OUR VISION: To see the Methodist Movement alive, vibrant, growing and yearning to spread the good news of Christ Jesus throughout the whole world through word, deed and sign!

This gymnasium (above) in Rio was in ruins until World Evangelism "connected" the Methodist Church in Brazil with a group of Methodist children and a businessman in Indiana who provided the resources to help repair it as a place of recreation for more than 500 children, some of which are gathered in the picture below.

EvangeSport

The sharing of the
Good News through
sports activities

This wholistic ministry of World
Methodist Evangelism and the
Methodist Church in Brazil is being
used of God to communicate joy,
fellowship and the story of Jesus to
 children and youth in the "favelas"
of Rio.

One of the key dimensions of
World Evangelism is that it
"connects" Methodist people in
order that they can share with one
another in evangelism ministries of
word, deed and sign around the
world. In a visit to Brazil, the
Hankey Sr. Professor of World
Evangelism was invited to the first
"favela" in Rio where the Methodist
Church has ministered for over a
century. Leaders in the Methodist Church in Brazil said that if the area could be repaired 500 children would come regularly for recreation and "re-creation of the soul."

When children in Indiana learned of the need they responded with an offering of support. A businessman was inspired to help the children in the Methodist Church in Richmond, Indiana reach their goal for the repair of this place of ministry in Rio. Today, many children come to the restored "gymnasium," the only available place for play in the area. Through the "bridge of sport" the Good News of Jesus is shared with many children and youth. They learn sport and the story of faith in Jesus during each session. In addition, the place for EvangeSport has become the "anchor headquarters" for the ministry of EvangeMed. Through leaders and program staff who understand the wholeness of the ministry in word, deed and sign many little children and youth are coming to know joy and hope in their lives through Jesus Christ.

The vision of World Evangelism is that this model of ministry be duplicated in many areas of the world. The "bridge of sport" in today's world is as important as the "roads of Rome" were in the first century for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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