2018 BROLM Missionary Annual Report:
Dear
Friends— October 27, 2018
Each year,
Brazil River of Life Ministries is asked to submit annual reports and financial
data for various supporting
churches.
Because you have been a part of this ministry, we want to make sure you stay
informed of the details as
well. So,
we’ve merged the Q&A’s from a couple reports to give you a snapshot of all
that is going on in the
Portuguese-speaking
world through BROLM.
We cannot
tell you how much you mean to this ministry. Your prayers, giving, and
encouragement are vital to God’s
kingdom
work.
Many
blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving season!
LeAnne
Blackmore
BROLM
Secretary
P.S. Jeff
and Monica will be in the U.S.A. November 7 - December 14. Their schedule, as
of today’s date, looks like this:
Nov 6 Leave
Brazil
Nov 7
Arrive Tri Cities, TN
Nov 11
First Christian Church, Johnson City, TN — Mission Booth / Prayer
Nov 11-18
Cincinnati, OH — ICOM 2018
Nov 19-24
Thanksgiving Week — Family Time
Nov 25
Seymour Heights Christian Church, Seymour, TN — Presentation; Missions Mtg
Dec 1 Drive
to Bumpass, VA
Dec 2
Bethany Christian Church, Bumpass, VA — Preach 2 Services; Speak in S.S.
Dec 3 First
Christian Church, Johnson City, TN — Missions Team Mtg
Dec 4
Johnson City, TN — BROLM Board Meeting
Dec 8 Fly
to Dallas, TX
Dec 9 Cornerstone
Christian Church, Dallas, TX
Dec 9-11
Kansas City — ICOM 2019 Meetings
Dec 11 Fly
to Johnson City, TN
Dec 14
Return to Brazil
2018 ANNUAL
MISSIONARY REPORT
NAME:
BROLM —
Brazil River of Life Ministries (Jeff & Monica Fife)
MAILING
ADDRESS / CONTACT INFO:
P.O. Box
8262 — Gray — TN — 37615
www.brolm.org
(website currently under construction)
Email:
fife@brolm.org
Skype:
Jeff.fife
Facebook:
Jeff E monica Fife
Brazil #:
55-11-9-9511-2436
STATESIDE
CONTACT:
Amy
Crawford, CPA (BROLM Treasurer)
Email:
amycrawford70@comcast.net
423-426-2471
BOARD
MEMBERS:
Chairman:
Wilbur Reid (wilburreid3@gmail.com)
Secretary:
LeAnne Blackmore (bmore@comcast.net)
Treasurer:
Amy Crawford (amycrawford70@comcast.net)
Trustee: Jim
Knowles (jimknowlestn@gmail.com)
Trustee:
Phil Roberts (philsburgh@gmail.com)
Trustee:
Mark Haga: (markhaga@kingsporttn.gov)
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.
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 200
HOW LONG
SERVING ON THIS FIELD:
Monica and I
have been serving in the Portuguese-Speaking World together for 30 years. BROLM
been serving this same people group since 2001.
ORIGINAL
TIME COMMITMENT TO THIS MINISTRY AND CURRENT TIME COMMITMENT TO THIS MINISTRY:
Our
original commitment to this ministry is for life and it continues to be for
life.
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. During
this year BROLM promoted an average of 3 evangelistic outreaches per month
throughout the churches that BROLM has planted in the Southeast, Midwest and
Northeast Brazil.
2. BROLM
offers monthly discipleship materials to all the BROLM churches and megacities—cities
with 10 million+ people) funded the training in Sao Paulo. The Metropolitan
Region of São Paulo, also known as Greater São Paulo, is the largest
metropolitan region in Brazil, with about 21.5 million inhabitants, and one of the
ten most populous metropolitan regions in the world. We thank Shepherd Church
and pastor Dudley Rutherford for their generosity.
10. BROLM
was blessed purchasing almost 6 acres of land to build a retreat/camp and we
are working on approving construction plans. We need US $120,000 for the first
phase and we have already raised US $36,000. The whole retreat estimate cost is
US $500,000.
DESCRIBE
YOUR OUTREACH TO AND WORK WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND CHURCHES:
BROLM
churches do several outreaches monthly.
We reach
children, adolescents, youth, ladies, men, and couples, families throughout
specific programs at the local churches and also on the streets.
Every
Sunday we reach the homeless by serving them breakfast on the streets and we
gather them at square and they
are
evangelized. The homeless are invited to come to the evening services (our
Sunday services are in the evening,
many do
come—we serve them dinner) and many have given their lives to Christ. We have
helped many homeless go
back to
their families, get jobs, and be restored among society and most
importantly—restore their relationship with
Christ.
Through a
joint effort between the church and the health department, every Friday we
offer Blood Pressure
Measurement,
Dextrose Control, Quick HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis Testing for the community.
We focus on a monthly
theme (Sept
Yellow Suicide Awareness, Oct Pink Breast Cancer Awareness, Nov Blue Prostate
Cancer Awareness
and etc.).
BROLM
offers the Hands On Bible College at the BROLM Churches and we have several
students from other churches. Actually, many pastors that did not have the
opportunity to study and were ordained by their denominations, are studying
with us.
