  Federated Republic of Brazil South America Geography Area: 8,511,965 sq km, one-half of the land surface and population of South America. World's fifth largest country in both area and population. Population As of 2010: 210.1 million Capital: Brasilia, 3,904,918 Other major cities: Sao Paulo, 20.3 million; Rio de Janeiro, 12 million -- 18 other cities with at least one million Peoples Brazil is a melting pot of nations with much intermarriage and blending of the many immigrant ethnicities. Most Brazilians have at least some mixed ethnic heritage. European: 50.2% including the world's largest diaspora populations of Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and German Mixed race: 38.0% Mestizo and Mulatto African: 6.4%, mostly descendants of slaves brought from West Africa Asian: 5.6% including the largest Japanese population outside of Japan -- 0.7%, Jews and Chinese Amerindian: 0.41% - 275 indigenous tribal groups speaking 185 languages. Only 700,000 tribal people remain Literacy 88.6% Official Language: Portuguese A total of 193 languages are spoken, including 181 indigenous languages. Economy Vast natural resources combine with a large labor force to create an emerging economic superpower, especially in agriculture. One great challenge will be to increase agricultural space without traumatizing the precious Amazon and Pantanal ecosystems -- stewardship v exploitation. Unemployment: 10% Religion Catholic - 72.79% of population Protestant - 16.34% Independent - 12.42% Orthodox - 0.09% Marginal - 1.54% Fmc in Brazil Present Ministries
The Brazilian FMC saw significant growth in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2003, the Brazilian conference became a provisional general conference and elected their first suffragan bishop, Jose Ildo Swartelle de Mello. In August 2004, the Brazilian Provisional General Conference reorganized with five annual conferences. This conference was recognized as a General Conference in November 2007. A church planting strategy is targeting the national capital Brasilia. Missionaries Dan and Hope Owsley are assisting in this work. Parallel to the Brazilian General Conference, the Nikkei Annual Conference has continued to grow its ministries in Brazil and around the world. Although at one time, the Nikkei Conference was uniquely focused on persons of Japanese descent, its churches now look very much like Brazil with diverse membership. The Nikkei churches experience steady growth year after year. Outreach to the World The two Brazilian conferences have sent missionaries to Portugal, Italy, Hungary, a creative access country, East Timor (Indonesia), Equatorial Guinea, Venezuela, and the Suruwaha tribe in the Amazon Rainforest. Furthermore, the general conference oversees a mission district in Angola. The Nikkei Conference connects with Japanese-descendent churches in Paraguay, Peru, and Argentina. Brazilian General Conference
Nikkei Annual Conference
Challenges for Prayer Endemic corruption and cronyism Poverty still affects tens of millions Crime is a serious problem Brazil is a spiritually open country Numerical rather than spiritual growth is an emphasis Prosperity theology is shaping much of Protestantism Effective appropriate training is key to the above Indigenous Amerindians have endured centuries of prejudice, oppression, massacre and exploitation, which continue to this day by encroaching woodcutters, gold prospectors and ranchers. Their unique cultures are disintegrating through despair, disease, substance abuse and suicide. |
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