Source: The Health Connection Newsletter | 3rd Quarter 2021
Manaus and São Paulo, Brazil | SAD
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a marked increase in the use of substances and other addictions has been noted among all ages. In an effort to meet that need, two church plants in Brazil ministering to people’s felt needs hosted an Adventist Recovery Ministries Global Journey to Wholeness Training. The Manaus “Alpha Space” church plant had their training on December 10-12, 2020 followed by the “New Seed” Church in May 9-13, 2021. Among the attendees were health professionals, pastors, church leaders and other lay members from various professional backgrounds. ‘This is such a needed ministry,’ said Dr. Luciana Costa, dentist and leader at the New Seed church in São Paulo. “We hope to use the 12-step Christ-centered approach to reach people struggling with addictions.” The New Seed church currently offers individual help to people living at cracolandia, a region where many crack addicts live, many of them homeless. Both Alpha Space and New Seed churches started as a church plant among the affluent and are now growing in members. The teams started meeting and experiencing emotional healing through Christ themselves. They ask for prayer as they implement this new ministry in their cities. A Division-wide training hosted by the South American Division was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic and has been tentatively rescheduled for March 2022.
