Directing the Portuguese Initiative in Converge Worldwide Intercultural Ministries

Joel & Barbara Wright
2172 Niagara Ct.

Elgin, IL 60123
E-Mail: contact the church office

Agency: Converge Worldwide (formerly Baptist General Conference)

Country: Appointed as missionaries to Brazil in 1985. In August, 2007, they began a new assignment directing the Portuguese Initiative in Converge Intercultural Ministries in the USA.
Birthdays: Joel (July 15), Barbara (October 28)
Anniversary: Family: Joshua (March 14), Sarah (November 14), Gabriel (August 16)
Hobbies: Barbara (Reading), Joel (Cooking, woodwork, reading, taking care of household plants)

Primary Ministry Focus:
Joel and Barbara arrived in Brazil in June 1987.  Following language study Joel began working with congregations in Sao Paulo , helping with discipleship groups, visiting with people and putting down roots into the Brazilian culture.  Later, he taught at the seminary in Campinas and the Santo Amaro Baptist Seminary.  He spent his weekends with a local church, helping in preaching, teaching, and counseling.  He also served as speaker for youth retreats and various inter-church gatherings.  Until June 2007,  Joel served as professor at the Sao Paulo Baptist Theological seminary and has teaching, preaching, and administrative responsibilities.  His classes were in the areas of Pastoral Ministries and Missions.  He introduced for the first time an entire series of 15 weeks on the subject of Islamic Studies to help better prepare missionaries to the Muslim world.

While in Brazil, Barbara was involved with children evangelism and AWANA.  She served as Treasurer of the Brazil mission field. 

Joel and Barbara now reside in Elgin, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago.  They work with Converge Worldwide in their intercultural ministries, leading Portuguese speaking initiatives.  Additionally, Joel has ongoing teaching and leadership responsibilities at the Brazilian Baptist Church of Chicago.
 

General Prayer Requests:

1. Pray for further development of the Converge Brazilian team; ministry resourcing, web-site development, and future projects

2.  Pray for pastoral transitions and overall church needs in Minneapolis, San Diego, Chicago, Rockland, Ma., and Worchester, Ma.

3.  Pray for Barb's daily administrative and financial tasks at Converge / BGC financial headquarters in Arlington Heights, Il.

4.  Pray for family needs and spiritual lives, schooling and career aspirations for Josh, Sarah, and Gabriel, our three adult children

Newsletter
March 2011

July 2011

August-September 2011

December 2011

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