Brazil—Turano Favela

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What could one woman, bedridden, nearly blind, and well over 100 years old, do with her life? I found out: she could change the world for many.

We were in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, holding a pastors’ conference, when I asked a bishop to lead us to the infamous ghettos known as the favelas. The area is notorious for poverty and mindless violence, particularly among its very young people. Thousands of street kids in the favelas have been gunned down by rival gangs or killed by secret “security squads.”

As you near the favelas, the streets become too narrow for cars, so we had to stop and walk. We were led up a hill, past machine gun-toting gangs and drug look-out teenagers, hungry children on the streets, a vast humanity of broken souls — all wounded by a life spent in Satan’s stronghold. Finally, we were led into a one-room dwelling, where Mary, the elderly woman I described, lay in bed.

Her sight nearly gone, her hearing growing dim, her movement lessening by the growing pain in her body, she lay immobilized in poverty. “I have lived here for almost 100 years,” she told us. “I was born into slavery and moved here as a little girl. I have known Jesus for almost 100 years, and every day since I have moved here I have prayed for the children of this favela.”

As we spent time with this humble woman, her faint and broken voice barely reached the ears of our interpreter. I was astonished. Here lay someone in utter pain, who had spent a lifetime in awful poverty, yet during our visit she asked for nothing for herself.

As we walked back down the hill, I told our interpreter that I was amazed at the prophetic word she had spoken — that we were sent to her by God as an answer to her prayers, and that now she could go in peace to be with Jesus because she had been heard: God was about to move among the children.

The interpreter said he didn’t know what I was talking about. He hadn’t interpreted anything like that. I was stunned. I knew I had heard her say these things as clearly as I’ve heard anything in my life — yet the only man who could understand her hadn’t interpreted those words. I am not a mystical man, and I have never claimed to hear an audible voice of God. But in the home of this elderly saint, the Lord had spoken out loud to me. I believe God speaks boldly when bold steps are required. And the Lord was making it clear to us that we must help as much as we can. We had been sent there as a result of one elderly woman’s desperate cries to Jesus.

Now I am standing in a two-story building on the opening day of a new school for 160 of some of the neediest children in the world. World Challenge partners like yourself completely funded this project. The school is a refuge for these children of the Turano favela from the endless violence of the streets. It is a light in the midst of gross darkness — and it was born in the heart of a woman who wouldn’t give up in prayer until she knew she was heard.

As I stood in this beautiful new school that Mary had prayed into existence, I was side by side with her pastor, an ex-gang member whom Mary had prayed into the kingdom. Together we looked out on 160 beautiful children whom Mary had prayed would one day have a place just like this.

And Mary is still praying. “160 children is not enough,” she cries. “There are so many more babies in need of a place of love and life.” Now she is praying for a new piece of property on the other side of the favela, which could be used to build a second school for another 160 kids. I believe God will once again hear Mary’s cry. She has given her life for these little ones, and she has called us to her side. She has called all of us who are able to help to be involved.

We want to help Mary’s church buy this land and to build a new school. We need your generous partnership in making this prayer a reality. We simply ask you to pray and give as God leads. We are also looking for a few committed churches with a heart for missions to get involved with us in serving in this needy community.

For more information, you may call us at (903) 963-8626. You can be assured that 100% of your gift will go directly to the children of the Turano favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.