Baptist Mid-Missions of Brazil
75th Anniversary: 1935 - 2010
Missionaries with last names starting with the letter
"K"
Last updated on November 9, 2009
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Bill & Dorothy Kettlewell
William (Bill) and Dorothy Kettlewell joined Baptist Mid-Missions in July 1970. They arrived in Belém, Pará, on December 5, 1972, and they studied Portuguese at the BMM language school in Fortaleza, Ceará. They completed their language studies in December 1973. In English and in Portuguese, William goes by the name “Bill” and Dorothy goes by Dorotéia and/or Dorotí in Portuguese.
While the Kettlewells were in language school in 1973, they attended Central Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Central) and helped at the Congregation in the Aerolândia subdivision of Fortaleza, Ceará. Today it is the Berean Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular Bereiana). Pastor Manuel Morais was the pastor of Central Baptist Church at that time, and Bill and Dorothy provided transportation for him.
From January 1974 to May 1976, the Kettlewells worked at the First Regular Baptist Church of Barbalha (Primeira Igreja Batista Regular de Barbalha), in Barbalha, Ceará, with Al and Doris Johnson. From May 1975 to May 1976, Bill served as counselor to Pastor Duarte while the Johnsons were on furlough.
Upon the Kettlewells’ return from furlough, they went to work at the Faith Baptist Church (Igreja Batista da Fé) in the Aréias subdivision of Sousa, Paraiba, (September 1977 to June 1978) while the Russell Gordons were on furlough.
In August 1978 Bill and Dorothy moved to Campos Sales, Ceará, to assume responsibility for a congregation of First Baptist Church of Crato, Ceará. They bought property for this church, built the church building and a parsonage, and organized the work as the Regular Baptist Church of Campos Sales (Igreja Batista Regular de Campos Sales) in the downtown area of Campos Sales. The Kettlewells worked here until June 1990.
While Bill and Dorothy were working with the church in Campos Sales, they also started the Emanuel Regular Baptist Church of Aiuaba (Igreja Batista Regular Emanuel de Aiuaba), in Aiuaba, Ceará. They worked at this church from August 1979 to June 1990. When the Kettlewells first visited Aiuaba, they were received by Dona Ramira, who was the only believer in this town of about 5000. Years before, her family had moved to Roraima to find work. It was there that Garnet and Fern Trimble led her to the Lord. The Kettlewells purchased a house in 1980 and moved the meetings to that house which later served as a parsonage. In 1988 property was bought and a church building was built. The church was organized in 2007 under the direction of Missionary Moisés de Oliveira, and is now pastored by Pastor Alexandre, a native of Aiuaba. The Aiuaba church has three active congregations and other preaching points.
Bill and Dorothy also started the Regular Baptist Church of Quixariu (Igreja Batista Regular de Quixariu) in Quixariu, Ceará, while ministering in Campos Sales. Quixariu is a district town of Campos Sales located 25 miles away over very bad roads. They worked at this church from August 1982 to June 1990. This community is also known as “São Domingos”.
The Kettlewells purchased property outside the city limits of Quixariu in 1985 and built a church house as the priest prevented them from buying property in town because it was all owned by the Catholic church. The town people all had to pay a monthly stipend to the Catholic church for the use of their property. Today the town has grown beyond the church, placing the Baptist church in what could only be called an ideal location.
Arrival in Quixariu, Ceará, was at times confrontational. One evening the Kettlewells arrived just in time for a meeting in the home of one of the first believers. Everyone was distraught and angry. The priest, during his message over a large loud speaker system for everyone in town to hear, had referred to Bill by name, calling him, among other things, a spy of the CIA, a geologist set on stealing the wealth of Brazil, and a slaver set on stealing their children. The believers were sure that Bill would immediately go over and give the priest a piece of his mind. To their surprise Bill told them that they should bow their heads and pray for him, asking God to correct the wrong and change this man’s mind. On another occasion, arriving by plane, about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Bill buzzed the town to have someone pick him up at the airstrip. Bill had no idea that the priest was conducting a mass at that unusual hour. The excitement of the plane’s arrival emptied the Catholic Church. The priest reacted by declaring over the loud speaker system for everyone in town to hear: “Look, up in the sky, it is a bird, no, it is a plane, no, it is that buzzard, Pastor Bill.”
