HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

2021 ANNUAL MISSIONARY REPORT

NAME:

BROLM - Brazil River of Life Ministries (Jeff, Monica, Roger and Isaac Fife)

 

MAILING ADDRESS/EMAIL/WEBSITE/TELEPHONE:

P.O. Box 8262 – Gray – TN – 37615

E-mail: fife@brolm.org  / rlm_fifes@hotmail.com  / roger@brolm.org  / isaac@brolm.org

http://brazilriveroflifeministries.blogspot.com/

In Brazil: 55-11-9-9511-2436 (WhatsApp)

 

FORWARDING AGENT/SENDING AGENCY/CONTACT INFORMATION:

Chair: Mark Haga E-Mail: markhaga@charter.net

Secretary: LeAnne Blackmore (423) 946-1332 E-mail: bmore@comcast.net  

Treasurer: Amy Crawford (423) 426-2471 E-mail: amycrawford70@comcast.net

Trustee: Wilbur Reid E-Mail: wilburreid3@gmail.com

Trustee: Phil Roberts E-Mail: Philsburgh@gmail.com

 

MISSION FIELD AND PEOPLE GROUP:

Portuguese-Speaking World (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, São Tome and Principe, Portugal, and USA)

 

MINISTRY MISSION STATEMENT:

Mission: Reach the Portuguese-Speaking world for Jesus Christ so they can reach the rest of the world.

Vision: Reach the lost through Evangelism, Mentor and Equip through Discipleship, Plant New Churches, Provide Assistance and Justice where needed.

 

PLEASE SUBMIT A DOCTRINAL STATEMENT UPON WHICH YOUR MINISTRY IS BASED.  PLEASE BE SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR STANCE ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND THE ROLE OF HUMAN SEXUALITY IN THE CHURCH:

Our ministry will discuss our doctrinal statement on our annual meeting, since we do not have one, however, being part of the Restoration Movement and the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, our doctrinal statement will be practically the same as Colonial Heights Christian Church has on its website (https://www.chcckpt.org/beliefs).

Regarding our stance on same sex marriage and the role of human sexuality in the church, we will have a formal position after our annual board meeting also, however, it will be based on the Nashville Statement, a biblically-based evangelical statement centered on sex, marriage, and human sexuality (nashville-statement).

As soon as our board meets and has these statements formally written we will share them with you all.

 

IN THE PAST YEAR, NON-CHRISTIAN INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BECOME CHRISTIAN INDIVIDUALS AS A RESULT OF THE WORK WITH WHICH GOD HAS ENTRUSTED BROLM:  Over 300

 

WHAT WAS YOUR ORIGINAL TIME COMMITMENT TO THIS MINISTRY? WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT TIME COMMITMENT TO THIS MINISTRY?

Our original commitment to this ministry is for life and it continues to be for life.

Monica and I have been serving in the Portuguese-Speaking World together for 34 years. BROLM been serving this same people group since 2001.

 

HOW IS GOD CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH YOUR MINISTRY AND WHAT WERE YOUR PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST YEAR?

GOD’S WORK THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF THE PAST YEAR:

1. BROLM is accomplishing its goals through evangelism, discipleship (personal discipleship and “Hands On” Bible College) and new church plants, promoting social work and justice where needed.

2. BROLM promotes an average of 3 evangelistic outreaches per month throughout the churches that BROLM has planted, however, with Covid19 we were not able to do the same types of evangelism that we have done in the past. Thus, we have been evangelizing people in need through aid. We have served food baskets, several bags of diapers, quarts of milk and cooking oil and much more. Many have come back to the Lord and many have been baptized during the pandemic. We have reached people that we would never reach without the pandemic.

2. BROLM offers monthly discipleship materials to all the BROLM churches and to many other Christian Churches throughout the Portuguese-Speaking World.

3. The “Hands On” Bible College is being offered Online, because of Covid 19, and we have students from all BROLM congregations and several locations. BROLM coordinates the “Hands On” Bible College in Mozambique and Portugal.

4. All the BROLM Churches are growing and at the same time, BROLM is preparing new teams to plant future new churches.

5. Jeff and Monica have invested their time in strengthening the leadership at the local churches. Thus, they have promoted several leadership training events, they visited all the churches and are encouraged to see each of them growing.

