September 2026
brazil
Pastor Steven and Bradi Parkin were recently able to spend a week with the Johansens in Brazil. Here is Pastor Steven’s update from that trip:
What a blessing it was for my wife and I to visit the Johansens and the church family down in Aracaju, Brazil this past August! The Lord is faithfully fulfilling his promise to build his church around the world and to sustain his children as they faithfully follow his word.
Roger & Crystal were so kind to welcome into their home and their everyday lives as missionaries in Brazil. They modeled living all of life for Christ’s mission. They sought to know and love those who live in their neighborhood, those they met while running errands, and even as they interacted with staff at restaurants. All so that the lost might be found and matured in Christ.
Over the weekend they hosted a couple’s event where people from the church and others came to share a meal, fellowship, and hear a challenge from God’s word regarding a biblical view of marriage. Pastor Roger was able to translate as we showed from Scripture that humility is essential in marriage and call people to believe in the gospel.
The next day, we gathered together on Sunday evening for their weekly church service. It was a joy to see how even though there are things that are different the truths of redemption in Christ alone remains the same. Pastor Eriomar led us as we sang together, read Scripture together, fellowshipped together, and were exhorted by God’s word together as well.
In addition to visiting the church family in Aracaju, we took a day trip out to Maceio, about four hours north, to see the locations of the three churches planted there prior to the Johansens move five years ago. While we were there, we got to share a meal together with Pastor Joao de Deus and his family and encourage one another in faithful ministry for Christ.
Please continue praying for Pastor Roger’s health as he continues serving the Lord in Brazil. Pray for the fellow pastors and future leaders as they seek to raise up a generation of men who know, follow, and lead others with the truth of God’s word both in Brazil and in other Portuguese speaking nations around the world.
How to pray
Pray that God would bring fruit from Pastor Roger’s and Pastor Steven’s ministry at the recent couples retreat.
Pray that God would sustain Pastor Roger as he continues to deal with health issues while serving the Lord in Brazil.
Pray for the fellow pastors and future leaders as they seek to raise up a generation of men to take the gospel to the Portuguese-speaking world.
Pray for the leadership in Aracaju and Gloria:
Pastor Roger Johansen
Pastor Eriomar Maia
Pastor Marcos
Mexico
This past month, Pastor Brian asked us to pray and praise God for several ways that the church is growing physically and spiritually. First, pray for a young man named Max, who has been growing in maturity and biblical understanding and taught adults in the church for the first time this month. Second, praise God for the continued progress on the Sunday School classroom construction at the church in Mochicahui. And third, pray for Pastor Brian’s discipleship ministry in Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Honduras, and Costa Rica, particularly for the advanced module of Biblical Counseling that he taught recently in Oaxaca, Mexico. Praise God for building his church!
How to pray
Pray that God would continue to grow and use Max as he begins teaching adults.
Pray that God would continue to bless the recent construction in Mochicahui.
Pray for Pastor Brian as he trains and equips church leaders in Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Honduras, and Costa Rica both virtually and in person.
Pray that God would bring fruit from the recent Biblical Counseling class in Oaxaca.
Pray for the entire team helping to plant the church in Los Mochis:
Pastor Brian Warne and wife Danyel
Pastor Antonio de la Cruz and wife Alicia
Pastor Tony de la Cruz, wife Avi, and family
Deacon Seth, wife Mavy, and family
Deacon Will, wife Jasmin, and family
