Originally featured in issue 52 of Latin Link's LatinFile magazine.
Each year, Latin Link sends short-term mission teams between Latin America and the UK & Ireland, as part of their Step programme. Click here to check out their upcoming Summer Step Teams! Read on for a reflection by Hannah Flatman, Latin Link’s Short-Term Coordinator in Brazil, on last year’s Step Team from Brazil to the UK. Five years ago we received a Step team of five young British women to serve in our church in northeast Brazil for a month. Whilst there they spoke to our church community about the mission and prayer needs in Europe. In response, several members of the Brazilian church felt God placing the UK on their hearts. In July last year a group of four from that church formed a Step team of their own, serving for a month in three churches with Brazilian connections in the south of England. Receiving the team brought the Brazil connection alive for the churches. The team’s presence drew people in, especially migrants. For example, a Brazil night hosted by the team with black bean feijoada stew and traditional dances drew in over 170 people and the funds raised went towards solar panels on our church roof in Brazil. One member of the congregation in Egham asked her Brazilian hairdresser to teach her the lyrics to worship songs in Portuguese. He turned up with his extended family and a never-ending assortment of Brazilian cakes throughout a packed mission week, and now attends the church regularly
“Our Step team were infused with joy and a willingness to serve. They became an invaluable part of our community and we enjoyed getting to know them.” – Forefront Community Church, Chard
It takes a community to send a mission team, and another to receive one. Short-term teams learn to serve together in mission, relying on God, each other, and a network of support. I love seeing how God’s mission brings together his multicultural church, in our case connecting the church in rural Brazil to the UK.
Together in going
Steppers often forge life-long friendships, and benefit from the iron-sharpening-iron impact of team! Going through such a significant, cross-cultural experience together means that Steppers have someone who can relate to their experience and reverse culture shock on return.
“On Step I was able to learn more about submission, love, empathy and hospitality. Step taught me to look with more humility at those who arrive in my life from unknown places. It made me understand in a deeper way how impossible it is to do mission alone.” – Isabela, Step team leader
Together in receiving
I heard the team’s Portuguese-English worship described as ‘a slice of heaven’. For me a slice of heaven is also seeing traditional sending hubs, receiving and welcoming Global South Christians into their church as mission partners, recognising how they can reach and serve their community and congregation. Mission to and from every nation, tribe and tongue requires intentionality and humility.
If you'd like to get involved in a mission team to Latin America this summer, check out Latin Link's upcoming Summer Step Teams!
For mission teams and placements in other parts of the world, get in touch with a SWAN member mission agency!
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