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2019 ANNUAL REPORT

TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL MOVEMENT.

It is a privilege to see the impact of City to City (CTC) is having on many cities around the world. We landed in Brazil, focusing on the two largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Besides, Recife, in the Northeast, was the purpose of an exploratory trip. In 2020, it will be hosting a catalyst event called “The Gospel in the City.”

City to City is a global movement that currently operates in more than 75 global cities around the world. We are committed to supporting, training, planting, and revitalizing Gospel-Centered Churches whose vision is to see a Gospel Movement in the city from major urban centers. Some of our events this year, such as the National Conference, the International Intensive Training in Monterrey, and the Incubator Training in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, refresh why we do what we do at CTC.

I expect that through this report, you will have a vision of CTC Brazil. To see the Gospel of Jesus Christ transform lives and impact cities. It’s that simple. Our connection is with the city through Gospel-centered training and relationship for strategic leaders.

Take time to get a feeling of what we do and the work that took place in Brazil in 2019, as it has been happening around the world.

God bless you,

Leandro Pinheiro

CTC Brazil Director

SOMOS PARTE DE UM MOVIMENTO GLOBAL.

Trabalhamos lado a lado com a City to City América Latina, Europa, Ásia e América do Norte para impulsionar uma visão centrada no Evangelho, com suporte de líderes de diferentes partes do mundo.

WE ARE PART OF A GLOBAL MOVEMENT.

We work side by side with City to City Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America to drive a Gospel-centered vision, supported by leaders from different parts of the world.

THE NEED.

OUR FOCUS IS THE CITIES. GOD CALLS US TO REACH, LOVE AND SERVE THE CITY.

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More than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. The people of São Paulo leads the ranking of most populated cities in the country, followed by Rio de Janeiro (6.520 million residents), Brasilia (3.039 million) and Salvador (2.954 million residents).

The world’s cities will continue to grow – the estimate that two-thirds of people will live in cities by 2050. What if the Gospel captured the hearts of the people who live in these cities?

What if the love of Christ shapes municipal leaders, police, business owners, teachers, artists, and baristas?

When the Gospel is at work, leaders defend marginalized populations, immigrants and refugees have dignity, at-risk adolescents are seen as God’s image-bearers, and influential people are generous with their resources. There is extended civility among people of different backgrounds. The Gospel brings renewal and flourishing.

CTC’s vision is to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ transform lives and impact cities. As cities grow, CTC’s work is more crucial with each passing year.

— Steve Shackelford

LEADERS, NEW CHURCHES, AND INITIATIVES.

WE TRAIN LEADERS TO START THIS KIND OF CHURCH:

  • Churches where the Gospel is preached and lived for the common good of the city.

  • Churches in which teaching is biblically correct and applied to the culture’s inquiring.

  • Churches that collaborate and cooperate with other churches and denominations.

  • Churches where people are transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, applying their faith to their work and caring for the poor.

  • Churches that seek to be self-supporting and generous.

  • Churches where Christians are edified and skeptics are welcomed.

THE MOVEMENT.

CTC BRAZIL CONFERENCE (MAY).

The Conference was held from May 20 to 24, in the two main cities of Brazil and three different locations. Thank God for reaching about 6,750 people and a representation of 264 denominations attending the event.

MONTERREY INTERNATIONAL INTENSIVE, MEXICO (OCTOBER).

International Intensive is a 17-day training, where participants integrated into a program aimed to attend the Church planting process.

In the face of holding the International Intensive, in October (Monterrey, Mexico), 6 participants were part of the Brazilian delegation. The result generated was an enthusiasm which the delegation returned for all that they lived with planters and leaders from different parts of the world, thinking about the centrality of the Gospel and all aspects of the church planting process.

TESTIMONIALS.

INCUBATOR IN SÃO PAULO, MODULES 0 AND 1 (NOVEMBER).

Following the promotional period for the first two Incubator classes in Brazil, over 180 people from 16 states applied for the selection process. After the pre-selection and interviews, 50 participants were chosen and are being trained in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

The next step is to provide the Incubator to the 130 waiting list registered participants.

Meet some supported planters:

INCUBATOR IN RIO DE JANEIRO, MODULES 0 AND 1 (NOVEMBER).

CASES.

PLANTATION IN SAO PAULO: NOVA CIDADE CHURCH.

PLANTATION IN RIO DE JANEIRO: CARIOCA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

NUMBERS.

The 2019 story goes far beyond these numbers. CTC has strengthened and encouraged different existing churches, planted seeds that will yield better-prepared pastors, churches relevant to cities, and helped connect churches and leaders for collaboration and fellowship. We witnessed churches, networks, and ecosystems begin to promote the kingdom of God in Brazilian cities.

REGIONAL IMPACT.

To equip and empower local networks and leaders, CTC works closely with regional affiliates located in all regions of the country.

CTC regional associates connect and support network leaders and pastors. In all affiliates, the same values are present: Supporting and equipping local leaders leads to effective multiplication.

MAIN NEEDS.

  • Prayer: Expand the strategy to engage thousands of people in regular prayer for cities, churches, and city leaders.

  • Diversity: Engage more representatives from underserved communities to integrate with CTCBR’s future modeling.

  • Funding: Resources to develop leadership and training in Brazilian cities.

  • Training: A complete training team to meet opportunities in all regions of the country.

  • Mentoring: While the training team focuses on the church planter at the pre-launch or early church stage, a coaching team is needed to help experienced church planters keep the churches alive, personal, and healthy.

  • Catalyst: Recruit church planters for the first Intensive Training Lab in Brazil. Also, mobilize 125 church planters over the next five years to meet the presentation challenges.

  • Ambassadors: Engage people who will support the work with prayer, connections, and resources.

  • Team: We need to increase the task force to meet the needs of this continental country of more than 200 million people.

  • Workers: Identify more planters and church leaders who respond to opportunities in regions around HUB cities.

  • Collaboration: Despite different models and methods, greater cooperation between ministries to promote the Gospel through church planting.

WHAT'S NEXT?

+ Training for coaches and mentors;

 + Incubators in other regions of the country;

 + Gospel in the City;

 + International Intensive;

 + Parakaleo walks alongside women in church planting, the Greek word for “accompany,” is dedicated to ensuring that both members of the church planting team receive Gospel-centered training and care. Parakaleo creates a relational space for women to engage with the Gospel that leads them to embrace and live their most authentic identity.

We thank God for 2019, and you for being with us on this journey.

We confidently hope that in 2020 we will consolidate our relationships with planters and their churches in different regions of Brazil.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 3:6-11

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