church.  This new congregation is pastored by Lauriano, one of the first deacons at Pacu.

Leadership Training

One of Harold’s greatest concerns was preparing leadership for local native churches.  Usually twice a year Macuxi pastors, deacons, and teachers met together and still meet together for Bible studies and leadership training.  Harold often took with him pastors, seminary students, and other missionaries to help ground them in the Word.

One of the special needs of this work was study materials at a level of comprehension of the Macuxi students.  Many had never been to school.  Some taught themselves to read to satisfy their desire to know God’s Word.  Harold spent much time translating Warren Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament and summarizing it to bring it to their level.  Many of our Indian people have expressed gratitude for this simplified study help in their personal life and ministries.

A Tribute to the Burnses

In the early years, local Brazilian Christians didn’t get too involved in native evangelism.  A Macuxi pastor once said to us, “If it wasn’t for the Americans, we wouldn’t have the gospel today.”  We praise the Lord that God was able to use Harold and Miriam Burns and others like them to bring the good news of salvation to the native people of north Brazil.  They were willing to suffer hardship, lack of supplies, separation from families, and a hot equatorial sun in a far away land, all for the cause of Christ. Praise the Lord for the lives and the example of the Burnses.

Terry and his wife, Jane, have served in Brazil since the mid 1980s. Terry and Jane, with their children, Kelsey, Laura, Bethany, and Michael, live in Manaus, a city on the Amazon River . Terry makes regular trips to the Macuxi villages to strengthen the churches started by the Burnses. (end of article by Terry Carruthers).

Grace Trimble Kitner said that her father Garnet Trimble said: “Harold Burns finishes what I start.” Harold worked in many ministries that Garnet started in the state of Roraima and took them to completion.

Ruth Esther Burton

Prior to joining Baptist Mid-Missions, Ruth Esther Burton worked as a missionary in the São Francisco River Valley in Northeast Brazil from 1984 to January 1987. In January 1987, Ruth returned to the United States and in August joined Baptist Mid-Missions. A year later, August 1988, Ruth arrived in Fortaleza, Ceará, and began her career as a missionary with BMM.  In Portuguese, Ruth is known by the name Rute.

Ruth faithfully worked for ten and a half years (August 1986 to March 1997) at the Hope Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Esperança) in the Tancredo Neves and Juazeiro III subdivisions of Juazeiro da Bahia, Bahia. A group of BMM missionaries, led by Jerry Leonard, purchased the first property used for the gospel outreach in the subdivision of Tancredo Neves.  As the group of new believers grew, it became necessary to purchase a larger facility. With contributions from Alice Stowell and Tim Reiner, a new property was bought and a church built. About twelve years later, under the leadership of Pastor Isaías Lopes Pereira, the church, lacking space and with a vision for expansion, purchased another property and built a new building.

Ruth worked full time at the Hope Baptist Church along with Claúdia Nícia Ferreira (a missionary with MAB: Missão Auxiliadora Batista). Throughout the ten and a half years Ruth was there, she enjoyed the participation and collaboration of seminary student Aginaldo, missionary Tim Reiner, Bill and Dorothy Kettlewell, Ray and Jan Reiner, missionary Daniel Santana, Pastor Isaías and Betânia, and area pastors such as Emitônio and Wladmir.

Hope Baptist Church began as an outreach to children. Claúdia and Ruth met with the boys and girls from the community on a weekly basis. As the children came to know the Lord as their personal Savior, they became living testimonies of God’s working grace in their lives. This drew family and friends to hear the gospel and be saved; thus, the birth of a new church and fulfillment of Matthew 28:19 – “Go and make disciples of all nations . . .” But there was much more to do to fulfill Matthew 28:20 – “Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded . . .”

During these ten years, Ruth and Claúdia, along with other co-workers (American missionaries and Brazilian servants of the Lord), had the privilege of nurturing and strengthening the church in Tancredo Neves as the believers studied and observed His Word. Ruth´s  responsibilities were varied: Sunday school teacher, coordinator with Claúdia in the  children’s weekly program called EBEC (Escola Bíblica Evangelizadora de Crianças), director of the youth program, special events coordinator, main transportation driver, teacher of the deaf with Claúdia, and anything else that needed done. Ruth was also very involved with the visitation ministry. Claúdia and Ruth had a dual ministry – reaching children and reaching the deaf with the gospel of Jesus Christ. God blessed this work, and the church continues strong today.

