Tatiana Cordeiro: Missionary to Brazil
Burden
A citizen of both the United States and Brazil, I was raised in a Brazilian home in the U.S. As a result of my trips to Brazil in 1998, 2000, and 2003, I knew that my heart was (and is) for the people of my parent’s home country. A specific need that I saw in the few Bible colleges operating in Brazil was a lack of music teachers to train men and women as they prepare for the ministry. The full scope of my burden is in actively engaging myself in the ministry of the local church, in evangelism, and also, in assisting in the training of believers in God-honoring music.
Preparation
At the age of 17 I received assurance of my salvation and surrendered to serve the LORD in full-time ministry. I was blessed to have received a strong education through the Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy. To further my education, I attended Ambassador Baptist College, where I received training in the Bible, in elementary teaching, and in music. Following this education, I returned to Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy and taught fourth grade for three years. Before entering into the ministry here I was also able to complete two years of post graduate studies in music education at Bob Jones University.
Work
A few years back, Dr. Roger Crowder, a missionary in Porto Alegre, invited me to consider working with the team of missionaries in that region. In the time that I have been in Brazil, I have worked primarily with Mike and Tammy Ring in their church planting efforts. During the past three years I have worked alongside Bro. Ring at Ponta Grossa, assisting the church planting activities by making many visits in the homes of the people, door-to-door, and throughout the community; conducting Bible studies with ladies; actively taking advantage of soul-winning opportunites; assisting in the organization of Vacation Bible Schools; reaching out to lost people by giving private music lessons through which I was able to introduce them to the Gospel and sound doctrine; training our church people in music, assisting in our children’s club, and working with our church choir.
Looking to the Future
In recent months as I have worked with Bro. Mike Ring and his family, the Lord has placed on their heart to expand the ministry outside of this Jerusalem, to a vision that reaches the state of Rio Grande do Sul. By taking trips to the interior of the state, an area that has been under-reached with the gospel and has no fundamental work, we will take groups to blitz the area with the gospel. Those who accept and receive the gospel will then be encouraged to participate in online Bible studies correlating with the Fundamental Baptist Seminary in our region. My part in these efforts will be in participating in the evangelism outreaches. In conjunction with this area of outreach, I believe it is God´s purpose for me to continue in discipleship studies and ministries of the church plant work in Porto Alegre.