6. BROLM has been giving assistance to the work in Mozambique since 2003 where they just celebrated 25 years of ministry. The churches in Mozambique continue growing; new churches are being planted. The grade school is doing well. The Hope Home continues to server several boys and girls that are homeless.

7. Jeff leads the local leaders at 5 congregations in São Paulo. They all work as a big team together. As a whole they are working to reach all areas of Sao Paulo with the Gospel and planning to plant 15 new churches together. In the local level helping each other to reach their neighborhoods. More church leaders are being trained though “Hands On” Bible College.

8. BROLM promotes a National Leadership Summit every year, however, this year we had to cancel since our speakers from the churches in the USA could not come because of the pandemic.

9. BROLM Retreat has been used for day camps specially for the youth. We intend to start building a meeting and eating hall soon as God has provided BROLM with the funds for this purpose.

10. For BROLM the pandemic has been a great blessing. We have started several new ministries, we are doing many ministries better, many have come back to the Lord, and many lives have confessed, repented and been baptized in Jesus Christ.

11. A great addition to BROLM this past year was for Isaac to come to Brasil and work full time with us. He is responsible to coordinate the youth groups at BROLM´s congregations as a disciple pastor, the day camps for the youth, he is preaching at all BROLM congregations, focusing more at Campo Limpo Paulista Church, he is responsible for the monthly reports and videos and many other activities.

12. Another great addition to BROLM this past year was for Roger to offer to represent the ministry in the USA. Thus, at any time that you need someone to represent BROLM at CHCC Roger is available.

 

TYPES OF MINISTRY: (PLEASE CHECK)

EVANGELISM (X)

EQUIPPING/DISCIPLING (X)

MEDICAL MISSIONS ( )

MISSIONARY PREPARATION (X)

COUNSELING (X)

CHURCH PLANTING (X)

MISSIONARY ASSISTANCE (X)

BENEVOLENCE (X)

TRANSLATION SERVICES (X)

SHORT TERM MISSIONS (X)

OTHER (PLEASE EXPLAIN):

 

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DAY AND PRIMARY MINISTRY ACTIVITIES:

In the mission field there are no typical days, however here are some of the things we are sure to do every day:

Devotional (Prayer and Bible Reading).

Teaching and Sermon preparations.

Contact Church Leaders and Members.

Answer e-mails and other correspondences.

Family Time.

Here are some other activities:

Every Sunday – Preach two to four times at the BROLM Churches.

Every Monday – Work at the office, sermon preparation, write devotional for the week and Teach HoBC Online.

Every Tuesday – Discipleship at Jundiaí Church.

Every Wednesday – Discipleship at Campo Limpo Paulista Church.

Every Thursday – Discipleship at Pirituba Church.

Every Friday – Day Off.

Every Saturday – There are different types of outreach.

Every three months – Meet with all church leaders (pastors, elders and ministries leaders) this is done mostly online.

 

WHAT MARKERS HAVE YOU USED OVER THE PAST YEAR TO MEASURE YOUR MINISTRY’S EFFECTIVENESS?   HOW WELL HAS YOUR MINISTRY MET THESE MARKERS?  PLEASE EXPLAIN.

1. God’s approval – Everything we do is first presented to God in prayer, as we pray we ask God to show us where He is working so we can put our hands with His. When God opens the doors providing the volunteers to do the work and the resources, we know that He is approving.

2. People to be reached, baptized and discipled - For each congregation we set tangible goals and as we start to do our part through evangelism we see the Holy Spirit do His work of saving souls in our midst and the churches have grown. We try not to focus only on numbers, but on lives transformed by God’s Grace; thus, we work in discipling.

3. “Hands On” Bible College – We have set a goal to have a HOBC available to all congregations through classes online, we have students from several locations.

4. Church Plant – We focus on planting new churches that will grow to become strong congregations that are ready to plant other new congregations. After moving back full time to Brazil in 2015 we have concentrated on helping make these congregations stronger and God has given the blessing to see them grow stronger with vision for the future every day. Our goal being to plant 15 more churches in the next years in Sao Paulo.