After spending over ten years at Hope Baptist Church, Ruth spent the next ten years at the Baptist Church for the Deaf (Igreja Batista de Surdos) located on Rua 20, in the subdivision of Vila Eduardo, Petrolina, Pernambuco.

A desire was planted in Ruth´s and Claúdia’s heart to have a church for the deaf where they could meet and learn the Word of God in their own language (signing). God used Dick DeKoning, a dear friend of Ruth´s family, to challenge his church in the United States to finance the purchase of land and the construction of a church building and classrooms designed to reach the deaf with God’s wondrous Word. With Tim Reiner’s construction abilities and leadership, soon the deaf were enjoying the beginning of a very special new church family in Vila Eduardo, Petrolina. Through donations from churches affiliated with Doug Reiner and Ruth, more property was purchased a few years later for the construction of a sport’s court, kitchen, restrooms, and classrooms. Miss Frances Linn (now deceased), a missionary who served the Lord as a great frontline warrior in Uruguay, entrusted a sum of money to Ruth for the advancement of the gospel.  Her gift made possible the purchase of property for a future church for “hearing” believers that were saved through the ministry to the deaf.  May this gift be used for His honor and glory as Miss Linn would have invested it.

Ruth worked with Claúdia Ferreira (missionary with MAB), and Doug and Renate Reiner as a team for eight precious years. Ruth appreciated serving the Lord alongside these very special partners and would do so again if the opportunity would arise. With the departure of Doug and Renate, Tim and Vicki Reiner came to join this ministry. They were blessed a year later with the presence of Pastor Valdir and Carina, who joined the working team and helped them greatly with his special gift of signing for the deaf. Valdir is presently the pastor in Vila Eduardo.

The ministry to the deaf started many years earlier in Juazeiro da Bahia (1988) where a good group of deaf individuals came to know the Lord as their personal Savior. Their dream of having a place to receive the Word of God in their own language (without interpretation) came true on April 11, 1997, when they moved to the new church in Vila Eduardo. The working team grew to eight members: missionaries Doug and Renate Reiner, missionaries Claúdia and Rute, a Brazilian couple Estevam and Juniete, and two sisters, Rozilene and Edileuza.  The latter four are members of the Baptist church in Juazeiro da Bahia.

This team worked specifically for seven years reaching and nurturing the deaf with the Word of God. During this time, Ruth continued her involvement as Sunday school teacher, treasurer, special events coordinator, sports coordinator, discipleship leader, visitation co-partner, and whatever else came her way. When one is willing to serve the Lord, there are endless things to do. The deaf became vessels used by God to bring hearing members of their families and friends to know the Lord as their personal Savior. In no time at all, the church grew in its uniqueness as a part of it deaf and the other part hearing. Together they praise and honor the Lord. 

As the community around the church grew, God reactivated Ruth’s and Claudia’s compassion and concern to reach children for Christ. In 2003 a special evangelistic outreach to the children of Vila Eduardo began under Claúdia’s direction. A few months later she implanted the EBEC children’s program and added new Sunday school classes to meet the hunger they had to learn God’s Word. The church grew and acquired a new appearance with its sparkling, energetic members running around its facilities. Indeed, children add a special touch to the family of God.

In January 2007 the church invited Valdir Ligo to be pastor of the Vila Eduardo church. He and his wife continue serving the Lord in reaching the deaf, the hearing, and the children.

In addition to Ruth’s church planting ministry with the deaf, she has also served in the Lord in the following ministries: director of sports and recreation at Treasure Island Camp in Bahia (1988 to 2004), coordinator, along with Claúdia Ferreira, for deaf camps and children’s camps (1988 to 2006).

Presently Ruth and Claúdia are writing the second edition of the EBEC (Escola Bíblica Evangelizadora de Crianças) curriculum.  This curriculum was used in the São Francisco Valley for fifteen years before it began to be used in Fortaleza and the Cariri Valley. EBEC is a children’s weekly, two-hour program.  Its main emphasis is teaching the Word of God to bring children to a saving knowledge of Christ and to nurture them in their walk with the Lord.  In the second edition rewrite, Claudia and Ruth have completed the first two years of the four-year curriculum. Presently, there are fifteen churches using the EBEC program and ten more are interested in using it in 2009. Ruth and Claudia consider it a great honor and privilege to be used by God in this ministry.

Ruth especially wanted to express her appreciation and thankfulness for two mighty servants of God whose lives have been a great testimony and influence in Claúdia’s and Ruth´s lives. Ruth thanks the Lord for Elva Barber and Joan Reiner. Ruth wrote: ”Thank you for your example, prayers, encouragement, and support.”

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