Bringing the Gospel to the Indigenous Brazilians
About Brazil's Native Peoples
The Northeast of Brazil houses hundreds of indigenous Brazilian communities. These communities are broken down into approximately 228 officially recognized ethic subgroups, of which ten are considered “partially-isolated,” 27 are deemed “isolated,” and nine are feared extinct. In most of these communities, Jesus is a foreign concept. Just in the Northeast of Brazil, there are at least 29 ethnic groups completely unreached by the Gospel message. Thankfully, the indigenous communities in Southern Brazil have been more reached by missionaries.
Reaching the Indigenous Population
Ricardo Poquiviqui, his wife Flavia, and his daughter Renatinha are from an indigenous community. They are devoted to sharing the good news of Jesus with other indigenous communities in the Northeast of Brazil. Ricardo is the head of the JUVEP Department of Indigenous Mission, and is a well-known Christian leader among the native peoples of Brazil. When funds allow, he travels to visit unreached indigenous communities. Once there, he asks the local leaders for permission to evangelize their communities, and then does so if they agree. He also leads meetings for native evangelical leaders, and provides support.
Vision for Evangelism to the Northeastern Brazilian Indigenous
Romans 10:13 says that all who invoke the name of Jesus will be saved. At this time, many of the indigenous peoples are dying with never hearing the news of Jesus. They have never had the chance to embrace their advocate. The good news of Jesus Christ is wholly unknown to them, and many perish without hope. Romans 10:17 states “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Let’s take the gospel to these peoples, so they can hear the message and believe rather than live and die in darkness.
More about Brazil's Indigenous Peoples
Culture among the Indigenous
These indigenous populations, for the most part, remain completely isolated. Among these people, many live below the poverty line. They also often lack electricity and schools for their children, resulting in relatively high numbers of illiterate individuals.
Religious Traditions among the Indigenous
God loved us first regardless of race, color or social status. The religious traditions among the indigenous peoples in Brazil usually consist of a mix of various fables, syncretism, animism, and various Catholic rituals. However, they are typically very welcoming and receptive to the teachings of the Word. These communities can and must be reached, but the workers are few and the resources for doing so are even fewer.
Future Work to Evangelize Brazil's Indigenous Population
- Complete the survey of all native communities in the Northeast of Brazil, cataloging and ministering to their needs.
- Engage directly with community leaders, creating an opening for evangelistic outreach.
- Bring new believers to Christ, planting the first seeds in unreached areas.
- Train up indigenous leaders to be pastors, lay leaders and evangelists.
- With a core of believers, form new churches in indigenous communities.
- Provide support for new churches and church leaders.
- Teach the new church's to embrace spreading the Gospel as a core responsibility.
How to Support the Evangelistic Work
Today, evangelism to the indigenous peoples of Northeast Brazil is primarily limited by lack of funding. The Sertão is large and travel to remote villages necessitates the use of vehicles. Fuel is costly and many roads in the Sertão are tough on cars. Evangelism to indigenous communities incredibly difficult, because of how they are spread and their typically remote locations. Your financial support can allow missionaries to these peoples to reach more needy souls.
Satan likes keeping the indigenous peoples in hopeless darkness, but the light of the good news of Jesus can transform their lives into ones of joy, peace, and love. Your support through prayer can mean the world to the efforts of missionaries to the indigenous of Brazil.