Camp Update: A Special Dedication

I’m posting this on April 2, 2025 – thirteen years to the day since Pastor Francisco Bezerra was taken from us. For those who may not remember, Pastor Francisco was Itacyara’s pastor after she accepted Christ. He performed our wedding. When we came to Maranhão he was our ministry partner for a year, until he was tragically killed in the aftermath of a robbery. You can read my reflections on that day here.

Pastor Francisco’s influence on the Regular Baptist movement in Maranhão was second to none, and continues to this day. He pastored two churches here, and was influential in developing other pastors and leaders. Of the leaders currently our field, two of our pastors, two pastor’s wives, and one single missionary sat under his ministry at one time or another. There are pastors and missionaries in other denominations and in other parts of Brazil who were at one time or another congregants in his church.

His influence at Mount Zion Baptist Camp was crucial. Had it not been for him we would have never found the property where that ministry now takes place. He was an enthusiastic participant in our earliest work days, back before there was any ministry going on there.

With all this in mind, during our last Carnaval reteat (more about that later) we dedicated our main activity building to his memory, designating it the “Centro de Atividades Pastor Franciso Bezerra” (The Pastor Francisco Bezerra Activity Center).

Here is a video of the short dedication ceremony we held (which included fireworks).

As we went about our retreat, I reflected more than once on how much my friend Pastor Francisco would love it if he could see what was happening now at the camp.

Perhaps he can.

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And be sure to read the action-packed adventures of Missionary Max: Missionary Max and the Jungle Princess and Missionary Max and the Lost City.