 

GOALS AND VISION FOR THE NEXT YEAR:

1. Continue to help the local congregations and future church plants evangelistic outreach.

2. Continue to produce monthly discipleship material for the local congregations and other churches throughout the Portuguese-Speaking World.

3. Continue to offer the “Hands On” Bible College for all congregations in Brazil, Mozambique, and Portugal.

4. Promote leadership training by visiting the local churches and encouraging them.

5. Promote the seventh national Leadership Summit.

6. Start 20 new Small Groups.

7. Start building the meeting/eating hall at the retreat/camp and raise funds for the dorms and other buildings.

8. Isaac and Jamie are schedule to get married June 25^th and she plans to move to Brasil and work full-time with BROLM evangelizing by teaching English as second language.

9. Raise funds to add Jamie as full-time worker with us in Brasil.

 

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST YEAR:

Our personal highlight is the fact to be found by God worthy to work in His Kingdom.

Even though Monica has so many health limitations, it is great to see her commitment with the Kingdom and always looking forward to what God has next.

God has given us health—especially spiritually and mentally.

To see our sons, Roger and Isaac serving the Lord and willingness to work with us in God’s Kingdom!

 

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT FURLOUGH PLANS INCLUDING ANY PLANNED VISITS TO USA CHURCHES?

Jeff, Monica and Isaac are usually in the USA in Nov/Dec of each year, however, Roger is available to visit and report throughout the year. Isaac will be I the USA until July 2022, thus, he is also available.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT WHICH CHCC NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE?

We are doing well, Mônica has her limitations, otherwise we are healthy as a horse.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT PRAYER NEEDS, FAMILY NEEDS, AND FINANCIAL NEEDS WITH WHICH CHCC COULD POTENTIALLY ASSIST? WHAT NEEDS WOULD YOU LIKE US TO CONSIDER AS WE DEVELOP OUR NEXT ANNUAL MISSIONS BUDGET?

Please, pray for us as a whole, for all areas of life, we need all the prayers we can get.

Pray for Isaac that will get married and move to Brasil July 2022 to work with BROLM. Jamie will end her studies at Johnson University, May 2022.

Pray that God will give me (Jeff) wisdom to do His will and lead the ministry among the Portuguese-Speaking World with good health for His honor and glory.

Please, pray for each church and church leaders for God to give them wisdom to do His will.

We are in many ways attacked by Satan. The battles are many, but we know that Satan and his kingdom are defeated in Jesus’ name. We all need to keep our focus as we have seen his big trick is to take us off course attempting to change our focus. Thus we need your prays to “deliver us from the evil one”.

To maintain the “Hands On” Bible College at other local churches in Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique and online we need $12,000 per year.

To add Jamie as full-time worker in Brasil we need to raise $12,000.

We believe, all of our current supporters will continue supporting BROLM in 2022. If that is the case, we will be able to maintain the ongoing ministries without any extra funding; however, the funds to our new workers, and the “Hands On” Bible College are urgent needs.

We also believe that God will continue to be gracious and will permit us to build the retreat/camp—all for His honor and glory.

 

Thanks for your prayer and support, they are vital for us to continue to do what God has called us to do!

 

Jeff and Mônica Fife

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BROLM

Thanks for your prayers and financial support in 2021!

We did navigate in trouble waters, but Jesus was on the boat calming the storms and we are grateful.

Blessings,

 

Report of November 2021

• Youth Retreat

• What can I say about the youth retreat we had on the 2nd of November. God was there and He worked among us. 

• We had over 60 youth and amazing volunteers. Each person was committed to have fellowship and demonstrate the Love of Christ Jesus. 

• We had 2 of the youth giving their lives to Jesus! One of them was Anna, that was the third time in her life that she heard of Jesus. Before that she did not know Jesus as the Christ. 

• Of course there was a lot of soccer involved in our free time. Wow, the youth from our churches can really play soccer. Maybe in the future we can have a BROLM FC that will teach them soccer and most importantly speak of the Gospel.

• In all it was an amazing experience of Worshiping, fellowship, a lot of fun, and friendships being built through the five churches. 

• Prayer requests 

• Discipleship of the five churches in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

• Our Missionaries (Jeff, Monica, Roger, Isaac, Kebler, Juracema, Josimar, and Elena). 

