Ministry
Welcome
Here you will find news about what is happening in my ministry at Cru Campus.
If you would like to support this ministry on a monthly basis, you can join my partner team at the link below.
Prayer Requests
Adaptation of Karla in Brazil
Completion of our finantial support.
Year That Flies - 2024
Porto Alegre
Serving the Local Church, this is how I define this project that took place at the beginning of the year. An intense month, far from home, but we saw many fruits in connecting the church with university students. As a result, we witnessed 166 evangelistic encounters, where 26 people received Christ! Even though I serve as a missionary, the learning I received by observing the students we care for was profound—seeing how they disciple and evangelize, teaching their friends to do the same through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sustainability
Can you imagine millions and millions of reais in resources being directed towards missions and the expansion of God's kingdom throughout the world? That's right, we participated in a forum on this topic and saw how God provides in amazing and grand ways for His plans to be fulfilled, no matter where. Karla and I were invited to serve by recording this forum, which will be used for training in various countries. We pray that many ministries will be blessed by this resource, which was a great learning experience for us. God is the provider; we've experienced this throughout our lives, but in a very intense way over these last three years of full-time ministry, where we have lacked nothing and have had the privilege of walking this journey with all our partners by our side.
BH and Ouro Preto
In the middle of a conversation with two medical students at UFMG, we saw a Google car passing by, and we already knew that conversation would be recorded on Maps. Right there next to the first traffic light in BH, the moment was recorded when God began a new Christian movement through two great friends, Matheus and Artur. Along with this, pray for the three-month project I am overseeing in Ouro Preto. Three young people have paused a semester at university to dedicate themselves to starting Christ-centered movements in a new city.
Trainings
Forum on Sustainability
Movement Starting at MG (Google Maps)
What Has Been Happening (2023/2)
It’s always wonderful to share stories written by God, and we do this through video testimonies. Through interviews, people like Natália share the story of how she came to know Christ and accepted Him into her life, and how her friend and business partner Denise played a crucial role in witnessing Christ to her. Watch the video above.
Church
We are happy to share that we are now members of our new church, Igreja Cristã da Aliança. God has given us this family to be part of, and we are eager to serve in this faith community.
Discipleships
We had been praying to God for opportunities to walk in faith more closely with students. By His grace, these opportunities have arrived for both of us—Karla is discipling a young woman, and I am leading a small group of young men at UFF. It’s a challenge that brings us great joy and motivation.
Belo Horizonte
We continue to care for the Christian movements in the city, praying that they will bear fruit and experience edifying fellowship. Please pray for the lives of the students there who do not yet have a relationship with God.
New Home (Mar-Apr-23)
Gratitude
We've been living in Itaperuna for 1 year and we can only thank God for this very important time at the beginning of our marriage.
We are grateful for our family that welcomed us so much, grateful for our church that made us grow in our knowledge of God, grateful also for our small group that embraced us with great affection and communion.
God presented us with precious people in this place that will remain in our hearts. Our thanks to each one.
March - New House
We finally moved to Niterói, a simple and very welcoming place that God gave us in an incredible way. It will be a process to adapt again to a big city, but we are really enjoying it. We are closer to the students, being able to take better care of the movements that we have at UFF and CEFET, two campuses where I had the pleasure of meeting students who love Christ and are excited to serve him and make him known.
I continue to take care of the movements that have flourished in Minas Gerais, this state that we have been praying for a long time for new student movements. Be praying for the federal and state universities of MG, and for our visits to the city throughout the year.
April - New Church
In the process of living in a new city, God has not been slow to present us with a living community that loves and adores him. Visiting the Aliança Christian Church, we found a biblical and welcoming church. We look forward to being able to serve in this community, already beginning the process to become a member.
Goodbyes in Itaperuna
Debuting the new home with my parents
Students of CEFET RJ
Students of UFF in training
Personal Evangelism
Vacation? not so much (Feb-23)
We had a vacation after the project. However, that time was quite difficult for us, especially for Karla.
She spent many days feeling unwell and we were unable to come up with a clear diagnosis of what was going on despite tests and visits to the doctors. It was a period of great concern and uncertainty, but God strengthened us in his word and challenged us to trust him even more.
Today, Karla is better, but we still don't have a clear explanation of what happened. We ask that you continue to pray for our health and for Karla's adaptation to our climate. We also ask for your prayers for the medical care that we are yet to provide.
We know that we have a God who loves us and cares for us in all circumstances. We remain firm in our purpose of serving you and making a difference in the lives of many people. We thank each and every one of you who have supported our ministry and been part of this journey with us.