The row house style of Brazilian homes leaves little wasted space. The doors open right onto the sidewalk and the sidewalks hug the street. When Dona Mundinha saw Bill walk by her house on her sidewalk she immediately got soap, a bucket of water, and a broom and washed down her sidewalk. She was convinced that Bill´s presence had contaminated her space. However, the curiosity about this American monster in her town led her to stand outside the church meetings and listen to what this monster would have to say. After a few visits, she got up courage and went in and sat down. Within a couple of months of first hearing the Good News of Salvation in Christ, Dona Mundinha publicly accepted the Lord as her Savior. Within three years of the inception of this work, a building was erected to house what was now a congregation of 65 baptized believers in Quixariu. Today there are active and committed believers from Quixariu in churches in Campos Sales, Fortaleza, Natal, Belo Horizonte, and São Paulo.
The Kettlewells next church plant was in the state of Pernambuco, where they worked from 1990 to 1995. They co-founded the Regular Baptist Church of Jardim Amazonas (Igreja Batista Regular em Jardim Amazonas), in Petrolina, Pernambuco, working with Tim and Vicki Reiner. The property for the church was a joint effort by the Kettlewells and the Tim Reiners. They purchased property and built the church before they had their first convert. Thanks to one of the Kettlewells’ supporting churches, Trinity Baptist Church of Sunnyvale, California, a large gift for construction of the main auditorium and perimeter walls was provided. A work team from that church spent two weeks helping with the construction. With funds from William Bolthouse, the finish work was done on the auditorium and four classrooms were built. Even before construction was started on the church, they were able to purchase a parsonage and have Missionary Pastor Wlademir and his wife Eliane move in. They were able to immediately start evangelistic Bible studies in their home. With the roof on the church, they had their first VBS.
From 1996 to 2008, the Kettlewells established the First Regular Baptist Church of Aracati (Primeira Igreja Batista Regular de Aracati), in the downtown area of Aracati, Ceará. For three years the congregation met on the porch of Moisés and Salete Nascimento. In November 1999 Bill and Dorothy were able to purchase the house next to the site of the auditorium construction, remodel it, and begin using it for all the meetings of the church. In May 2000 the new auditorium was officially inaugurated. The multipurpose second story was finished in 2002. The adjacent educational wing was completed in 2005. The church was officially organized on February 19, 2005. On November 30, 2008, the church voted to call William da Silva Oliveira as their pastor. This church has a congregation in the district of Cajazeiras (35 miles south of Aracati) and one in the district of Córrego dos Rodrigues. Three church members have graduated from the Cariri Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista do Cariri) Crato, Ceará, and currently two more are there preparing for ministry.
In addition to his church planting ministries, Bill has also been involved in the following ministries: February 1974 to May 1976 -- Bill taught Bible doctrine and first year Greek at the Cariri Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista do Cariri) Crato, Ceará, 1975 - Bill and Jerry Leonard implanted the Theological Education by Extension with over 90 students in Ceará, May 1975 to May 1976 and 1988 and 1989 -- Bill was director of the Iguatu Camp, Iguatu, Ceará, and held the first Carnaval retreat at that camp.
In July 1978 Bill completed his pilot training and took possession of his first plane which allowed him to work in Aiuaba and Quixariu while living and working in Campos Sales. Bill served as Secretary of the Mid-Brazil Field Council -- SEBMM (1984), as Vice-president of the Northeast Region Field Council (1984), Secretary of the Northeast Region Field Council (1993), and President of the Northeast Region Field Council at different times for 10 years. Dorothy also served as Secretary of the Northeast Region Field Council (1998). Today, Bill serves on the Iguatu Ceará Camp Board.
In June 2002 the Kettlewells began a music seminar in Aracati. They invited Monty Budahl, head of the Department of Music at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin, and his wife Louise, to teach. In June 2003 the music seminar moved to the Cariri Baptist Bible College (Seminário Batista do Cariri) Crato, Ceara, and Monty and Louise Budahl again returned to teach. They also brought Wayne and Carol Vawter to help. This music seminar has continued with the assistance of Mark, Becki, and Stephen Lounsbrough, Mark and Linda Willson, Mark and Anita Swedberg, Pastor Carlos Renato de Lima Brito, and other music professors from the United States and Brazil.
In 2006 Bill and Dorothy began working with the Regular Baptist churches to establish church based Bible Training Centers for Pastors and Church Leaders (CTBP/L -- Centro de Treinamento Bíblico Para Pastores e Líderes de Igrejas). At this time there are 26 centers operating from João Pessoa, Paraíba, to Letícia, Colômbia, with a student population just over 300. Their goal is to develop this program Brazil-wide. The first graduation was held on November 24, 2008, for 5 students in Aiuaba, Ceará. Three of these graduates are reaping the benefits of the course as they shepherd their flocks.
