Fields of EMAF
11/11/2011 . MEAP PARANÁ
The ministry on the islands and coastal fields of Paraná extending from the frontier of SP to Paranaguá, was initiated years before the birth of EMAF. Marcio and Damaris were responsible for the work. The churches of Vila Fátima, Puruquara and Peças were rapidly planted, while the Gospel was preached in the twenty seven communities in that region. It was in 1985, a year before the foundation of EMAF, that we formed the first health team to attend that people – many others have followed along the years.
WITH THE BIRTH OF EMAF, the region has been much better attended to. While the new missionaries were trained, they would serve there. Celso, Sílvio and Abraão were bachelors and two of them, though cooking very badly, were responsible for feeding us – after all, we lived in the boat most of the time. I can’t say that they have improved in the culinary art during those days, but my stomach learned to digest the undecipherable “stuff” that appeared on my plate!
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SOME YEARS LATER Natanael, Madalena and their two children arrived, a real blessing for the growth of the church on the Ilha das Peças. At the same time, the fisherman brothers became involved in their missionary work. I will never forget the power of the new little churches evangelizing their own people! In those days Celso Petry resided at Puruquara, building up the local church, training leaders, planting a church at Tibicanga, with the help of converted natives, and maintaining several preaching points. Many times he traveled for hours, from village to village, to proclaim the love of God, ROWING!!
A NEW IMPULSE, however, marked the history of evangelization in that region as of 1996, when EMAF Paraná, made its base at Paranaguá. Og, Sônia and their two children were chosen to lead the base and made the ministry grow and solidify. Other missionaries and leaders arrived and dozens of teams of volunteers were received by EMAF PR each year.
With the passing of time the city of Guaraqueçaba became more strategic for the work and we moved our base from Paranaguá, turning the ministry more agile and efficient.
The goal of EMAF is to disappear as the churches that are engaged in the growth of the Kingdom meet the needs of the fishermen. It was this way with CEC of Curitiba, one of EMAF’s best partners in the whole of its history, that for years have blessed us in that and other regions. The church maintains a missionary training centre and has, effectively, taken the place of EMAF along the most remote coast of Paraná, doing a most excellent work.
We praise the Lord for this beautiful chapter of evangelization along our coast and we hope the Lord will give us the authority to reach the 33 thousand riverside communities still awaiting the Gospel in the Amazon – may His Kingdom come! We count on you always!
Pr. Marcio Garcia
Executive Direc
July/2011
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