Não deixamos de celebrar e agradecer por nosso primeiro ano de casamento
Palmas Project (Jan-23)
We had the opportunity to carry out a missionary project in Palmas, Tocantins. We have been evangelizing in communities across the city, partnering with local churches that have welcomed us and allowed us to serve alongside them. This project was different from projects in previous years, which focused more on actions within universities. It was a time of learning and growth, in which we were able to connect with people who did not yet know Christ.
Along with the project that was taking place in Goiânia, we presented the gospel to more than 400 people and saw 128 decisions for Christ, Glory to God! This brings us great joy and spiritual renewal, we could feel the power of the Holy Spirit working among us.
We also had the opportunity to direct men's time, myself, and women's time, Karla. It was very rewarding to serve alongside my wife during that time and I could see God at work in the lives of these young people. It was a great learning experience and discipleship, in which we were able to delve into important issues for the Christian journey.
Student meetup closing of the school year for Cru Vitória - ES
New Year (Dec-22)
Closing of school year Cru Vitória
We had the opportunity to be with the student movement in Vitória, thanking God for another year and sharing the story that God wrote in the creation of the movement in 2017, being an answer to prayers that came long before that.
Students from various faculties (UFES, UVV, MultiVix), enjoying the same spirit and worshiping the God who sustains them. How good it is to see and experience the fruits of what God has done in the universities of this state, and in the lives of these students.
A lot of expectation to be working closer to them in 2023, already with our team focusing on the states of Rio, Minas and ES
Project Palmas
I am writing here from Tocantins where we will spend the month of January on a missionary project. After a long journey, we arrived right along with the other missionaries to receive the students for the next few days. Expectant of what God has to do with us here.
We want to strengthen the local movement in the city of Palmas and also develop the leadership of the national movement through student designers. We want them to go home more prepared to continue serving the Lord in fulfilling the Great Commission in their campus movements and with their local churches.
This will happen through evangelistic incursions in the center and suburbs of the city with different development experiences for designers: classes, conversation circles, creative laboratories, small discipleship groups, time for men and women, work in local social projects, support for city churches etc.
We need people interceding for all of us this time. Be with us on this even from afar!
New Year
We wish you a happy new year, may God's plans for your life be remarkable in 2023. That regardless of the good or bad situations that may arise, your faith and hope are firm in our Creator and Savior. May you remain in Christ and He in Us.
"“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. "
John 15:1-5
Culto com estudantes em Vitória
Viagem a Palmas com Camilla e Tamires
Permanecendo na videira, será o tema do nosso projeto missionário.
Celebre com a gente (Set-22)
Birthdays
This month was very special at our house, as we celebrated our birthdays in person together for the first time, me on the 9th and Karla on the 25th. We thank God for another year of life, and to experience his blessings every new day.
Summer projects
Big plans lie ahead, and we thank God for the return of summer mission projects. In January we will take 80 students from all over Brazil to Palmas-TO and Goiânia-GO, with the aim of taking the gospel to communities in the city and empowering participants in their Christian journey.
We will go specifically to the project in Palmas in Tocantins, the first project that we participated in as a team of missionaries. In 2018 I was part of the Aracaju project, which I have many good memories and lessons for life. Being able to be a part of providing this to new students brings us so much excitement and joy.
Blitz
A community of missionaries looking together for ministry partners who offer for missionary work, that's Blitz. Moment that Cru gathers for this purpose to know more about our provider God, through new people who start to offer in missions.
Living God's provision and miracle in that time was an incredible experience, as we received new partners supporting us and finally reached our goal of having full support.
All honor and glory be given to our Lord Jesus Christ!
Education and Training
Karla and I have been trying to train ourselves more and more in what God has given us the opportunity to do. Together we started a new course in Christian Worldview in our local church, learning how to see each area of our lives from the perspective of the Kingdom of God, being its witnesses. It's been very uplifting.
Next steps
With full support, I now officially join the Elo Team and we follow the projects already underway for this semester. I also started a journey at Cru called Development of New Missionaries - DNM, receiving training and field practices along with other missionaries with more years of ministry.
We are already looking for places to live in Niterói. Be praying that we will be directed to the place He has already prepared for us. If you know someone with a place available in Niterói, send us a message.
Birthdays
Next destiny
Prayer retreat of missionaries in Rio
Student Retreat 2022 - Vila Velha - ES
Christ in Us (June 2022)
Years ago I was a student at UFES and living in Vila Velha, I didn't know any Christian movement at the university, and I didn't do anything there other than to study.
God started his good work in this university and by his grace called me to be part of what he was going to do there. We saw young people studying the Bible in small groups, sharing the gospel, going to mission projects and discipling everywhere. Cru and several other movements emerging, being partners, bearing fruit with people finding Jesus, services uniting the people of Christ in a Federal College, who could have imagine that? Only God.
