Story: Disaster Response Ministries in Brazil

In April and May of this year, Brazil faced a heartbreaking climate tragedy in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In just one week, relentless rainfall led to severe flooding across over 400 cities, displacing some 600,000 people and impacting more than 2 million. The consequences were devastating, and approximately 180 lives were lost. In light of this tragedy, we asked Messenger College international student and Global Resources intern, Laiza Santos, about her unique perspective concerning the natural disaster:

As a Brazilian, it’s profoundly painful to witness my fellow citizens struggling with such loss and hardship. I’ve heard stories from those working in shelters, where even the sound of rain now triggers panic attacks for many affected. This is a vivid reminder of the trauma that lingers long after the floodwaters recede. Now, four months later, the need for support remains urgent. Victims are still trying to rebuild their lives from scratch, often with few resources. However, the resilience of the affected communities is shining through in these difficult times, as individuals and organizations are coming together to provide hope and support.

In July, Rev. Andy Hunt had the privilege of traveling to Belo Horizonte, Brazil to take part in meetings aimed at initiating a Disaster Response ministry in PCG Brazil. Our leadership teams in Brazil have done a wonderful job responding to the devastated areas during this crisis and even now, as many areas are still in recovery mode. Although Brazil as a nation does not have an enormous number of natural disasters, they have realized that they need to be more prepared to respond to such an event in the future. Rev. Hunt concludes with these remarks:

As I spent time with the Brazilian leadership and their disaster relief director, Michael Lopes, we began to chart a course for future training and implementation of PCG Global Disaster Relief Brazil. Praise the Lord! In fact, we are coordinating additional future training of pastors at the upcoming Brazil 2025 convention. To Bishop Francisco Montefusco, Director of Missions Joel Santos, Director of Disaster Relief Michael Lopes, and all the leadership of Brazil PCG, thank you for your over and above hospitality, your vision, and for your heart to do the work of the Lord. Together we can make a difference!