Mission to PortugalAn Experience of

Faith Love and HopeJuly 2009

Pessoas

The People

• 10.5 million people live in a country the size of Indiana

• There are 18 Districts (counties)• 3.5 million live in Lisbon the Capital• Native Portuguese, Brazilians,

Africans, Europeans and Americans and Gypsies comprise this diverse population

Cultura

The Culture-Government

• Kingdom founded in 1143 by Alfonso Henriques

• 15th Century is the Portuguese Age of Discovery

• 1492 Columbus sails from Portugal to the Americas

• 1928 Portugal Monarchy falls to communist dictatorship

• 1974 Democratic freedom is visited upon Portugal

The Culture-Arts

• Fado is the popular folk music and has a blues type genre

• Fernando Pessoa is the famous poet laureate who created a series of alter egos and published under each one

• The Lisboa Cristo Rie was built facing the Brazilian one to thank Deus for keeping Portugal out of WWII

Alimento

Culture-Food

• Food is what brings the Portuguese together

• Pastelle De nata is a favorite local pastry

• As a seafaring cultural, Cod and Sardines are a must eat to be considered Portuguese

Religiao

Culture-Religion

• Predominately Roman catholic (78%). Most are marginally faithful

• Portuguese Romanists are superstitious and are adherents to Fatima and Mariology

• Evangelicals are associated with the cults like Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses (1%)

• The Health and Wealth message has been popular as this poor country is being invaded by western materialism

Nassa Missao Especial

Nassa Missao Especial

Our Particular Mission

• To handle the church services• To provide computer education to

draw young people to the church• To encourage and refresh the

Arabis family and other believers• To establish a marriage seminar

program

Evangelizacao

• There are about 6,000 known evangelical believers in ALL of Portugal

• The Baptist Seminary has an evangelical website that has reached 10,000 people in the past year

• 2,000 confessions of faith have been made through this website

Evangelization

• There are less than 20 evangelical churches in Portugal with an average attendance of 25

• There are 250 communities with no evangelical witness

• There are 8-10 seminary graduates each year with no church to support them

Evangelization

• Portuguese are hesitant at first, but are open to the gospel

• Free Education in Computers and Music open many doors to the gospel

• Adult Day care is highly favored by the local community

• The small army of Portuguese Christians are overwhelmed by the 2000 responses

Evangelization

• The government requires that religion be taught to each child in the public school system

• Each school age child is given a laptop computer by the state with the assistance of Microsoft

• Portuguese want to learn English making ESL a popular inroad for mission work

Evangelization

• Do you perceive a problem?• Is the Holy Spirit directing you to find

out more?• See me for a detailed brochure and

invite me to coffee to discuss solutions• Thank you for your prayers and financial

support. Obrigado!• Visit

www.mrpcamissiontoportugal.weebly.com