Robert and Jane Kilko
Robert and Jane Kilko joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 1973 and arrived in São Paulo, Brazil, in October 1975. They were welcomed by Manny and Reva Woods at Bet Sar Shalom, “House of the Prince of Peace”. A day after their arrival, they attended prayer meeting at the Bom Retiro Regular Baptist Church in Casa Verde (Igreja Batista Regular do Bom Retiro), on Rua Marambaia close to downtown São Paulo. Jane played the pump organ at the prayer meeting. This organ was purchased, in the early 1950's when the congregation was begun in Bom Retiro, by Emanuel and Reva Woods. Years later, after the church’s move to Rua Ouro Grosso, when the organ was replaced by a keyboard, the little organ was donated to the ministry at Beit Chaiyei Shalom, “House of the Life of Peace” in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro. It works great and is still in use! A week after the Kilko’s arrival, they bought their first car, a red 1975 Dodge 1800, which was later painted yellow and which they still have. Two weeks after their arrival, they moved into Bob and Corrine Jones’ house in Campo Belo, São Paulo, SP., as the Jones were on furlough at the time. Robert and Jane studied Portuguese at the Missionary Language School in São Paulo from February, graduating in December of 1976.
In May 1976 they moved to Bet Sar Shalom when Manny and Reva Woods went home on furlough. They were able to help out in the area of music, both at Bet Sar Shalom and the Casa Verde Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular do Bom Retiro), even while they were still in language school. During the Woods’ furlough, Maxine McCullough taught the ladies’ Bible study for several months until Jane was able to assume that responsibility. Area pastors, both Brazilian and American, helped Robert with the preaching responsibilities, until he could assume his responsibilities. Elizabeth Jane Kilko was born on September 14, 1976. A year later, when the Woods returned from furlough, the Kilkos moved to their first apartment near Bet Sar Shalom, then left Brazil with Elizabeth for 6 weeks in Israel with what would later become Baptists for Israel Institute. They were chaperones to 75 college students, working on three kibbutzim. There, little Elizabeth learned something she never forgot: how to walk! They returned to Brazil at the end of the summer. In September 1978, Esther Judith was born.
At Bet Sar Shalom, in downtown São Paulo, the Kilkos worked alongside Manny & Reva Woods, for almost 20 years. The last couple of those years, Delores Woods came down from Manaus and then her brother Dan, joined the Mission. A year later, Dan married Valéria, and then they became a team of seven people.
Two more daughters arrived to bless their home: Evonne (Evie) in 1982 and Elice in 1986.
Robert and Jane helped begin the Brazilian AWANA Program, Robert serving on the board until around the year 2001. He also served on the Maranatha Bookstore board until it was absorbed by the ABWE Seminary of São Paulo. He served on the board of the Brazilian Tract Society until it was re-absorbed by the Regular Baptist Press of Brazil. Robert served for many years as BMM South Brazil Regional Treasurer, and twice as All Brazil Treasurer. Robert presently serves on the board of the Paraná Baptist Bible Institute (Seminário Batista Regular do Sul),” having served on this board almost since its beginning, and before classes began. Since 1985, Robert has also served on the board of the Trinitarian Bible Society of Brazil (Sociedade Bíblica Trinitariana do Brasi). Jane spent several years on the SAIBRES planning committee (a São Paulo State Ladies Regular Baptist organization).
During 1997-98 the Kilko Family spent an academic year in Israel studying in the Baptists for Israel Institute. This better prepared them for the special ministry they have with the Jewish People of Brazil.
While serving at Bet Sar Shalom, the Lord burdened the Kilkos for Jewish missions in Rio de Janeiro. Leonard Meznar’s property in Niterói (retired from Cleveland Hebrew Mission) became available. In May 1999, the Kilkos moved to Niterói, where they both soon celebrated their 50th birthdays. They began a Jewish work there with their inaugural service in October 1999. They named their new place of ministry Beit Chaiyei Shalom, “House of the Life of Peace”. They blended the type of ministry Leonard Mezer had had in Niterói with the type of ministry they had for 24 years at Bet Sar Shalom in São Paulo. Each month, they hold week-end long retreats for Jewish people. These are both evangelistic and edifying in design. One of the tools they use is the celebration of the Jewish holidays throughout the year. They hold at least ten monthly weekend retreats during the year for Jewish People, with singing in Hebrew and three Bible Studies during each weekend. They also make phone calls and are involved in specialized literature production and distribution.
