This August, MEDIA Alliance International returned to Brazil to gather 137 ministry leaders and church volunteers for a time of practical media training, encouragement, and fellowship.

The training took place in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil. With a metropolitan population of more than four million people, Recife is one of Brazil’s largest urban centers and represents both significant challenges and tremendous opportunities for Gospel ministry.

While Brazil is widely recognized as a Christian nation, ministry in northeastern Brazil presents unique challenges. Economic inequality, densely populated communities, and limited access to training and resources can make it difficult for churches to effectively communicate the Gospel and engage the people around them. For many local churches, practical training in media and communication can make a significant difference in how they serve their congregations and reach their communities.

Equipping Communication Beyond the Church Walls

MEDIA Alliance partnered with Fernando and Vivianne Camera, leaders at Graças Presbyterian Church, to bring together leaders and volunteers from churches across the region.

A team of five from MEDIA Alliance provided practical training in areas including audio production, artificial intelligence, volunteer development, audience engagement, creativity, and excellence in ministry.

The goal was not simply to teach technical skills, but to encourage church leaders to think creatively about the tools God has placed in their hands and to use those tools more effectively to serve the Church and communicate the Gospel.

“It’s always an encouragement to go back to an area and see how the church and media ministries are advancing since our last time together,” said Kyle Gilbert, COO of MEDIA Alliance International. “There’s real progress happening here, and that progress is growing God’s church and His Kingdom.”

Returning to Brazil also gave the MEDIA Alliance team an opportunity to see how previous training and relationships have continued to bear fruit. Each gathering builds on the last, strengthening relationships while giving ministry leaders new skills, ideas, and encouragement to take back to their churches.

One highlight of the event was the release of the Portuguese translation of our 40-day devotional, Becoming God’s Leader. Our prayer is that God will use this as an effective tool for developing the spiritual lives of all who read it.

Investing in Leaders

Events like this are possible because of the generosity of MEDIA Alliance supporters and the willingness of ministry leaders to invest their own time and resources.

Special thanks go to the donors who provided financial support for the training, as well as the instructors who took time away from their own responsibilities and traveled at their own expense to serve the Brazilian church.

We are especially grateful for Fernando and Vivianne Camera, who spent weeks preparing for the event and working alongside MEDIA Alliance to make the training possible.

As MEDIA Alliance continues to connect and equip Christian media leaders around the world, Brazil remains an important part of that work. We are grateful for the opportunity to return, strengthen existing relationships, encourage local leaders, and help equip the Church with tools that can be leveraged for the Gospel.