Escola da Vida - School of Life

The flagship program for YFC in Brazil is Escola da Vida - School of Life. This program is run in secondary schools in over 100 cities throughout Brazil. Last week we had the privilege of taking part in EDV at a school in São Luis. Lots of preparatory work is done with the school principal, staff and a supportive church. They become team to present the program to the students. We were told that this was a particularly good combination. It certainly looked that way to us.

I need to mention that school in Brazil happens either in the morning, or the afternoon. (I gather it is to do with population and resources). As this was a high school there is also an evening school for those who cannot attend during the day for whatever reason. So three groups of students attend school on any given day.

For the EDV program, the students come in their year levels, for about an hour each day, and for the first four days of the week they hear presentations by quality presenters. The subjects chosen by this school were:

drugs, sexuality, self esteem, vocation and family relationships.

School of Life

Principles that transform

Johnny is the leader of YFC in  São Luis and

 

he is a gifted presenter who engages the students so well.

Kelvin is a pastor who was a street kid and drug addict and spoke so

captivatingly with them about both legal and illegal drugs.

There is a wonderful team of volunteers who come each day to support the program 

 

and build relationships with the students.

 

On Friday, all the year levels came together to the final presentation in the school 'gym'. 

The partner church provided great music that engaged the kids.

And, along with other parts of the program, a gifted guy performed a brilliant drama 

 

 depicting five young people with different lifestyles/personalities

who each came to realise that God was inviting them into a personal relationship with him. I have never been more greatly moved by a presentation than I was by this one. Pat felt the same.

At the end of the evening session on Friday it was photo time - many of the team who had taken part during the week.

The partner church was a short walk from the school. These people were fantastic and such a gift to the YFC team and the students. They welcomed us, provided lunch and dinner for us each day, were part of the entire program by providing some of the speakers and music and coming along to the sessions during the day. And they want to be part of another school program in the future. Yay!

 

 On Saturday we all met together at the church for lunch, debrief and prayer to close a wonderful week.

The Escola da Vida T-shirt explains that "When you change everything changes".  You don't need everything else to change so that your life will change, you can be the change.

Great job MPC São Luis.

Mocidade Para Cristo (YFC) 65th Birthday Celebration Part 2

The National Conference for Brazil was held at the MPC/YFC camp near the city of Belo Horizonte.

Each morning we were summoned to breakfast by the bugle.

We were treated to good preaching with the emphasis on the importance of prayer in all things,

to good

and interesting food

There was a flag raising ceremony and flags were hoisted and flown to represent MPC Brazil, the Brazil national flag and the flag of the state of Minas Gerais.

The major ministries of MPC were highlighted.

Deborah told us about Escola da Vida - School of life, which is active in 130 cities around the country. We should know more about this in a few weeks when we have been involved in São Luis in the north of Brazil.

Frank and Eugenio told us about Conexões - Connections - the mission sending arm of MPC Brazil

Camilla, a gifted young woman in finance, told us about the importance of financing a ministry well

- the ministry of resources.

Because this young woman is so gifted and loves her job, Camilla works not only with MPC Brazil but also with the South American Regional team and The Americas Area team. Its so wonderful the way God gifts us all in different ways so that together we can be His team.

Neciula is the passionate young woman who heads up the coaching department.

 She asked me if I would say a few words about coaching and I was really happy to do that because coaching has changed the way I have been able to help others along their journey.

 Eliana interpreted for me.

 Coaching is the process of coming alongside a person and helping them to discover for themselves, what it is God wants them to do and how they might go about that.

I had brought with me a number of certificates for people who had completed Coach training with Chris and Linda Harding, the Aussies who head up the YFC International Coach training program. I was privileged to present Ivison with his certificate.

Samuel and Chris and their children were prayed for as they prepare to go to Russia as missionaries with YFC in December,

and it was great to meet with others from the international MPC community - here from Columbia, Uruguay, Australia, Brazil and Mexico - love the diversity of the YFC family.

Mocidade Para Cristo (YFC) 65th Birthday Celebration Part 1

Last week MPC/YFC Brazil celebrated 65 years whilst also enjoying their Annual National Conference together. 

 

It all began with registration on Wednesday when the team - 'equipe' in Portuguese - welcomed people as they arrived and designated rooms.

 .

The team worked very hard all week serving us so willingly. Nothing was too much trouble for them.

 At the end of the dining room was a very large poster where people had the opportunity to say:  'What YFC means to me....' (A MPC para  mim e.......) This is an incredible movement in this nation, delivering programs with the message of the love of Jesus for young people in 130 cities!

 From one senior leader: 'Literally the school of my life'

and from another: ' the place where I can participate in what God is doing.'

On the front wall of the chapel (capela), was the YFC International slogan: 'Geared to the Times, Anchored to the Rock' and the recognition of 65 years in this nation.

 The first night was super cold - the coldest experienced here in 41 years! There is no heating in the Chapel and so, as we arrived for the opening evening session, each of us was handed a tiny drink bottle filled with VERY hot water to use as a hot water bottle during the evening. It helped A LOT. 

We were treated to excellent music throughout the conference from 5 YFC musicians who have worked together to provide really great music for YFC for many years.

Brazilian worship songs are all their own and not translated from other cultures.

 

 Although I didn't know all the words of all the songs, it was great to be able to sing along and understand many of the important words in the songs and know that these people worship the same God as I do using very similar words.

Over the five days a number of people were recognised for their years of service with MPC Brazil  as staff 

or volunteers,

 

  as past board members

or as missionaries to this ministry from the US.

 The pastor who preached on the day Marcelo, the National Director, accepted Jesus as Saviour, was appreciated, 

and Marcelo's older brother who first took him to an MPC/YFC rally when he was a teenager.

 And Marcello himself was honoured for his 35 years as National Director of MPC/YFC here. An incredible leader under whose leadership this ministry has flourished.

We all prayed for him along with his family and the present board members.

If I add too many photos to a blog post, the quality is greatly reduced and so I will post Part 2 in a day or so.