Baptist Mid-Missions of Brazil

75th Anniversary: 1935 - 2010

Missionaries with last names starting with the letter

"C"

Last updated on November 8, 2009

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Terry and Jane Carruthers

Terry and Jane Carruthers joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 1984. Terry and Jane are Canadians. They arrived in Brazil on May 22, 1986, through the port of Manaus, Amazonas. It was there they studied Portuguese with a private tutor and completed their language studies in October 1987. 

From 1988 to 1993, the Carruthers worked at the Milho Baptist Church (Igreja Batista do Milho) in the village of Milho, Roraima. The Indians of this village (half Macushi and half Wapixana) built their first building out of sundried bricks with a palm thatch roof.  In 1992-93, the Carruthers built a nice brick building that seated 150. The Indians made enough bricks to build this church, a second church, and a parsonage for a nearby congregation.

At Milho, Terry and Jane worked together with a young man called Abel Ramos. Abel was the pastor, Terry was the missionary, and Jane worked with the children and trained the people to sing in parts. The years that the Carruthers spent at Milho were exciting and fruitful. The church was organized in 1993 with Abel as the pastor. One of the greatest blessings of ministry there was the salvation of a young man called Paulino Raposo. God called Paulino to the ministry, and he had a very successful ministry in another Indian church.  Today he is a missionary to his own people.

From 1992 to 1997 Terry and Jane served the Lord in the Baptist Church of the Island (Igreja Batista da Ilha), in the village of Ilha, Roraima.  This church was started under a mango tree where they held services for a few months until the new believers were able to build a church building. In 1993 the Macushi Indians built their own building out of burnt bricks. As always, the Carruthers sought someone to work alongside them, and they were blessed with Pastor Paulino Raposo. The church was organized in 1994 with Albert Ramos as pastor.  Later, Terry discipled Rangeldo Morais, who was from this village. He became the pastor in 1997 and continues as the pastor of this church today.

Terry and Jane´s third work in Roraima was the Grace Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular da Graça), in the subdivision of União, Boa Vista, Roraima. They worked at this church from 1997 to 2006. In Boa Vista, the Carruthers bought several properties for a church and for a parsonage. In 1997 a small building was built which later became a Sunday school building. In 1999, the church parsonage was built, and in 2002-03 they built an auditorium that could seat over 200. This church was started in 1997 in a new area where there were so few homes at the time that someone said –“If it doesn’t work out, you can always sell the property!” Today the church is centered in a large residential area close to a school, medical clinic, and a private university. This work seemed to grow overnight and the Lord gave them a young man by the name of Wellington Cartaxo to work with them. Again Wellington was the pastor and Terry was the missionary. Jane worked with the children and the ladies, taught piano, and helped with the choir. The church was organized in 2004 with Wellington Cartaxo as pastor.

In 2007, Terry and Jane moved from Roraima to Amazonas and started ministering at the Emmanuel Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Emmanuel), in the city of Presidente Figuereido, Amazonas. The Carruthers are living in Manaus as they continue to work at this church today (2009) with David and Grace Kintner.  Terry teaches the adult Sunday school class and Jane plays for the services. 

Terry’s other ministries include: 1. airplane ministry (1991-1995); 2. the Regular Baptist Bible College of Roraima (Seminário Batista Regular de Roraima) (2002-2005); 3. the Bible College Council in Boa Vista (2002-2005); 4. the Regular Baptist Bible College of Amazonia (Seminário Batista Regular de Amazônia) (2007- to present); 5. the Bible College Council in Manaus (2007- present); 6. North Region President (2003-2005 and 2007 to present); 7. Manaus Station President (2007- to present).

Roy & Evelyn Challacombe

Information from his wife Evelyn Challacombe in England on July 16, 2009

Roy Challacombe was born on Dec. 24, 1922, in London, England. During World War II, Roy served in the British Royal Navy and he was stationed aboard the HMS Eagle (A WWII aircraft carrier) that served in the Mediterranean Sea. On August 11, 1942, the HMS Eagle was hit by 4 torpedoes from the German Submarine U73[1].  The HMS Eagle sank in 8 minutes. Roy was on the boat when it was torpedoed and over 250 of his shipmates died that day. As Roy was in the water, God got a hold of his heart and Roy prayed and asked God to forgive him of his sins. Shortly thereafter, he accepted Christ as his Savior at a youth soccer ministry when the gospel was presented clearly.

In 1954 Roy joined a very small mission named the “West Amazon Mission” and he served with them from 1954 to 1960. Roy worked with the Cabocolos who live along the river banks and eked out a living. The Cabocolos is a generic term for people who live along the Amazon River and its tributaries. Roy had a launch (river boat) ministry and had many preaching points along the river. Evelyn said that back in the 1950´s there was little Gospel witness up and down the Amazon River in the little villages that lined the river.

