REDEEMER'S SOUTH AMERICAN SISTER
RPC Has A Two-Year Old Sister. And More On The Way.

In the middle of Campinas, a city of almost 1 million located 80 miles northwest of Sao Paulo, the Presbyterian Community Chacara Primavera (CPCP) is a sign of God's love and power. After only two-and-a-half years, the community counts among its 300 members secular professionals, executives of large companies and university students. And they're already paving the way to plant more churches. Church planting pastor Ricardo Agreste da Silva reports, "People of secularized mind and materialistic heart have become disciples of Christ and agents of transformation in the city."

Presently CPCP's Sunday services attract an attendance of more than 300 people. Two-thirds of that number attend one of seven weekly fellowship groups, zeroing in on the needs of people in the city. Three 'family' groups run programs and lessons for children and adolescents that run parallel to the adults' bible studies. The remaining groups serve young mothers, businessmen, university students, and divorced people.

Besides the numeric growth, CPCP has also created the Renovo Institute* (check out www.chacaraprimavera.org.br/instrenovo.php). The Institute raises financial and human resources, and brings them to the aid of the "less-favored groups" suffering in the social inequality that characterizes the city. Another important dimension foundational to CPCP's work is supporting the area's church planting movement. "Two new projects are the goals of our leadership," explains Agreste, "and we have been praying and reflecting about them." They include:

1) A Church For Social Elites To plant a strong church in Vinhedo, a city located 20 kilometers from Campinas and 70 kilometers from S‹o Paulo. Vinhedo has become the residence of many business men and executives who are searching for a better quality of life for their families. According to official data Vinhedo was ranked the15th best city in the whole country in quality of life, the 4th in the State of S‹o Paulo, and the 1st in the local area. However, in Vinhedo doesn't not have a church which is able to reach the social elites who wield great influence in the society. This year, CPCP started a bible study group in Vinhedo which gathers around 25 people weekly. CPCP plans to start a Sunday Service in the beginning of 2004.

2) A Church for Students To start a Campus Ministry reaching students and strengthen those who are already Christian. The university student population of Campinas is 100,000 strong (10% of the total population of the city), divided among universities such as UNICAMP (45,000 students), PUCAMP (15,000 students), and other smaller universities. "Our leadership dreams about having a staff person to lead these young students growth in the Christian faith and develop other Bible study and evangelism groups in the campus," says Agreste. "In the future to plant a church totally directed towards reaching the university students.

Says Agreste, "In all these things that we have seen happening and dream to see, we acknowledge the gracious hands of God moving and supporting us. Redeemer Presbyterian Church has been part of this manifestation of God to our lives. Therefore, we are very grateful to God for Redeemer's vision and pray that He keeps this vision and that it may be always faithful in this great ministry."

-Pr. Ricardo Agreste da Silva with Reyn Cabinte