Our
services are streamed live online and we have thousands of views all over the
globe. We also have received many messages from sick people in their homes and
hospitals that live in our community thanking us for the service and how much
it encourages them.
The BROLM
churches have several gatherings during the year with all churches gathering at
one of the churches to celebrate and encourage each other.
I (Jeff)
meet with the pastors of each BROLM church once a month, with all of them
together every three months and we have a Leadership Summit for all the church
leaders once a year.
These are
just a few ways that we do outreach and work with the local community and
churches.
PERSONAL
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST YEAR:
Monica and
I are very happy to see our sons growing and maturing, however more important,
it has been to see their commitment with the Lord!
Isaac
started his junior year at Johnson University this fall. He came to Brazil for
his second internship this summer and it was a great blessing. Isaac preached,
led worship, did Communion and Offering Mediations and worked with the youth
groups. His commitment with the Kingdom is contagious!
Roger is
studying and working in the USA.
Overall,
the biggest highlight in our personal lives is to be found by God to be worthy,
and it is He that makes us worthy, to work for Him in His Kingdom! In spite of
us, He is merciful and He uses us for his honor and glory!
God has
blessed us tremendously to see so many souls reached for Christ and His kingdom
growing. It is an honor to be used by God in His Kingdom!
TYPE(S) OF
MINISTRY:
Evangelism,
Church Planting, Equipping/Discipling, Missionary Assistance, Benevolence,
Missionary Preparation, Translation Services, Counseling and Short Term
Missions.
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 at Bom Retiro and Pirituba Churches.
Every
Monday – Teach at “Hands On” Bible College at Pirituba.
Every
Tuesday – Day Off.
Every
Wednesday – Discipleship at Pirituba
One
Thursday per month – Discipleship at Campo Limpo Paulista.
One
Thursday per month – Discipleship at Jundiai.
One
Saturday per month – Teach at “Hands On” Bible College at Sao Mateus.
Once a
month meet personally with the church pastors.
Every
couple months – Teach Thursday, Friday and Saturday at “Hands On” Bible College
at Palmas, TO.
Every three
months – Meet with all church leaders (pastors, elders and ministries leaders).
DESCRIBE
HOW YOU TAKE TIME FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL GROWTH:
1. Daily
Bible reading and devotions—this is the first thing of the day…without this we
cannot sustain ministry.
2. Read the
whole Bible once and the New Testament twice—this is a practice we have
maintained for several years.
3. Read
books on evangelism, leadership, church planting, and counseling.
4. Take
time off for a personal retreat at least twice a year.
5. Take one
day off per week to refresh.
6. Attend
the national gathering of pastors of the Christian Churches in Brasilia.
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.
The markers
we use to measure our ministry effectiveness are:
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 at each congregation and we
have seen this goal happen before our eyes, with more students at each location.
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.
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 at the local congregations in Brazil,
Mozambique, and Portugal. The goal is to offer the “Hands On” Bible College at
all BROLM Churches; for this to become a reality we are training new teachers.
4. Promote
leadership training by visiting the local churches and encouraging them.
5. Promote
the sixth national Leadership Summit.
6. Start 20
new Small Groups.
7. Work as
ICOM 2019 president.
8. Raise
funds and start building the retreat/camp.
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 come to Brazil and
add to God’s Kingdom!
CURRENT
FURLOUGH PLANS:
Monica and
I will be in the USA from Nov 07 to Dec 14, 2018.
CURRENT
PRAYER NEEDS, FAMILY NEEDS, AND FINANCIAL NEEDS:
- Please,
pray for Monica’s health. She has had many health problems through the years
and she has had many of the same symptoms that she used to have before she had
the brain tumor removed in 2008.
- Pray for
our sons Roger and Isaac who are studying in the USA. Roger feels that his
calling is teaching and he is being prepared for that and Isaac has a calling
for missions and he is being prepared for that.
- 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 launch
the “Hands On” Bible College at other local churches in Brazil and to keep the
“Hands On” Bible College in all the locations in Brazil, Portugal, and
Mozambique we need $10,000 per year.
- To build
the first phase of the retreat/camp we need to raise $120,000. This first phase
will make it possible to accommodate 100 campers.
IN REGARDS
TO YOUR FINANCES, PLEASE SUMMARIZE HOW YOU HAVE MANAGED YOUR BUDGET THIS PAST
YEAR AND SHARE ANY PRESSING NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME.
God has
provided throughout this year in a way that we have met most of our 2018
budget, however, we will only use the resources as God provides them. As we
work to be good stewards, we control the ministry expenses so we are never in
the red. God has blessed us with great supporters and with great people that
help us manage the resources that He has provided, and we are very conscious in
using these resources for His honor and glory.
BROLM 2019
Yearly Budget for the ministry in Brazil, “Hands On” Bible College, Mozambique,
Operations, Living, and Mission Trips is $83,400.00. If the supporters that
have supported BROLM in 2018 continue with their regular support in 2019,
between churches and individuals that support the ministry in Brazil and
Mozambique, we have committed $64,716.00. Furthermore, for BROLM to reach its
goal for 2019, we need an additional 28.87% OR $18,684.00 IN SUPPORT.
BROLM is
planning to begin building the Retreat Center in Brazil in 2019. The estimated
cost is $120,000.00 and we have received $36,598.50 so far.