When the Kilkos first moved to Niteroi, they attended the First Regular Baptist Church of São Gonçalo (Primeira Igreja Batista Regular em São Gonçalo), in the neighboring city of São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro. This church was planted by Neal and Alice Smith, simultaneously with the First Regular Baptist Church on the Governor’s Island, as well as the First Regular Baptist Church of Rio de Janeiro. At the very beginning, Paulo Barbosa, a recent graduate of the Curitiba Seminary, came to help in the church plant, along with his new bride, Elza. The Kilkos traveled a half hour by car over 22 speed bumps to reach the church. Since the church was already twelve years old when they arrived, Robert and Jane assisted in small ways, but were always careful not to usurp the leadership of Pastor Paulo and Elza. Robert taught a series in the adult Sunday school class. Jane would occasionally play the keyboard and helped some of the teachers by teaching them new choruses and showing them how to make song charts.
When Robert and Jane moved to Niteroi, they imagined many possible uses for the Beit Chaiyei Shalom property, a small conference center. It is not only their home, but the scene of much activity during the year. The main auditorium has received small improvements throughout the years. In 2004, they improved the BCS “kitchen space” containing only a laundry sink—into a real, tiled, full-fledged kitchen with doors! Until then, after every event, all equipment and utensils had to be moved out and stored elsewhere.
Youth camp is the highlight of the year and also their biggest event. They have an outside speaker come and the young people from the five fellowshipping Baptist churches in the Rio area are invited. It is something big to look forward to and remember. As a result, the young people throughout the area have formed friendships with each other as well as getting to know the Lord better. This is a great encouragement when one is part of a smaller church.
Bet Chaiyei Shalom hosts an annual Men’s Day for the same group of churches. They enjoy playing soccer, checkers, swimming, ping pong, and just talking. They enjoy a delicious meal together. Then they have a “spiritual banquet” including singing, Bible quizzes, and a message.
Since June of 2002, Beit Chaiyei Shalom has also been the home of the Life and Peace Baptist Congregation (Igreja Batista Regular Vida & Paz), in Nitoroi, Rio de Janeiro. While Robert and Jane were on furlough, Reg and Ilene Santos filled in for them, and carried out the plan to start the Baptist Congregation on the property. Sunday school is held on Sunday mornings, using several rooms for classes, as well as the main auditorium. The Sunday evening service usually has the greatest attendance. On Wednesday is a Bible Study and Prayer time. A couple of Saturday evenings a month, they have a youth meeting. Once or twice a year they have a VBS for children. The church is saving money to purchase property and build their own facilities. The church presently has a Brazilian assistant pastor, Ricardo Araújo, who Lord willing, will become the Senior Pastor and Robert will move down to being just an associate pastor and dedicate most of his time to the Jewish work.
David and Grace Kintner
Grace Trimble arrived in the North Region of Brazil on July 4, 1967, to serve with BMM. She is the daughter of pioneer BMM missionaries Garnet and Fern Tremble; therefore, she grew up in Brazil. She completed her language review requirements in Fortaleza, Ceará. During that time Grace was involved in one of Neal Smith’s church planting ministries in Aquiraz, Ceará. She worked with Erwin and Edna Evans as part of the founding team of that church plant which through the years suffered many moments of near “close out.” Thirty two years later, God brought this church to fruition and organization.
In 1968, Grace moved to Manaus, Amazonas, only a few days before the Regular Baptist Bible College of Amazonia (Seminário Batista Regular da Amazônia) began its school year. She began her two-year “teaching career” as a “pinch hitter” under the directorship of Richard Wakefield. She taught English, first aid, orientation, and New Testament survey. Those were not easy years, but she loved the contact with the students. C.A. Nickell directed the practical work of the Bible college students at that time, and Grace had the privilege of working on a church planting team with Francisco Poderoso, a senior student, and two other male students. In that work, Grace learned to play the accordion and was in charge of the children´s work. Grace did not come to the field to teach in the Bible college, but to work with the Makushi Indians and wondered how the Lord was going to go about this. Finally, she got the message after the Lord closed the door to the Indian ministry near the end of her second year working in the Bible college.