In January 1956, Roy accompanied Al Spieth, and Ernie Migliazza on a 800 mile one way boat trip up the river from Manaus in a “tiny” boat (canoe) with a 4 horsepower motor. It took them two weeks to get to their destination (George Kircher, Punching Holes in the Darkness, page 139). Once they got close to their destination, they left the canoes to continue their journey on foot. Evelyn said that Roy had a little compass that he took with him and that compass may have saved their lives. At least it brought them back to their boat when they got completely lost. Roy tried to work with the Mucu Indians, but was denied permission by the Brazilian government.

Evelyn was from the same church as Roy. She was born in England in 1929. She came to Brazil in 1958. Roy proposed to Evelyn in Brazil, but they were married in England in 1957. In 1958, Roy and Evelyn worked in Tefé in the state of the Amazon. Evelyn said that in 1958, Tefe had a population of about 2000. Today it has a population of 70,000.

Roy and Evelyn were from a Baptist Church in England, but they were serving with a small non-denominational mission board. Some doctrinal differences arose because Roy and Evelyn were Baptists. About 1959 or 1960, Roy and Evelyn were invited to attend a BMM conference in Fortaleza, Ceará, and then they were invited to join BMM.  They were accepted as associate missionaries with BMM and then they were officially accepted by BMM in July 1961.

After joining BMM as associates, Roy and Evelyn served in the state of Acre. Their first ministry in the Acre was at the First Baptist Church in Rio Branco (Primeira Igreja Batista do Rio Branco). They started ministering at this church in 1959. This church had a Brazilian pastor at that time, and they helped out in the ministry there.  When that pastor resigned, the church asked Roy and Evelyn to lead the ministries of this church. While they were working at this church, they also had preaching points at the Aviário, Aeroporto, Quiniri, settlements. They also had a preaching point (or open air meetings) “out in a farm colony.” Some of these ministries grew into churches later on.

Roy and Evelyn worked in the city of Xapuri, Acre at the Regular Baptist Church there for one year. Then, they started the Bible Baptist Church (Igreja Batistas da Biblica) in the Estação Esperimental settlement, in Rio Branco, Acre.

In 1977, they moved to Manaus, Amazonas and taught at the Amazon Baptist College (Seminário Batista Regular de Amazonas).

In 1978, they transferred from Brazil to England and continued their ministry with Baptist Mid-Missions. They worked in an area called “New Towns.” From 1978 to 1986, they worked at the Marchwood Baptist Church South Hampton, England. From 1986 to 1994, they did pulpit supply in most of the BMM works in England. As a BMM missionary would need to return to the USA for furlough, Roy and Evelyn would fill in at their church for six months to year. They retired from BMM in 1994.

Since 1994, they have lived in Devon. In 2006, at the age of 84, Roy was still active at a church in Ivybridge. Roy went to his eternal reward in February 26, 2006. Evelyn still lives in Ivybridge, South Hampton, England, UK today (July 2009). 

Sherry Claypool

Sherry Claypool joined Baptist Mid-Missions in November 1970. She arrived on the field August 30, 1974. Sherry taught at the Amazon Baptist Seminary (Seminário Batista Amazonas) in Manaus, Amazonas. She worked in several Regular Baptist Churches in Manaus, Amazonas, including the Jerusalem Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Jerusalem) in the Redenção area. She resigned from BMM in November 1980 and married Bob Fauntenberry. They stayed in the Manaus area and received permission to translate the Pensacola Christian Day School curriculum. Sherry and Robert translated the first through fourth grade, which has been a blessing to the Brazilian Christian Day schools.

Bob and Julie Collins

Bob and Julie Collins worked with another mission agency in Bolivia prior to joining Baptist Mid-Missions. Bob went to Bolivia as a single missionary. Bob and Julie were married in a mud hut in Bolivia.  He had to sell two horses in order to get married.

The Collins were accepted for service with Baptist Mid-Missions on February 1, 1950, and arrived in Brazil on January 23, 1953. From their arrival in Brazil until March 1955, they worked in the Amazon Baptist College (Seminário Batista da Amazônia). They also worked in the Chachoeirinha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Cachoeirinha), in Manaus, Amazonas. Along with his work in the Bible college and church, Bob worked with George Norton doing evangelistic ministry by boat along the Amazon River.

In March 1955, Bob and Julie Collins moved to Belém, Pará, where they helped to start the Emanuel Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Emanuel).

