Interview with Craig and Alessandra at Black Rock, Fairfield CT January 2014
1. Tell us about the upcoming soccer World Cup in Brazil and how the events that revolve around it present outreach opportunities?
· The World Cup is coming to Rio de Janeiro and 11 other cities from June 12 to July13- 31 days of the 30 World’s best football Nations will compete for the World Cup Trophy while millions of fans from virtually every nation on earth will exalt their national heroes as they attempt to put the ball in the net!
· Our Purpose along with our Brazilian Partners, Exodus Cry and many other missions organizations from around the Globe will be to “Exalt the Name of Jesus Higher than Soccer”!
· The Problem is that the World Cup and the Olympics are two events that most promote human trafficking in the World! Most Trafficking serves the purpose of sexual tourism, prostitution, and involves children, teenagers and woman.
· While we can see the visible infrastructure of the city being prepared for the millions of tourist- Roads, Metro, Stadiums etc- There is an invisible infrastructure being built for the purpose of selling these children, teenagers and woman into prostitution.
· The Hope or Ministry Opportunity that we are engaged in is called, the Freedom Project or Projeto Liberdade. The Freedom Project has three levels of attack:
o Prevention- Showing of the Nefarious Documentary; 9/2013-5/2014
o Intervention- House of Prayer- 31 days during the World Cup -24/7
§ Luke 18 The Persistent Widow- vs 7…will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
§ Listen to His Voice and Obey- As God leads we will Go out to the Streets- into the Darkness Seeking the Lost.
o Restoration- Long term care and Discipleship
2. We are all watching the winter Olympics in Russia. The Summer Olympics will be in Brazil. How is the church on Brazil gearing up for the Summer Olympics in 2016 and what will the role of the churches that you work with?
§ The Perfect Storm- It is very unusual that the Olympics would follow so closely behind the World Cup- It is an opportunity for the traffickers to continue their work. The Olympics is much bigger than the world cup- 200 Nations and Millions of tourists all in the city of Rio.
§ This is also an opportunity for us, ReachGlobal to continue our work with our partners. We are using the World Cup as Preparation for the Olympics!
3. You have a baby on the horizon. What is her due date?
· Alyssia Weyandt, our little girl, we will be born on April 25th.
4. Speaking of your expanding family, you have been involved in the anti-trafficking of children in Brazil. Tell us briefly, how wide spread is the problem and how has the church and you as missionaries responded to the challenge?
· Alessandra spent two years as the Articulator for the Bola Na Rede (Ball in the Net ) Campaign against Child Trafficking, abuse and Prostitution linked to the World Cup and Olympics.
· Our focus was and is on Awareness- Making the Brazilian Church and Society aware of the Problem by visiting Schools, Churches, and Networks of Professionals and Volunteers who work in the area of Children Education presenting facts and leading discussions about the problem.
· What we Learned-
o Trafficking is the Exploitation of the Vulnerable! Two great causes of Vulnerability in Brazil… 1) Poverty 2) Sexual Abuse- It is estimated that 30% of Brazil’s poor are abused by a family member as an infant or child.
· The Hope against Trafficking-
o Jesus! Jesus is Just. Without Jesus there is no true Justice. Every Justice initiative must begin and end with Jesus.
o The Church- Jesus call us to Make Disciples- Go into Darkness! Let Christ Shine.
o Governmental Reform- Cutting off the Demand- The church must be the voice for the voiceless. Tougher Laws and Punity against the “Johns”-
5. Tell us briefly about your ministry in Brazil?
· We exist to Glorify God through the Multiplication of Transformational Churches in Brazil and Beyond!
· The goal is to impact lives with the transformational Gospel and we do that by developing, empowering and releasing Brazilian leaders who have a passion to make disciples and impact their communities.
· Transforming the Brazilian church: That is why we are involved in the Freedom Project- It is really about transforming the Brazilian church by Empowering them to respond to Ministry opportunity in the wake of city crises. Walk as Jesus Walked! John 10:10, Duet 10:18!
6. How has Black Rock enabled you to serve the people of Brazil?
· Core Value!
o We work in Partnership! We have many Brazilian Partners and we have many American Parnters!
o Black Rock is a vital Kingdom Partner in our Ministry to the Brazilian People.
o Two Vital Roles Black Rock has in our Ministry Partnership
§ Prayer- Fruitfulness, Protection- physical and spiritual
§ Financial Support-
· We go to Where the People are.
· We invest in Training.
