Baptist Mid-Missions of Brazil

75th Anniversary: 1935 - 2010

Missionaries with last names starting with the letter

"G"

Last updated on November 9, 2009

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Michael & Katrina Geurink

In July 1995, Michael and Katrina (Burnette) Geurink joined Baptist Mid-Missions. Katrina is the daughter of John and Merrianna Burnette, former BMM missionaries who served in São Paulo and Paraná.  In February 2000, Michael and Katrina started serving in Manaus, Amazonas. Michael, who studied Portuguese in Manaus with a tutor, finished his language studies in November 2000.

From 2000 to 2001, Michael served as the director of the “SEBRAM ao Vivo” and worked with the SEBRAM choir, a choir that does presentations in the area churches.  From 2001 to 2002, the Geurinks served at the Maranatha Camp of Amazonia (Acampamento Maranata de Amazonas) located in Itacoatiara, Amazonas. Later, they worked in the Upper Solimões River area near the borders of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.  In that area, the only fundamental Baptist missionaries were ABWE missionaries.  The Geurinks joined ABWE after resigning from BMM on July 15th, 2003.  They are still active in Brazil today (December 31, 2008).

Lyman and Helen Goehring

The following is the full transcript of the information that Lyman and Helen Goehring prepared for the Punching Holes in the Darkness book (page 49). That book used about 30% of the contents of the letter.  We will print it in its entirety.  This letter was found in some loose papers in the BMM Northeast Brazil regional file cabinet.

Lyman and Helen are graduates of the Bryan College and they had a year of special studies at Moody Bible Institute. Lyman studied at the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary for a year and also at Slippery Rock State Teachers College in Pennsylvania, USA.

It was during their year at Moody that the Goehrings applied to Baptist mid-Missions and were accepted.  They finished the school year there and then went to Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary.

In February 1954, Lyman and Helen arrived in Brazil.  After a year of language study in Fortaleza, Ceará, they joined another missionary who had just recently arrived in Belém, Pará. The two couples established the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Tamoios. After their first furlough, the Goehrings returned to Belém and began a new ministry in another section of Belém. This work began as open air meetings in meetings at the open market place on Sunday mornings.  After a meeting one Sunday morning a man asked whether the Goehrings would consider having meetings in his house – what an open door!  The work grew and before the Goehrings went to the States for their second furlough, the congregation was saving money for the purchase of property and for the construction of a church building.  Another missionary had the privilege of helping to make the purchase, constructing the building, and organizing the work. The church was given the name of the church in the States that had made a financial contribution for the purchase of property and construction of the church building.  The church now has a national pastor.

The Goehrings had been asked to go to Fortelaza to help supervise correspondence courses for the high school students in what is now known as the Fortaleza Baptist Academy. After their second furlough they did not return to Belém, but went to Forteleza, Ceará, in 1965, where their main ministry was with the high school.  During their first year in the high school, Lyman also pastured the Tevelandia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Tevelandia), in Fortaleza, Ceará, in the absence of the missionary pastor who was on furlough.

Lyman and Helen served as house parents for 16 children (3 of their own) mostly junior high and high school students, for the school year of 1973-1974.  That year Lyman continued teaching in the high school, worked with the radio ministry and they worked in the Baptist church at Conjunto José Walker (Mondubim).

In 1975, the Goehrings returned to full time church planting.  They were asked to consider “reviving” a work in Aerolandia.  Later that year they started with a VBS and a number of children were saved. One of the children has now grown up, a fine young man who is making plans to go to Bible school in Juazeiro in March 1985, (the Lord willing).  After a few months of work in the congregation, the Goehrings went to the States for furlough.  A young girl, who has now graduated from Bible school and is the wife of one of our national pastors, taught a children´s class on Sunday afternoons in the absence of the Goehrings.

Aerolandia is an extremely difficult area because of illiteracy, immorality, ignorance, bar at almost every intersection, and indifference to God´s Word:  God said to Ezekiel: “I will send thee to … a rebellious nation, their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.  For they are imprudent … stiffnecked … thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God. Thou shalt speak my word unto them … And they, whether they hear, or whether they will forget … yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.”

God has been faithful, and the congregation is blessed with some very faithful Christians.  Five of the young people teach in the Sunday School classes, and a second young man who is studying pedagogy plans to go to Bible School when he finishes his training in pedagogy.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper…(end of their Goehrings own report).

