We seek to the serve the impoverished community by embracing them where they are, proclaiming Jesus Christ as Savior, and empowering them for a fulfilling future in love through Him.
Pastor Paulo and Pastor Rodrigo Portão church in Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil with Vitor and Amanda 2019
Pastor Marcos and his family of Pituba Church in Salvador, Brazil with Vitor, Amanda, and Lilia, 2012
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We are a ministry of First Melissa
Who Are We?Embrace Brasil was developed in response to God's calling. God gave Vitor and Amanda a brokenness for the impoverished community of Brazil. Since 1997, Vitor and Amanda spent summers in Brazil with various families and individuals. They grew closer to the families. Their love for the people grew alongside the hurt for their need for provision and for Jesus. Embrace Brasil began with a vision from God to provide food, education, and teach God's love to the homeless and impoverished of Brazil. Through channels of faith and obedience, God has paved the road to begin this ministry.
Vitor and Amanda speak Portuguese, enabling them to connect and establish meaningful relationships as they serve. Vitor is native to Salvador, Brazil. Vitor is gifted at wood working, construction, technical improvements, farming, welding, etc... He married Amanda, native to Bonham, TX, in 1999. Amanda grew up with a desire to serve in the mission field. She is gifted in teaching, coaching, and counseling with youth. (personal testimonies). They have one daughter, Lilia, born in 2008, who also speaks both English and Portuguese. Lilia says she wants people to know Jesus loves them. |
How the Journey Began
This video summarizes our journey to begin this mission. Contact us if you would like to know more or would like to join God's work in Lamarão, Brazil in any way.
What do we Believe?
God is defined as the one living and true God. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24, John 10:30; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
The Father - God reigns in providential care of the universe and He is personal Father to those who become children through faith in Jesus Christ. Gen.1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3;, 15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb.11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
The Son - Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He honored God and man through a sinless life and His sacrificial life and death provides for the opportune redemption of mankind from sin's penalty. Gen. 1:18ff.; Psalm 2:7ff; 110:1f.; Isa. 7:14, 53, 9:6; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5, 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18, 29;10:30, 38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-30; 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28; Acts 1:9-11; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16, 6:14-15; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9, 20; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16
The Holy Spirit - As Spirit, God exalts Christ and convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Spirit indwells every believer at the moment of salvation, and enlightens and empowers the surrendered believer.Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalm 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-2; att. 1:18;3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12;24:49; John 3:3-7, 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts :8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14, 3:16, 6:19, 12:3-11; II Corinthians 3:17; Gal. 4:6, 5:25; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; Col. 3:14; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8, 14; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17.
Man was created by God in His own image, as God's crowning act of creation. Man chose to sin and introduced sin's consequence to mankind and creation at large. The value of mankind is reflected in the distinctness of containing God's own image and is confirmed in the illustration of God's extreme expression of sinless sacrifice through the person of Jesus Christ; therefore every created human being possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christ-like love. Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa. 6:5, 53:6, 59:1-2; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23;5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11
Salvation redeems the entire human being, and is offered freely to any who accept Jesus Christ as Savior. The sacrifice of Jesus secures the opportunity of salvation. Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29, 14:6, 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 13:38-39, 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:1-4, 10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13, 26; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14, 3:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
God's grace is the catalyst for salvation. God's grace initiates the conviction of sin and enables the believer to establish and maintain the relationship with God through Christ until the return of Christ. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7, 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff.; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45, 65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20>32; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2:10, 19; Heb. 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
Scripture was written by men, divinely inspired, and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter....The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psalm 12:6, 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140, 160; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16 ff, 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:13, 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
The Church is both local and universal. A local New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. The New Testament speaks also of the universal church as the body of Christ which includes all the redeemed of all the ages. Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.
Evangelism and Missions are the heartbeat of our co-mission with Christ. The church seeks to introduce people to Jesus Christ and help them grow in spiritual maturity to be like Him. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 3:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17.
Stewardship acknowledges that all things are created by God and belong to God and that we are indebted to manage all we have been given for God's honor and glory. Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.
The above statements are derived from and based upon the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith and Message. Listed are the statements we feel most relevant to this ministry. For the complete document, you may visit the Southern Baptist Convention web site at http://www.sbc.net/.
The Father - God reigns in providential care of the universe and He is personal Father to those who become children through faith in Jesus Christ. Gen.1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3;, 15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb.11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
The Son - Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He honored God and man through a sinless life and His sacrificial life and death provides for the opportune redemption of mankind from sin's penalty. Gen. 1:18ff.; Psalm 2:7ff; 110:1f.; Isa. 7:14, 53, 9:6; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5, 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18, 29;10:30, 38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-30; 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28; Acts 1:9-11; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16, 6:14-15; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9, 20; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16
The Holy Spirit - As Spirit, God exalts Christ and convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Spirit indwells every believer at the moment of salvation, and enlightens and empowers the surrendered believer.Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalm 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-2; att. 1:18;3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12;24:49; John 3:3-7, 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts :8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14, 3:16, 6:19, 12:3-11; II Corinthians 3:17; Gal. 4:6, 5:25; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; Col. 3:14; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8, 14; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17.
Man was created by God in His own image, as God's crowning act of creation. Man chose to sin and introduced sin's consequence to mankind and creation at large. The value of mankind is reflected in the distinctness of containing God's own image and is confirmed in the illustration of God's extreme expression of sinless sacrifice through the person of Jesus Christ; therefore every created human being possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christ-like love. Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa. 6:5, 53:6, 59:1-2; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23;5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11
Salvation redeems the entire human being, and is offered freely to any who accept Jesus Christ as Savior. The sacrifice of Jesus secures the opportunity of salvation. Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29, 14:6, 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 13:38-39, 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:1-4, 10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13, 26; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14, 3:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
God's grace is the catalyst for salvation. God's grace initiates the conviction of sin and enables the believer to establish and maintain the relationship with God through Christ until the return of Christ. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7, 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff.; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45, 65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20>32; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2:10, 19; Heb. 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
Scripture was written by men, divinely inspired, and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter....The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psalm 12:6, 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140, 160; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16 ff, 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:13, 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
The Church is both local and universal. A local New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. The New Testament speaks also of the universal church as the body of Christ which includes all the redeemed of all the ages. Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.
Evangelism and Missions are the heartbeat of our co-mission with Christ. The church seeks to introduce people to Jesus Christ and help them grow in spiritual maturity to be like Him. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 3:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17.
Stewardship acknowledges that all things are created by God and belong to God and that we are indebted to manage all we have been given for God's honor and glory. Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.
The above statements are derived from and based upon the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith and Message. Listed are the statements we feel most relevant to this ministry. For the complete document, you may visit the Southern Baptist Convention web site at http://www.sbc.net/.