This month I was able to go back there, and continue to see the action of God, now as a missionary among the students, and seeing 120 university students now from all over the Southeast in a spiritual retreat, in order to seek together to live Christ in our lives. My dreams could not be as big as the reality that God has already prepared in this place.
What a privilege it was to be able to share in that retreat about the life filled with the Holy Spirit, not only with the desire to live it in my daily life, I wish that for you who read this newsletter.
Through FAITH in Christ we were saved and made children of God. Eph 2:8,9
Through FAITH we are also filled with his Spirit Col 2:6-7.
I send in your way a big hug.
Staff: Tião, Erick, Camilla Soares, Camila Paes, Tamires e Anne.
One body (Feb-Mar 2022)
This year our team has the challenge of understanding this new moment that universities are in: back to face-to-face classes, hybrid teaching and many continue in remote teaching. As a movement, we have the task of identifying these changes, understanding the impact they have on our ministry and making all the necessary adjustments to our dynamics. This is our great reason for prayer at the moment.
In March we had regional events to launch the semester with an emphasis on what God did during the pandemic: students who knew the movement, stories that happened, fruits of the time of the pandemic.. making a transition to what we intend to live this year.
Student Retreat 2022
We announced the Christian Students Retreat - (Christ in Us), which will bring together in June in my beloved city of Vila Velha, students from all over the Southeast region. It will be a important opportunity for many students to be together and to be strengthened in the Word and communion in this moment of in person return to academic life. We want them to reflect on the relationship they live with God as young students, learning tools to connect with non-Christians and developing intentional and discipleship relationships at the university.
If you would like to invest in the life of a student to participate in the retreat, please contact me.
Latin America Meeting
I was able to help with the logistics of a meeting between leaders in Cartagena - Colombia that took place in April. It was a time to share new models of student missionary projects in Latin America as God has done great things in Cartagena, bringing clean water along with the water of life of the gospel of Christ. Let us pray that the fruits of this may emerge in other Latin countries as well.
Wedding
Thank you for all your prayers in this time of preparation for the wedding. Getting married in two countries was a good adventure to live. We received a lot of affection and care from friends and family throughout the process and we want to thank you here too for all this.
The days I spent in Mexico were an incredible experience, getting to know more about Karla's family, her church, the people she works with. Culture and rich cuisine that I still want to know more. I felt God's care a lot even in learning the new language and being able to communicate well with everyone there.
God loves to marry people, and we experienced His provision in every little and big detail. We will live in Itaperuna until we complete the finance survey, and then we move to Rio, we ask for your prayers for this period.
To you, reader, we send a strong hug in the peace of Christ, with the desire that we see you soon.
Student meetting in Rio
Wedding at México
Wedding here in Brasil
Thinking ahead (Dec-Jan)
First of all, I wanted to thank you for reading and following the abstracts. Whenever you want to get in touch and talk about something, feel free :)
So... After being assigned to Team Rio in November, I was welcomed into the new team just before we went on vacation last year. There are many projects already planned for this school year that the team is looking forward to working on. Pictured on the right are the amazing people I'll be working with over the next years. Many dear friends since my time as a university student.
There is very little left to complete raising financial support, praise God. He has provided amazingly through the offerings of each partner in this time of so much uncertainty. Thank you for your fidelity and support.
I also share that I was invited to use my love for data analysis and spreadsheets to help the director of student movements in Latin America and the Caribbean, Missionary Fernando Bispo. As we are present in many countries, it can be difficult to measure the action of a missionary organization like Cru without looking closely at the results and data we have. It has been surprising and heartening to see how God has been working all over the world, as I interprete numbers and charts on spreadsheets, seeing the growing fruits of God's hand.
Marriage
This beginning of 2022, I took the opportunity to focus on my wedding with Karla, which will be in March. Many joys on the way here, from buying the first furniture, to getting a place to live, and receiving the affection and support of family, church and friends. Seeking to unite our vocations to live a life for the Glory of God. Learn more about our history by clicking here.
We ask for prayers for what is yet to come: My trip to Mexico now on the 13/02, documentation, goodbyes, return to Brazil...
A big hug for you, if possible also send us your requests that with joy we will be joining forces in prayer.
Team Cru Rio.
Karla and I very excited about how our big day is near.
Cru in the world, absent only in the countries in red. The harvest is still plentiful.