Lyman continued to serve the Lord in Fortaleza at the Areolandia church. In 1988, they changed the name of that church to the Berean Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Bereiana) in Aerolania, Fortaleza, Ceará.  In 1988, Lyman and Helen were working with Gordon and Becky Johnston and Tom & Jill Miller. 

Lyman and Helen Goehring joined Baptist Mid-Mission in May 1951.  They arrived in Brazil on October 2, 1952. They resigned Baptist Mid-Missions in March 1992.

Russell and Judy Gordon

Russell and Judy Gordon joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1968. They arrived in Brazil one year later on September 16, 1969. Their port of entry into Brazil was Belém, Pará. Russ and Judy studied Portuguese in the BMM language school in Fortaleza, Ceará. They finished their language studies in October 1970. In Portuguese, Russell goes by the name “Walter” and Judy goes by the name “Judite.”

After finishing language school, Russ and Judy worked at the Philadelphia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Filadélfia) in the old Santa Luzia area (now Engenheiro Cavalcante), in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. They worked at this church from 1969 to 1972. Missionaries Neal and Alice Smith, Rick and Gayle McClain, and Ethel Hildebrandt were also working in this church at the same time.

While Russ and Judy were in language school, Neal Smith (the director of the language school at that time), decided to use the language school students together with some members of the Tevelândia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Tevelândia – now Igreja Batista Manacial), in Aldeota subdivision, in Fortaleza, Ceará, to begin a congregation in Santa Luzia. Santa Luzia was a low income housing project at that time. When Neal went home on furlough in 1970 and Rick and Gayle McLain moved to Belem, Pará, Russ assumed the leadership of the congregation. He helped them to get a small building. In 1971 the congregation called Pastor Antônio Angelo as their pastor. The church eventually grew into a strong church. V.W. Peters may have helped them build a nice modern building while he was in language school in 1983-84.

In 1971-1972, Neal and Alice Smith went on furlough after finishing the construction of the new auditorium. During that year, Russ served as pulpit supply at the Tevelândia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista de Tevelândia - Manacial) in the Aldeota subdivision, in Fortaleza, Ceará. Having finished language school a year earlier, Russ didn’t feel capable of taking the church, however Neal felt that with the help of God, that Russ could do this. Russell pastored the Tevelândia work for a little over a year while Neal was on furlough. It was an interesting year, but they were able to use their missionary colleagues as they would come in from the interior. The church members also really got behind the Gordons, seeing their limitations. They formed great friendships with the believers there.

From September 1974 to June 1982, Russ and Judy worked at the Faith Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Fé) in Sousa, Paraiba. Two Brazilian missionary girls helped them out in the beginning of this work: Selma and Zuila. They came to teach the children. After a time Selma left and Marineide came and stayed for awhile. Pete Brooks had flown seminary students over from Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará to evangelize in the area. As a result of those evangelistic efforts, a small congregation had been started.

However, they needed male leadership in the church. In 1974 the Gordons had returned from their first furlough and were looking for a place of service. They sought counsel from missionaries and pastors alike. The pastors encouraged the Gordons to go there, and they felt that it was God's will. However, at that time they could not get anyone to sell them land for a building. They met in the homes of various believers. They were finally able to rent a small building in a very poor area where many of their believers lived. At that time the work interior was very difficult. People were very much against "crentes" (believers). However God began saving one here, another there.

The Gordons tried to purchase property in Sousa, but no one would sell to them because they were believers. Finally, one of the neighbors offered to sell them a piece of property right in front of the state school. It was very small, only 5 meters wide and about 30 meters long. They built a building on every inch of the property.

They also became aware of the counties all around and there were very few of them who had a gospel witness. They began visiting these nearby areas. Preaching points and congregations were started. The congregation in Sousa became a church in 1978 with 30 some members. Bill Kettlewell lived in Sousa for one year while the Gordons were on furlough. The church was organized in 1978 with some thirty members. Johnny and Rena Nunley moved to Sousa in 1979 and helped at this church during their first term of service.

Once again, they assumed a small congregation which had begun in the new government housing project called Bancários. They were meeting in the old warehouse left by the construction company which built the project. This was a group which was very bonded and had a desire to work. Within two years the congregation organized into a church. The work grew quickly. It was the only church in the subdivision. There was not even a Catholic Church. In 1987, they were able to turn the church over to a Brazilian pastor and from that time the Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular dos Bancários) in the Bancários subdivision, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, has been an indigenous church. Russ and Judy worked there from 1983 to 1987.

Property for this church was given by the city as certain green areas were set aside in these government housing projects. At that church they built an educational unit with a temporary auditorium in 1984. In 1985, an auditorium with seating capacity for 150 people was constructed. In 1986 they also built a parsonage.

