Jeff has been serving as a church planting missionary at Igreja Baptista da Ramada (Ramada Baptist Church) since July 2009. The church averages 50 people on a Sunday morning. The body is made up of largely Portuguese, though we have some Brazilian and African immigrants as well.
The Ramada church actually was the first church planted by ABWE missionaries back in the early 80's. It grew to about 100 people and was turned over to national leadership. Sadly, though, through an unfortunate series of events the church eventually dwindled to about 10 people. ABWE missionaries were called on to re-enter the work and "rescue" the church.
After 10+ years of slowly being nursed back to health, Ramada is now a growing and more stable church. Jeff entered the work at Ramada specifically to help strengthen and mature the church, particularly as it prepares for national leadership in the future. Jeff is working alongside an experienced missionary colleague to help teach and train up godly men--men who can share the responsibility of leading and shepherding the flock. Recently, God has brought a Portuguese young man to the church, someone who has had some Bible training and who strongly senses God's call to be a pastor. We are hopeful that God might have a future place of pastoral ministry at Ramada for this young man.
Some areas of Jeff's responsibility at Ramada include: teaching; worship/music; overseeing adult education; and pastoral responsibilities. Jenny has served in the music/worship ministry and has led various music-training workshops; she also is building solid friendships with some of the women of the church, looking to mentor and disciple as God provides opportunity.
Eventually, when God provides national pastoral leadership for the church, Jeff will work alongside a small team of people from Ramada to plant a new daughter church. Even now, various new target areas are being considered!
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Jeff is excited to begin a new facet of ministry--namely serving as the Academic Director of a new bible institute that is starting in Portugal. Instituto Bíblico Nova Geração (New Generation Bible Institute) is slated to begin it's inaugural year October 1, 2011. The institute is being spearheaded by one of our Portuguese pastors, Samuel Trancoso. It's been his vision and desire to have a resident bible school where students may come and receive a sound biblical-theological education and be trained for a lifetime of ministry and service in the local church and in other strategic ministries.
New Generation Bible Institute will offer a one-year and a three-year program, with the latter including a fourth-year ministry internship. An emphasis on practical ministry experience is woven into the fabric of the school, as students will leave the campus each Friday evening and serve in their respective local churches over the weekends. Summer ministries requirements and a short-term missions trip are also part of the overall program of study.
As academic director, some of Jeff's responsibilities will include designing and scheduling courses, selecting professors, overseeing student's portfolios, and of course, teaching. Classes will be in a modified block format, meaning that students will take one or two courses at a time, each course lasting typically 1-2 weeks. This will allow for guest instructors to come and teach, as well as eliminate the need for a resident faculty--important factors for a small school starting out with limited resources.
Pray for Jeff, Samuel, and the entire leadership team of New Generation Bible Institute as heavy planning and preparations are currently underway for the inaugural school year.
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