When the students left for vacation, Grace had the responsibility of the preaching point. She invited her father, Garnet Trimble, to take charge of this ministry. It was one evening while Garnet was preaching from Acts 16 that the Lord gave her the “Macedonian call,” and she proceeded to Xapuri, Acre, where she joined her parents and Betty McKeehan in the Bereia Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Bereana). BMM colleagues, Neal and Alice Smith and Roy and Evelyn Challacombe, had previously dedicated their efforts in that work. Garnet had the privilege of organizing the church in Xapuri before he and Fern left for furlough. Grace continued working for about 3 months in this church, but she became ill with hepatitis, and on the recommendation of her doctors, had to take an early furlough.
Upon returning for her second term, February 10, 1972, she met Dave Kintner for the first time. Dave arrived in Manaus, Amazonas, on February 9 for his first term. Grace proceeded to her work in the Acre area. On September 8, 1972, Dave and Grace were engaged. Dave continued his Portuguese studies in Manaus while Grace continued her work in Xapuri until June 1973. She then went to Manaus to prepare for the wedding which took place on July 10, 1973, at the Cachoeirinha Baptist Church. Their life´s verse is Psalm 34:3.
Dave concluded his Portuguese studies, and the Kintners, along with Al and Naomi Speith, surveyed a number of locations along the Autaz Açu River (on the lower end of the Madeirinha River), including a work started in 1966 in Lago do Soares, Ambrosio Aires, Amazonas. With all the appropriate approvals, the newlyweds agreed to accept responsibility of this work in Ambrosio Aires (now known as Cidade dos Autazes), Amazonas, for their first term together. Contacts had been made in this city by both Brazilian and BMM missionaries, and a small wooden building (dismantled from a work on the Madeira River) had been reassembled on the back portion of a corner lot donated by the city.
The Kinters purchased a palm-thatched house on a small property in the center of town and a much larger property on the upstream end of town. On March 8, 1974, Al and Naomi Spieth transported Dave and Grace’s house-hold belongings in their river launch, “The Alerta.” They set up a portable shed for storage and later used a wheelbarrow to move their belongings into their palm-thatched house. They lived there about three years until they could build something more permanent on the larger property.
In 1974 upon their arrival in Ambrosio Aires, Dave and Grace discovered that the Pentecostal Unido do Brasil (United Pentecostals of Brazil) group had occupied the BMMB property and built their building next to ours on the corner of the lot. They were left with about 12 meters of frontage where the rainwater pooled. Jack Finlay contacted the mayor who gave them what he considered good property to replace the corner lot that was taken by the Pentecostals. However this property was next to the light company and proved to be inadequate due to the noise of the generators. When they began having services, there were three other saved families from various backgrounds who joined with them to begin this congregation. After two more cycles of growth and decline - still in the same little wooden building - and a number of attempts to motivate capable people to “put their shoulder to the work,” the congregation was finally officially organized on September 23, 1989. When the town was renamed Cidade dos Autazes, the church changed their name to the Autazes Regular Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Regular de Autazes) Autazes, Amazonas.
Following the organization of the church, Dave and Grace continued to minister in the interior of Autazes which included the preaching point in Paraná do Mamore and helping at Camp Maranatha until their furlough in late 1990.
Dave and Grace said their hearts ached when it became necessary to leave this area entirely as God moved them to the United States after their extended furlough in l991-1992. At this time they recognized that their three parents needed help. Grace preceded Dave to the United States to begin the care of their parents, and Dave completed the move in September 1993. The Lord opened other ministries to them which included approximately five years serving with EBI in Sebring, Florida, and three years as maintenance personnel with Missionary Acres in Greenville, Missouri.
After their parents were promoted to glory, Dave and Grace felt God had released them to return to Brazil. After much prayer and specific response from the Lord, Dave and Grace were invited to fill in for their missionary colleagues, John and Dee Mitchell in Taguatinga Sul, Brasília (June to September 2001).
In December of 2001, Dave and Grace returned to the Amazon Region, and in January 2002 were invited by the Cachoeirinha Baptist Church in Manaus to assist their 30 year-old congregation in Careiro/Castanho. God used the Kintners in the ministry of encouragement, ladies meetings, Saturday Bible club for children, and youth meetings. They used the Regular Baptist Sunday School material, which Dave and Grace continue to supply. By the end of 2006 the Kintners could see that they would not be permitted to bring the work to organization and self-support, and began seeking God’s direction for a new work.