Tom and Karin Benefiel came and worked in this church for a few months after they completed their language studies in 1985.Tom and Karin Benefiel began their own work in October 1985.

Russel and Judy´s next church plant was at the Regular Baptist Church in Mangabeira (Igreja Batista Regular em Mangabeira), in the Mangabeira subdivision in João Pessoa, Paraiba. They worked at this church from 1988 to 1992. This area was the largest government housing project in the city of João Pessoa. Initially it had a population of some 50,000. It now has around 200,000. This congregation was started in 1983 with Pr. Douglas and Francelina Alves who had come to João Pessoa so she could study at the University. The Gordons arrived in João Pessoa in September of 1983. The church was still meeting in the garage of Pastor Douglas’s house. To Douglas's credit, he had a vision for the work. But due to finances, he could no longer continue at the church. At that point the Gordons were very involved in the Bancários congregation. They promised the Mangabeira congregation that when they were able to get a full time pastor in Bancários, they would assume the full time pastorate of the congregation. They were still meeting in the small garage measuring probably 3x5 meters. In 1987 the Bancários church became indigenous and after a year furlough they assumed the Mangabeira congregation. They moved from the garage to a school, and then from the school to the facilities which God provided. This was a lower income housing project, yet God worked from the beginning giving most of the people the desire to begin tithing from the time they were saved.  In 1992 the church called a full time Brazilian pastor.

They were able to get a good lot right in the middle of the commercial area. In 1990 they were able to build an educational unit, leaving room for a "temporary” auditorium. Jim and Julia Leonard came to assist in this work during their first term in Brazil. While the Gordons were home on furlough in 1991, Jim built a parsonage. The main auditorium was built in 1993 with help from a group from the West Cannon Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This lovely auditorium will seat some 200-250 people comfortably. Bolthouse funds also helped in this effort as well as special offerings from churches in the states as well as the members themselves.

Jim and Julie Leonard spent their first three years (1989-1992) assisting at this work, while Julie also studied the language, etc. Russ and Judy´s daughter, Susan and husband Stephen Lackey also assisted for some months in 1992-1993 during their language study.

Russell and Judy´s next ministry was at the First Regular Baptist Church of Rio de Janeiro (Primeira Igreja Batista Regular de Rio de Janeiro) in the Freguesia area, in Rio de Janeiro, RJ. It is also called the Jacarepaguá church. They worked at this church for about seven months from January 1991 to July 1991.

Neal and Alice Smith needed help as Alice needed surgery. Russ and Judy agreed to go and help them out, since there were no other missionaries. They flew into Rio at the beginning of January 1991. Four days later, Neal and Alice left Brazil, thus leaving Russell and Judy in charge of the Freguesia work. Russ and Judy also assisted at the Guanabara work as well as the First Regular Baptist Church of São Gonçalo (Primeria Igreja Batista Regular), located in the city of São Gonçalo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. 

From 1992 to 1999, Russ and Judy worked at the Regular Baptist Church in the Christ Redeemer neighborhood (Igreja Batista Regular Cristo Redentor) in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. The church was begun in the Gordons´ backyard. They had been living in that middle class neighborhood for ten years and they had many contacts. Many people accepted Christ as their Savior and the work financially was stronger than most. In 1993, they purchased property for the church and then built the educational building. In 1998, they built their church sanctuary that will hold 250 to 300 people. They were assisted at this church at different times by their sons-in-law Eric Baker and Stephen Lackey along with their spouses. This church was ready to graduate as an indigenous church by the year 2000 and a Brazilian pastor was called.  

The Gordons´ next church plant was the Regular Baptist Church in Bessa (Igreja Batista Regular no Bessa), in the Bessa area, in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. They worked at this church from 2001 to 2007.

While they were at this church, they purchased property for the work in 2002. They built a two story educational wing, and then they built a permanent auditorium in 2006.

Tim and Robin Sommers worked with them from 2002 until 2007. Also, from 2001-2003, Sarah Van Loh helped at this church with the children's ministries.

The Bessa church was the Gordons last church planting ministry in Brazil. It was started on the other side of the city from the other churches. It is an ocean-side community.   They had the assistance of three families from their other churches who had moved into that area. These were committed couples and God blessed the work. They rented a house across the street, which gave them classrooms. In 2002 God blessed the church with a good piece of property that was purchased with the help of the West Cannon Baptist Church and through Bolthouse funds. They officially inaugurated the new auditorium in April, 2007. Then church also called its first Brazilian pastor, Pastor Alberico in April 2007.