• Our missionary in training, Marina (She is the daughter of Rubão who was the pastor of Jundiaí). Rubão passed away last March, please keep his family in your prayers. 

• Planting seeds our Homeless outreach at Pirituba (Alberto leads this ministry). 

• The building of the retreat for the meeting area and the kitchen (The BROLM retreat has been a blessing already and God will use it for much more). 

• Kleber and Juracema were coming to Brazil on Dec 15th for furlough. It has been 4 years since they came to Brazil. However, their flight was cancelled because COVID 19/Omicron. Juracema´s Mom is not doing well and they would like to see her soon. Also, they would like to see family and visit their supporters. 

• Food baskets are a great tool for BROLM to reach souls with God's love, and help so many that are in need throughout the pandemic. We pray that people would be employed, so they will not be heavily dependent on food baskets for daily food for their families. At the same time we pray that we have the resources to continue helping those in need. 

• As we navigate into a new year in deep and troubled waters, we ask that God will continue to guide us and give us wisdom. So, we will always do His will. One thing we know, everything will be alright in the end because we are keeping Jesus on our boat. Thanks for your prayers! 

• Yanomamis 

• “Being in a new indigenous village in the northern part of Brazil everything is new” (Josimar Coelho our missionary to the indigenous population of Brazil). 

• Our work comes down to education and evangelism. 

• We have a school for the indigenous recognized by the government with indigenous teachers that we have prepared them to teach. Lena Josimar’s wife is the coordinator of the school. The school operates always in the mornings. Also, we have the reinforcement for the adults to become literates. 

• On evangelism every evening we have bible study at the Malocas (Malocas is what they call their houses). Cool fact is that the Yanomamis love to pray. 

• On Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week during the morning at 5:30 they have a moment of prayer. 

• This is a little about what happens with the ministry to the indigenous. Where they do not have tv, internet, and technology available.

• Ways you can help financially: 

• Now you can also donate through PayPal for Brazil River of Life Ministries (BROLM) , your donation will go directly to BROLM’s bank account, and it is tax-deductible.

Go to PayPal.com and donate at roger@brolm.org  

• P.O. Box 8262 - Gray - TN 37615

• Here is the link for the video Highlights of the report of December 2021: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_xd47f1alY

• Please subscribe, like, share, and comment! 

If you want to know more about BROLM please get in touch with fife@brolm.org , isaac@brolm.org , or roger@brolm.org we will be more than happy to talk with you!

Report of October 2021

 

• Our Staff 

We are blessed to have a functioning board in the USA. They are a blessing in our staff and all the volunteers we have in each of the churches and ministries within BROLM. Our staff is composed by Jeff Fife, the executive director and on field director. Accompanying over 30 years of marriage and ministry together Monica Fife (Jeff’s wife), teaches in the Hands on Bible College where people are being built to be future leaders and faithful active members in the churches of Brazil and to the Portuguese-speaking world. Isaac Fife works as the director of the youth ministry mentoring the youth leaders of the five churches in Sao Paulo, Brazil, works as a disciple pastor with the members of the churches, and with the monthly reports of BROLM. Our newest member Roger Fife works full time on his personal job, but also helps the ministry by being the stateside representative. We are blessed to have such an active organization for the will of Jesus Christ be done through our lives. 

• Pirituba’s Birthday 

On the 23rd of October we celebrated 28 years of the church in Pirituba. Where can I start about this amazing night! All the five churches of Sao Paulo participated and we had a special presentation from the youth of Pirituba. And the most important part was when the five churches together took communion, we knew that Christ Jesus was present with us. We are blessed to work with amazing volunteers that search daily and practice being the bride of Christ Jesus. 

• Our Missionaries 

We are blessed to have amazing missionaries. The main focus of them is to make disciples that make disciples who make disciples of our King Jesus Christ. We have Jeff and Monica where our base in the Portuguese-speaking world is located (with the help of Roger and Isaac). Out of the five churches in Sao Paulo 10% of the income of each church goes to missions (mission minded congregations). In Mozambique, we have kleber and Juracema who just celebrated 25 years working for the Gospel to be known and lived (go read our report of September 2021 to know more about Hope School in Mozambique, more than a school! The file is attached). Also, in the northern part of Brazil we have Josimar and Helena proclaiming Christ Jesus to the Yanomani’s indigenous. They have translated parts of the New Testament into their dialect (see report of November 2021 next Month). 

