Rev. Paul Lusana Buhwahwa is serving as a senior pastor of a local church at Mwanza. God called him in 1998 and in 2001 he pioneered to start a new church at Iloganzala Mwanza under Tanzania assemblies of God.

His goal is to make sure that “NO PLACE IN TANZANIA LEFT WITHOUT HEALTHLY CHURCH”. They invite any one who is ready to partner with them to take the gospel around the whole country of Tanzania. Tanzania is a good and peaceful country full of kind people, hospitality, and great safaris.

I have been Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Santa Helena for 21 years and have been working in partnership with Harvest Mission Brazil for 5 years through Pastor Mike Owen and a team of North American brothers in the Evangelization of Afro-descendants (quilombolas) who live in our region. I and my wife, Elci, serve as ministry partners with Mike and his teams. As a result of this work, we have already started a church in the community called "Apaga Fogo" in our municipality and we are continuing  the "Impactus" Discipleship material. By doing this, our church is fulfilling the Great Commission established by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20. Once a village of Quilombola people are exposed to the gospel and people are saved, our church moves in to disciple the new believers for the glory of Christ.

The Owens are Alabama natives with a heart for unreached people. Mike and Lori were married in 1995 and have been serving churches in Alabama and Colorado as Senior Pastor for 25 years. Mike was ordained by Mt. Pleasant Baptist church in Gordo, AL in 1993. He has a BS Degree in Education from the University of Alabama and a Master of Divinity in preaching from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans. The Owens have been working in Brazil since 2002 but answered the call to full time missions in 2018 to work with
an unreached people group in Northeast Brazil. Mike serves as the Executive Director of Harvest Mission Brazil where he mobilizes churches in the US and Brazil to partner together to reach the unreached people group known as QUILOMBOLAS, all for the glory of Jesus
Christ.

Dr.  Bobby and Tamitha Lynch have dedicated their lives to serving vulnerable communities across Latin America. Based in Quito, Ecuador since 2007, they lead impactful ministries that address both spiritual and physical needs. Bobby, with a PhD in Intercultural Studies, teaches at SEMISUD (South American Seminary) and directs special projects, like the Give Water initiative, that both provide direct services and equip ministers. Tamitha, holding a Master’s in Holistic Child Development, specializes in providing trauma-informed resources to promote healing and resilience in at-risk children.

Together, they founded Project M:25, a holistic approach to provide care based upon the simple words of Jesus found in Matthew 25 like, “When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink.” At the main campus near Quito, they serve approximately 200 children daily. By addressing poverty’s effects through nutrition, education, and enrichment programs, Project M:25 fosters thriving and resilient communities with our partner sites throughout Ecuador. All of our campuses also serve as a training ground for ministers, whose hands-on experiences prepare them to bring hope and transformation to their own communities.

The Give Water program supplies families with clean drinking water and provides chaplaincy care through trauma-informed home visits. This initiative not only ensures safe water access but also improves families' health, finances, and emotional well-being, while nurturing faith-based support.

Franky and Karina Belfort lives in Maranhão, Brazil where he serves as a missionary and translator with Harvest Mission Brazil, an organization dedicated to ministry among quilombola communities. These communities are formed by descendants of African slaves who sought refuge in remote areas. In addition to translation work, Franky provides ministerial support and helps spread the gospel among these historically marginalized groups. Also on mission is Karina who is a doctor and a psychiatrist, telling people about Jesus through her line of work!

“At the age of 50, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I grew up going to a church and knowing the name of Jesus, yet never learned about a relationship with Him until moving to Denver, NC and attending Denver Baptist Church. I wanted everyone to know my Jesus and how they too could have an everlasting life with Him. I then started serving local areas in town, meeting people where they are at, and going on mission trips near and far. One of those trips was to Calhoun County in Alabama.

I felt God calling me to missions but I  allowed my flesh to take over. Yet through His calling on my life and my obedience to Him, it became His call, not mine. I put my “yes” on the table for His will to be done. On June 1st, 2014, I took my first steps into Zinn Park in Anniston, AL and life was never the same. I serve as He leads. For example, He has led me to prayer walk and build relationships in local schools and led me to start a nonprofit called “His Hands and Feet Ministries of Calhoun County”. It also includes serving the homeless and underprivileged in my community as I build relationships and meet current needs. I would not change one thing in my life as I serve people loving like Jesus as He first loved me.”

Shocco Springs is a nonprofit, Christian conference center in Talladega, Alabama. We are primarily a host facility that provides lodging, meeting space, recreation, support services and meals for events held by Christian and nonprofit groups and organizations. 

"We are an entity of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, who generously provide us with funding through the Cooperative Program. We welcome nonprofit organizations and Christian groups of many denominations because we believe that we all have one mission – the Great Commission."

Shocco continues to provide an environment of beauty and peace for guests who attend retreats, camps and conferences. In this place, many people experience spiritual transformation and renewal. Hearts are touched, lives are impacted. The staff makes every effort to provide a distinctly Christian environment where God can speak.

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Check us out at www.shocco.org.

Omar Alvarado is the Director at Crosspoint Central America Ministries and has been for 16 years. His wife of 22 years is Ruth Alvarado and they have  3 children. Omar has led countless teams to work and partner with church plants in Nicaragua and Honduras. His work includes partnering Honduran churches with churches in America in order to establish partnerships and growth in the church. His main focus is doing evangelism, teaching pastors' conferences, church planting, discipling new believers, and teaching others how to teach others.