In addition to their church planting ministries, Russ and Judy were also involved in the following ministries. (1). In 1972-73 they spent a year in the Seminário Batista in Juazeiro and were in charge of the boy's dorm, outreach, maintenance, and taught a class or two at the seminary. (2). Russ worked as the program director at the Iguatú Baptist Camp (Acampamento Batista de Iguatu) for several years between 1972 to 1978. (3). In 1986, three missionaries couples (Johnny Nunley, Tom Benefiel, and Russel Gordon) each borrowed $4,000.00 and purchased property for the State camp of Paraiba. Russell served as director for various years working with other missionaries. They developed a place for the Paraiba churches to have fellowship, to evangelize the lost, and to be used in many ways for the Lord (4). The year of 1980-81 they were house parents at the Fortaleza Academy. They were parents to fifteen of the BMM MKS (5 elementary and 10 high school students). This was a great experience. Out of these 15, several are now missionaries in NE Brazil or other places. Jim Leonard, Doug and Jon Reiner, Jeff Reiner, Byron Atha, Andrea Gordon Jones, maybe even more are serving as career missionaries.

Billy and Doris Griffin

William and Doris Griffin joined Baptist Mid-Missions in August 1953 and arrived in Belém, Pará, in February 1954. They traveled on to Fortaleza, Ceará, where they studied the language under the leadership of Dynes McCullough and Charlie Hocking. 

William and Doris arrived in Taubate, São Paulo, December 1958.  William was known as ‘Billy” in English and Pastor Guilherme in Portuguese. They organized the Central Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Central) in Taubate on Oct. 11, 1959.  During their first term they received a letter from a little boy in the United States: “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, I am sending you 10 cents for the spreading of the gossip in Brazil.” 

Because of the illness of their oldest daughter, the Griffins had to leave the field in 1966.  They returned to Taubate on Oct. 10, 1975, and took over the Central Baptist Church again.  It had gone down to almost nothing because there was no one to live there permanently and work in the church.  Someone would go periodically.  Pastor Alceu was the first national pastor, and he was followed by Pastor Marco Aurelio.  Presently Umberto C. Monteiro is pastoring this church. In l982 while the Griffins continued to work in Taubaté, they started a congregation in Bom Fim, Sào Paulo, a suburb out by the Ford factory. (This property was later sold to the Southern Baptists.)  Then they started a congregation in Gurilândia, another suburb of Taubate, which is still going strong.  This church has its own building and pastor. 

In 1984, Billy and Doris started a congregation in the city of Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo. They were able to buy a large building from the Congregação Cristão do Brasil.  That church was organized in November l989. After the Griffins left, Pastor Francisco Neves, served there and then Pastor Sitri Siqueiro, who continues as the pastor.  He is doing a good job, and the church is growing. 

Billy and Doris also had a congregation in another village outside of Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo, but Doris was not too sure if that congregation still exists today (2008).    Billy and Doris left Brazil in 1990.

In connection with their church planting work, they also were involved in radio work. The Griffins would go in to the city of São Paulo to record the radio programs with Bob Jones doing the recording.  Guy McLain had raised money for the programs. Inez McLain, Dynes and Maxine McCullough, Don and Kathy Bennett and Billy and Doris Griffin furnished the music, and Billy was the speaker. Corrine Jones cooked dinner for everyone.  It was an all-day event. The Griffins also had their own programs on two stations in Taubate.  One program was on every day and the other was once a week. The Griffins also helped establish Camp Marantha (Acampamento Maranata) in São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo. Billy was always the leader for the youth week at camp.

Billy also translated 57 songs that were published in the Cânticos Alegres song book by the Regular Baptist Press in Brazil (Editora Batista Regular do Brasil).

When the Griffins returned home from Brazil in 1990, they transferred to the North American Field of BMM and did evangelistic work mostly with BMM missionaries. Billy and Doris have been in all 50 states.  They also were in Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, and Guyana ministering with our BMM missionaries.

Billy had a stroke in January 1999 and went to be with the Lord April 7, 1999.  Doris Griffin married former BMM missionary George Norton on August 9, 2003, and they now live in western Tennessee.

William and Cindy Griner

William and Cindy Griner joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1983 and arrived in São Paulo on August 26, 1984.  Bill studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará at the BMM language school.  He completed his language studies in August 1985. Cindy grew up in Brazil and is the daughter of Marvin and Diane Fray.