Conference The Perfect Bond (Nov-2021)
Working with so many amazing people for so long, but not being face to face with them was a difficult period. Then being able to experience the blessing of being in community with this team again was priceless at this conference. We spent 5 days in Limeira - SP enjoying communion, rest, words of union and encouragement remembering in Colossians 3 that what unites us in a single purpose is the Love of Christ, the Perfect Bond.
We celebrate together the 50 years of Cru Brazil and the 70 years of Cru in the world. Thanking God for everything He made in this time in all 190 countries where Cru is present and through the thousands of missionaries helping to fulfill the great commission in each of their areas.
Being a part of this today has been amazing. I am grateful to God for the call He has given me, and the care I receive through this organization so zealous for its mission and its workers.
Designation
I am happy to share the news that when I complete this time raising support, I will be joining the Elo Team located in Rio de Janeiro - RJ. Then, in 2022 I will be moving to this new city to help fulfill the great commission with this team.
The Elo team currently takes care of movements in the Southeast, Midwest and North regions of Brazil. A large and fruitful field that I am happy to have as a place of ministry.
Enem 2021 (Brazillian SAT's)
It was also very gratifying to participate in the evangelism at Enem with the youth of the Presbyterian Church of Nilópolis (Missionary Erick's Church). May God continue to bless this church, and also the students who are about to enter universities all over the country.
May each of them come to know people who are really disciples of Christ inside and get to know the gospel in this very important period in the life of every young person.
Cru Campus
50 years of Cru Brasil e 70 of Cru worldwide
30+ new staff since 2018
Team Elo - my future team
Visit to Vitória (Oct-2021)
On this first ministerial trip to the movement in Vitória since the pandemic began, we had the presence of missionary and friends Erick Trigueiro and Sebastião Campagnucci from Elo Team caring for and training the students. During this time we were together with the current local leadership, taking them to the UFES campus that some have not had the opportunity to get to know because of the remote classes.
As we walked through UFES, we prayed together for the universities of greater Vitória, for the healthy re-adaptation of students, and a safe return to in-person classes in the future.
We are grateful to the Baptist Church in Mata da Praia and the Evangelical Baptist Church that welcomed us and gave us the opportunity to introduce Cru to new Christian students.
We also received this missionary family in my uncle's house, which was very important in my journey, as they were the first missionaries I met in my house when I was still a child.
Joaldo and Jovelina (left) with their children Suzane and Samuel, for many years worked in Central Asia among unreached nomadic peoples and now they are in Brazil waiting for new opportunities to serve.
Please be praying also for this dear family.
Together Student Summit (Jun-2021)
Earlier this month we had been working on the Together Student Congress (Juntos ). Eight hundred students from all over the country, in a single purpose of seeking God in unity. With lots of preaching (Zé Bruno), Worship (Sola Project), Digital Evangelism, Lectures and Workshops. We truly time in community, even though we are physically from each other. God gifted us with his presence that filled us and united us.
Hack Juntos
My part in this? To organize within the summit event. Bringing of programming marathons (Hackathons), our Hack was a marathon in which students came together in order to explore the current reality of our student movement, discuss new ideas and develop projects to solve real problems we experience.
Each team developed a strategic plan that addresses a chosen topic. An action plan for the next semester that makes it possible to act on the areas of need, in a well-informed manner, with a well-defined purpose and objectives. (Video presentations on the right)
They tackled challenges such as:
Welcoming foreign students;
Welcoming indigenous students;
Communicating the gospel on social media;
Students bringing the gospel to .
It was an honor to be a part of this and to see students coming together to serve God with their ideas and projects.
My Story
My name is Vanderlei Vieira, I'm 28 years old, and I studied Computer Science at the Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
When I was a child I wanted to be a missionary, I drew pictures about it and I loved the stories of missionaries that my parents hosted at our home. As I grew up it faded away from me, kind of assuming the reality of life that I was necessarily going to pursue a carrier, and so I went deep into my nerdy side by going into computers, robotics and technology.
Halfway through college, God reminded me of that forgotten dream when I met Cru in the United States. Through the lives of 2 missionaries, Stuart and Ben, I was able to meet and see hundreds of young people sharing the gospel in squares, parks, universities, beaches,... and I knew I couldn't stand still when I saw that.
Upon returning to Brazil, God was amazing sending students from other states to my city for 21 days in order to start a new spiritual movement there. I was challenged to be a leader of a christian movement at my university, and later, to also go on mission projects in other states and countries, and little by little God was clarifying this plan he had for me.
God was calling me to something that would require changing all my plans and I didn't see any more sense in spending my life in anything else other than making disciples of Jesus for the nations. That's why today I'm preparing to serve in full with Cru Campus. By praying and investing you can be part of what God has been doing in universities here in Brazil!
God bless you!