GREENFIELD — When coronavirus protocols kept people away from ministering to indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest, they turned their attention to what they could do: serve people in Brazilian towns just outside the area.
As a result, two churches have started.
When a couple in Mexico could not meet in person with others close by, they reached out to offer spiritual encouragement to people in 20 other countries via Zoom.
So when leaders and supporters of World Renewal gather next week for the ministry organization’s annual celebration, they won’t just be commiserating about how challenging it’s been to carry out ministry since 2019, the last time they were able to have the event.
They will truly be celebrating.
“God has blessed us,” said Gary Wright, president and founder of World Renewal. “We didn’t know that we would have such positive stories.”
Stories from five continents. Sadness over losses experienced in the last year or two. Grateful wonder at victories that were unanticipated amid the coronavirus, but nevertheless happened.
Those who gather Thursday plan to share all these in a time of worship at Brandywine Community Church.
When World Renewal began in Kansas in 1986, the annual banquet was often in St. Louis, an in-between point for people from Kansas, Illinois and Indiana. The events began taking place in Greenfield after Wright, who grew up in eastern Hancock County, moved back to the area with his family in 1998.
Organizers say there is no keynote speaker this year. Instead, a chair will be left vacant at each table, “remembering that Jesus is our guest of honor, and we’re there to worship him,” said Rachel Ferguson, head of publications and a Brazil representative for World Renewal.
During the program, ministry leaders from some of the 51 countries where World Renewal has a presence and/or partnership will share video updates on work in their countries.
In another portion of the evening, people will reflect on losses experienced, “light” LED candles to represent those losses, and bring them up front as a sign of lament.
They’ll also be able to write answers to prayer on cards during another part of the evening.
Songs of praise will be interspersed with the ministry updates. Worship leader Tyago França grew up in Brazil and has been familiar with World Renewal for a long time.
He attended the Community Church of Carpina, singing in a choir and later learning to play piano and other instruments. Between piano lessons, he practiced on a cardboard keyboard he had drawn. Later an uncle bought him a keyboard as a gift.
He finds it a fulfilling, full-circle moment to lead worship at the celebration, “to give and work for the Lord where everything started,” he said. “Basically I’m a byproduct of a church plant in Brazil through World Renewal.”
He’ll lead worship music several languages, among them Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and Swahili.
Ferguson hopes the event will foster “a sense of realizing there’s a bigger picture … God is still moving.” She also hopes the international feel will remind people of the myriad ethnicities that populate Heaven.
Franço also appreciates that international flavor.
“(I’m) so grateful to be part of a multicultural community that actually values and celebrates the differences …,” he said, “and (to) worship the Lord together.”