After several considerations, and a BMM North Region conference in Presidente Figueiredo, the missionaries noted that the Regular Baptist movement has works either established or in development phase both east, west, and south of Manaus, but no works to the north between Manaus and Roraima. After checking with a number of individuals, pastors, and churches in the Manaus area concerning this need, Dave and Grace felt God’s direction in this move. Terry and Jane Carruthers offered to work alongside them, at least until another couple could be found to work with them.
At the end of August 2006, while waiting upon the Lord to open the way to the ministry in Presidente Figueiredo, they received an SOS from Jim and Rhonda Shaw who needed someone to fill in for them in their church plant ministry in Santarém, Pará, as well as teach in the evening Bible Institute there. Immediately, Dave and Grace felt that God would have them accept this call. Upon approval from the BMM administrator, they proceeded to Santarem, Pará, where they served from August to December 8, 2006. Again it was a time of blessing and challenge. They were glad to be able to do this for their BMM colleagues.
The work in Presidente Figueiredo began with its first service on Sunday afternoon, August 19, 2007, at the home of one of their contacts in town. They began regular services the first week in January 2008. In June 2008, the work moved to a rented auditorium where they continue to the present time. The Kintners have currently started an active children’s ministry and visitation, and are seeking the Lord’s direction concerning the purchase of property for a permanent location.
George and Dorothy Kircher
George and Dorothy Kircher arrived in Belem, Pará, Brazil, on September 7, 1954. After finishing language school in Fortaleza, Ceará, they moved to Cascavel, Ceará, to begin their church planting ministry. George was known as Pastor Jorge, and Dorothy was known as Dona Doroteia.
Cascavel, a two hour drive from Fortaleza, was a center of Roman Catholicism in the region. George and Dorothy did extensive house-to-house evangelism but encountered much opposition from the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. Meetings began in their home, and later the Kirchers purchased a hotel and renovated it for the church. The Regular Baptist Church in Cascavel (Igreja Batista Regular em Cascavel) Cascavel, Ceará, was organized during the 1960’s with 21 members.
George could not afford a car during his first term, so he bought a horse and started visiting and preaching in a rural district known as Tijucussú and in the fishing village of Morro Branco, an area noted for beautiful colored sand cliffs. George and Dorothy also did extensive evangelism in the city of Beberibe and its surrounding villages with the help of the believers from the Cascavel church.
Evangelistic efforts in Beberibe had great difficulties as on a number of occasions George and the believers from the Cascavel church were met with angry crowds armed with stones. Persistence and patience paid off when some from neighboring villages came to Christ. These new converts were discipled, baptized, and formed the nucleus of this work. George and Dorothy built a church on the main street of town, organized the Regular Baptist Church of Beberibe (Igreja Batista Regular em Beberibe), and installed the church’s first national pastor.
After the churches in Cascavel and Beberibe had matured and called pastors (Bible college graduates who were fruit of the Kirchers’ work), George and Dorothy began to help Baptist congregations in Bom Sucesso, Várzea Alegre, and other locations in Ceará through the process of organization.
In 1979 after returning from a furlough, the Kirchers were asked by the Maranatha Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Maranata) Fortaleza, Ceará, to develop a new congregation in the town of Madeira Cortada, Ceará, a rural district that had no electricity and no running water and was a three-hour drive from Fortaleza. During this time, their daughter, Marjorie, took a year off her college studies to help them with this work. George and Dorothy found that the believers in Madeira Cortada had a real zeal for the work of the Lord. A church is thriving in this rural community today, and a number of the members who moved to Fortaleza formed the nucleus of the Regular Baptist Church in João XXIII (Igreja Batista Regular em João XXIII) Fortaleza, Ceará.
In 1984, George completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree writing his dissertation on Baptist Distinctives Throughout the Ages. George also wrote the book Punching Holes in the Darkness which was published by Baptist Mid-Missions in 1989. This book was a history of “Baptist Mid-Missions in Brazil: 1935-1986”. It was written for BMM´s 50th anniversary of ministry in Brazil.
George went to be with the Lord in 1991, but Dorothy continued to serve the Lord in Brazil. She worked at the Baptist Bible College of the Cariri (Seminário Batista do Cariri) Crato, Ceará, where she worked with Elva Barber in the Bible college library and with the Source of Light correspondence course ministry. Dorothy retired from active missionary service on December 31, 1997. When Dorthy was diagnosed with Alzheimer´s in 2004, her son Jack and his wife Sandy moved to Florida to see to her care. Today (2009) Dorthy has very little recollection of the work that she and George did toghter in Brazil.
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