From September 1957 until 1977, they ministered in the São Paulo area. They worked at a church in the city of Jacareí in the Paraiba Valley. The church was later closed.

Bob was also active in many organizations during his years in São Paulo. Bob was the editor of the “Mid-Brazil” Newsletter 1953-1957; he was one of the founders of the Regular Baptist Press in Brazil in 1958; he edited and published the Journal Batista Regular; he served on the tract publishing committee and the Trinitarian Bible Society. Bob also helped at Camp Maranatha in São José dos Campos, São Paulo; served on the São Paulo Missionary Language School Committee; served as a board member of Pan American Christian Academy (PACA); and taught at the São Paulo Bible School/College. Bob was president of the Mid-Brazil Field of Baptist Mid Missions for several years.

Bob and Julie had a very active ministry in Brazil. The churches are still reaping the blessings and benefits of the ministries they worked so hard to start. The Collins returned to the United States in November 1977, and Bob served for nine years in the BMM home office as the Latin American Administrator for the Spanish-speaking countries.

The Collins now reside in Orlando, Florida, and attend the Faith Baptist Church.

Andrew & Itacyara Comings

Andrew Kenneth Comings and his wife Itacyara Bezerra Comings joined Baptist Mid-Missions in on August 1, 2002. They arrived in Brazil to begin their ministry on October 28, 2005. Their port of entry was Fortaleza, Ceará. Andrew goes by André in Portuguese. Itacyara´s nickname is “Itá.” Andrew studied Portuguese from 1994 to 1996 while he was serving as a short term missionary at the Cariri Baptist Seminary in Crato, Ceará. Andrew started a refresher course at the seminary upon his return in 2005.  “Itacyara is Brazilian. She is from the state of Maranhão where they reportedly “speak the best Portuguese in all of Brazil,” according the Andrew. Andrew´s language studies were through a private tutor and also through a structured language school. They started their ministry upon arriving in Brazil in October of 2005.

Their current ministry is connected to the Cariri Baptist Seminary, in Crato, Ceará, and as such they have not started any churches. However, through their students they have participated in innumerable church plants. Andrew has served as the Coordinator of Ministry Internships (practical ministries) at the Cariri Baptist Seminary and teaches English and Bible Doctrines. He served as the interim director for the Iguatú Baptist Camp for a year and a half. He has served as the Vice President for the Northeast regional field council of BMM. Andrew also serves on the board of directors of the MAB (Missão Auxiliador Batista).

Andrew is the director of a puppet ministry called "Cidade Feliz". They teach puppetry, do live puppet performances and segments for a local TV program run by the area Regular Baptist Churches.

Mary Jean Connell

Mary Jean Connell served with Baptist Mid-Missions in Brazil from about 1948 to 1951. She was a registered nurse and she was from Indianapolis, Indiana.  She originally planned to work at the Betel Indian station on the Surumu River in what is today the state of Roiraima. Once she arrived she worked in the states of Acre and Amazonas. She arrived in the state of Acre on February 23, 1948.  Dynes and Maxine McCullough were working in Acre at that time. After about nine months there, she relocated to Manaus, Amazonas. and helped in the Amazon Baptist College and in Cachoerinha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Cachoerinha) in Manaus, Amazonas. According to the Punching Holes in the Darkness book (page 130), she was in Manaus for two years and then resigned from BMM. There is a photo of Miss Mary Jean Connell on page 2 of the May 1948 edition of BMM´s “Mid-Missions Bulletin.”

 Scott & Becky Couch

Scott & Becky Couch joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1987. They arrived in Brazil in February of 1989. Scott is the son of BMM´s Southeast (USA) representative Doug Couch. Scott grew up in Australia where his parents were BMM missionaries at the time. Scott and Becky studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará and then moved to Uberaba, MG and helped in a church until they returned to the USA and resigned from BMM in February 1992.

Terry and Debbie Craven

Terry and Debbie Craven joined Baptist Mid-Missions on July 26, 1984, and arrived in Brazil on June 29, 1987. They studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará, and graduated from their language studies in July 1988. The Cravens spent their first term in Fortaleza, where Terry taught Earth Science, Physical Science, Biology, and Physics at Fortaleza Academy, BMM’s school for missionaries’ children. 

After their first furlough, Terry and Debbie moved to Brasilia, Distrito Federal. In January 1992, the Cravens started services at the Hope Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Esperança) in the satellite city of Samambaia, Distrito Federal. They ministered at this church until they transferred to the United States in the first quarter of 1998. Terry served as a representative of Baptist Mid-Missions in the Midwest for a few years.

Return to History of BMM in Brazil page