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The Cubatão statue of Christ the redeemer, modeled after, and approximately 1/10th the size of, the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro, yet somehow it still dwarfs some of the larger trees in the park (in background).
Brasil: Winter 2004
To Cubatão, July-August 2004
text and photos by Glenn Laubaugh
The city of Cubatão, as seen from the observation area at the base of the Christ statue. In the far background it is possible to make out the smokestacks and one or two other large features of the vast steel mill complex that provided much of the pollution that once made Cubatão famous as "the most polluted city on earth." Towering over the steel mill complex, and impossible to miss, are the vast ridges that make up what has become known as The Great Escarpment: a 3000 foot drop from the plateaus of central Brasil to the ocean. Cubatão is one of the cities that makes up the Baixada Santista - the Holy Lowlands.
In the early months of January 2004, the Evangelical Church missions was planning to have a volunteer team visit their church in Cubatão, São Paulo state, Brasil. However, as (South American) summer turned into fall and planning progressed, it became obvious that this trip would not be possible. The missionary serving in that community was going to have to return to the USA - among other reasons, to get married (!)
During this time, I sent a message to the Evangelical Church Missions pointing out that personal relationships are quite important in Brasil. Without a missionary in that church, it might be helpful to have an American at least be visiting the church during those weeks. This would help provide someone to help fill the vacancy caused by the absense of the missionary. Evangelical Church Missions took this message to heart, and realized already that it would be good to have someone there. The question was, who? After learning of my past missionary trips to Brasil, Evangelical Church Missions decided that while not a perfect match for the need, I would be able to fill in to some extent while I was gone and provide a vital sense of continuation between
By all reports I have seen, the church in Cubatão is a very special group of people. It was started by a group of failry young students at a nearby English school. Our missionaries originally became involved in this school part time, by giving the students some conversation experience with Americans. Most of the focus of the work in Brasil was originally centered around the city of São Paulo. From these relationships that happened during this part-time work, a group of believers started meeting, and conversions to Christianity happened. Soon, this group of believers became the basis of a church congregation, and the Evangelical Church of Brasil was incorporated.
This church is already in the beginning stages of an outreach ministry into the favelas nearby, which is quite ambitious for such a young church. As I write this the congregation has only been meeting a little less than three years.
Considering these things, is it any reason why it would be helpful to have an American involved in the church during the absense of the missionary? The fact is, the church was started by those seeking to learn English, and started in a way that makes relationships with native English speakers very important.
Thus, the decision was made that in fact it would probably be very helpful to have someone such as myself, who understands a little Portuguese, try to fill in the vacancy created by the absense of the missionary in Cubatão.
Many of the children in the favelas seem happier than those with more wealthy families.
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