By prayers and financial help you support this organization BROLM. Invite others to be part of BROLM as you are! We are thankful to God and you for being faithful. 

• Ways you can help financially: 

• Now you can also donate through PayPal for Brazil River of Life Ministries (BROLM) , your donation will go directly to BROLM’s bank account, and it is tax-deductible.

Go to PayPal.com and donate at roger@brolm.org  

• P.O. Box 8262 - Gray - TN 37615

• Here is the link for the video Highlights of the report of October 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGhCEBA2ad0

 

• Please subscribe, like, share, and comment! 

If you want to know more about BROLM please get in touch with fife@brolm.org , isaac@brolm.org , or roger@brolm.org we will be more than happy to talk with you! 

Report of September 2021

 Update: We have so many challenges and opportunities through our non-profit organization. We are blessed to have your support through prayers and financial support! Starting with this monthly report, we will focus on three areas that Brazil River of Life Ministries works with. If you want to know more about what we do please contact us by emailing isaac@brolm.org , roger@brolm.org , or fife@brolm.org We will be happy to share what God has been doing through BROLM and the needs of our non-profit. 

• Food Baskets: 

Through your support in this time of need, we have the opportunity to give food baskets. We want to share how much you all have helped and can continue helping these families that do not even have the basic necessities to have food during the month or even the week. 

• Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have donated over 2,000 food baskets. 

• In this period of time, we have helped over 300 families. 

• We are helping an average of 50 families monthly. 

We ask the question; Why do we have this huge need in the city and state of Sao Paulo, Brazil? 

• So many people have lost their jobs through this pandemic time, and until today they are jobless. A lot of stores and businesses were closed because of bankruptcy. These families have the need for food baskets, because without them they would be starving right now. They would have zero possibilities of having a meal a day, but thanks to the Lord our God and your help we have been the hands and feet of Jesus in these families' lives. And, we have a huge problem in Brazil with the inflation of the cost of the food baskets. The food baskets we were purchasing with $15.00 now cost $18.00. We need your help, these families need your help. 

• 25 years of Mozambique: 

We are celebrating 25 years of the Ministry in Mozambique through the work of Hope school with our missionaries Kleber and Juracema! Interesting fact,  with your support and 10% of all the offering from the BROLM churches in Brazil goes to missions such as this one in Mozambique, that continues a strong work on different areas of ministries across the Portuguese-Speaking world. 

• Discipleship (over 50 leaders and disciples of them in each of the 147 churches). These 50 leaders meet monthly with Kleber (Missionary) for Biblical doctrine and discipleship. 

• Church planting (We have 147 churches in Mozambique). 

• Hope school (they have an average of 920 students from elementary to middle school). Because of the pandemic, we had to decrease the amount of students.   

• Sending missionaries to the villages and places where the Gospels are unknown (There are 11 locations Villages, cities, and counties, where the Gospel is unknown and there is the dream of reaching the more northern areas). 

• We have housing at the Hope school for the students who were homeless (We have 65 students between kids, teenagers, and youth in the housing at Hope School). 

And, always seeking towards the needs of the society. 

• Discipleship: 

We see discipleship as an important area of our ministry. We want to share one principle that we actively work on day by day. Paul in the letter to the Corinthians says; “to follow his example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Our ultimate and perfect example is Christ Jesus and He is the one we ultimately follow. However, we are not perfect as Jesus and we are sinners. So, we follow the example of people, mentors, and leaders in the way they follow Jesus Christ. 

• Ways you can help financially: 

• Now you can also donate through PayPal for Brazil River of Life Ministries (BROLM) , your donation will go directly to BROLM’s bank account, and it is tax-deductible.

Go to PayPal.com and donate at roger@brolm.org  

• P.O. Box 8262 - Gray - TN 37615

• Here is the link for the video Highlights of the report of September 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqMSeOqFIgE 

• Please subscribe, like, share, and comment! 

If you want to know more about BROLM please get in touch with fife@brolm.org , isaac@brolm.org , or roger@brolm.org we will be more than happy to talk with you!