While Bill was in language school, the Griners worked at the Lamb Baptist Church (Igreja Batista do Cordeiro) in the Serrinha subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. They worked there from September 1984 to April 1986. Bill and Cindy worked with her parents, Marv and Diane Fray, until the Frays went on furlough in May of 1985. The Griners stayed on working with the national pastor. (Cindy led a VBS the week before their twins were born in January 1986)

Bill and Cindy moved to Sorocaba, São Paulo, and worked with BMM missionaries Marvin and Diane Fray and Ed and Jan Alexander in starting the Maranatha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Maranata) in the Jardim Itanguá I subdivision of Sorocaba.  Marv and Diane were the team leaders. Ed and Jan worked in the area of music, and Bill and Cindy worked with the youth and children. The three missionary men took part in the preaching ministry. The Griners worked at this church from June 1986 to June 1989.

Bill and Cindy’s next ministry was at the Hope Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Esperança) in the Vila Mariana subdivision of São Paulo, São Paulo, where they were one of the founding pastoral families.  Marv and Diane Fray were the team leaders. Each of the missionary men took part in preaching the Word.  Bill assisted Gary and Carolyn Fray in the youth ministry. Cindy Griner and Diane Fray directed the children’s program. Bill and Cindy also ministered to the young married adults. They served the Lord in this church from February 1988 to March 1994.

Bill and Cindy resigned from Baptist Mid-Missions, March 1, 1994.

Doris Gross

Doris Gross was from the great state of Illinois. She joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 1960. She arrived on in Brazil on December 28, 1963.  She studied Portuguese in Fortaleza, Ceará and assisted in some churches there while she was in language school and shortly thereafter (January 1964 to 1965). Doris worked with BMM missionaries Robert and Ethel Klempel while she was in the Fortaleza area.  Upon finishing her language studies, she then moved to Manaus, Amazonas and helped with the Amazon Baptist College (Seminário Batista de Amazonas) from about mid 1965 to March 1969.  From March 1969 to December 1971, Doris worked in Itacotiara, Amazonas.  She ran a bookstore in that city. In 1972 she moved back to Manaus and then transferred to the North American Field Council with BMM in the USA in 1974. Doris ministered mainly with women and children during her time here in Brazil.

Laurine Gullette

Laurine Gullette joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 1973 and arrived in Fortaleza, Ceará, on July 23, 1974.  Laurine studied Portuguese at the BMM Fortaleza language school during her first year on the field.

Laurine´s main ministry was in Fortaleza, Ceará, teaching at the Fortaleza Academy, Baptist Mid-Missions’ school for missionaries’ children. She taught the following high school classes: biology, social studies, computer literacy, accounting, and various other courses.  She directed some school plays and had a vital role in keeping the statistics for the annual Fortaleza Academy Field Day.

Laurine was a woman of many talents.  Before she came to the field, she worked as an RN, taught nursing, worked in accounting, and received a teaching degree from Cedarville College.  While on the field, Laurine passed her exams to operate the short wave (ham) radio. In 1980 alone, she made over 500 phone patches for missionaries -- 300 of those were for BMM missionaries.  She served for many years as the Northeast Region treasurer.

In 1980, Laurine worked with the Baptist Congregation (Congregação Batista) in the Luciano Calavcante sudivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. In 1985, it became the Philadephia Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Filadelia). She was the church treasurer and the junior class Sunday school teacher.

In 1986, Laurine used her computer skills to type the original manuscript for the BMM book, authored by Dr. George Kircher, Punching Holes in the Darkness.  She also did the revisions and a lot of the work in preparing the manuscript for printing.

Laurine served the Lord faithfully for several years at the Calvary Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Calvário) in the Cidade dos Funcionarios subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará.

In 1991, Laurine was in the United States for her regular furlough. One week before she was to return, she broke her leg right above the ankle. Even though her leg was in a cast, she returned to Brazil on schedule.  It took another three months before her cast was removed, but this did not keep her from fulfilling her church and school responsibilities.

In 1992, Laurine started attending the Tevelândia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Tevelandia) in the Aldeota subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará.  This church is known today as the Manancial Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Manancial).  She was very active in the English Club sponsored by this church and provided English Source of Light Bible Studies to interested members.

Having taught at Fortaleza Academy for twenty-two years, Laurine left Brazil in 1997 and was assigned to the BMM North American Field Council. She moved to Cleveland, OH, where she still lives today (2009). Before her official retirement, she worked as a volunteer at the BMM Home Office helping Bob Waterson in the TIME ministry. 

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