STEVE & BRENDA HEAP
BRAZIL
Steve & Brenda
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Steve and Brenda Heap have had the privilege of serving as missionaries in Brazil since 1974. They have observed that, because of the sacrificial service of pastors, the evangelical church in Brazil has grown in number and maturity to the point it has drawn worldwide attention. As an example, the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil has grown from 1,200 members in 1974 to over 100,000 members today.
It has never seemed right to Steve and Brenda that the pastoral families in Brazil should “go it alone”. Still living in Brazil in their retirement years, the Heaps have dedicated themselves to mobilizing individuals and organizations to heal and equip Brazilian pastors and their families so that they can more effectively serve the communities where they minister. Married in 1968, Steve and Brenda pastored two churches in Oklahoma before being assigned to Brazil in 1973. Since then, the Heaps have served as seminary professors, as pioneers of churches in Northeast Brazil, and for 23 years as field directors. Recently, they had the privilege of seeing three Brazilian Nazarenes take over the responsibilities of Strategy Coordinators for the regions of Brazil. Steve and Brenda’s present roles involve clergy development, resource development, and teaching. Steve was born in the United Kingdom and ordained in 1970 by the Southeast Oklahoma district. Brenda was born in the United States. Their three children are Brian Samuel, Jennifer Lynne, and Stephen Wesley. 
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Special Report - November 17, 2016
Beginings: Today Brenda and I will begin a road trip to NE Brazil that will take us 6,000 kilometers over a three week period. We are looking forward to seeing pastors and families whom we have worked with over the years, some of them when they were teens and now they have children of their own who are teens. It struck me that this trip isn't beginning today. We've been preparing for the trip for weeks packing, unpacking and repacking. So when I say the trip begins today that is a misnomer because this trip began a long time ago.
Throughout the trip we will meet people and ask them the question: "How did you come to know Jesus Christ and His transforming grace"? We will hear some of the most fantastic stories of parents, radio programs, books, gospel tracts, pastors, evangelists and even some missionaries who slaughtered the Portuguese language but their love for the Lord and their love for the people was used by the Holy Spirit at the right time to find an opening into their lives. So this journal will be more of an "on the road connecting the dots" of God's amazing story of redemption that started long before we appeared on the scene and will go on until His redemptive task is completed. I hope you will feel a part of what is happening here in Brazil because you are! Many of you have written (way over 100 at this point assuring us of your prayers and interest) and all of us are involved in one way or another in this story.
A couple of dots that are part of the story in preparation for this day. We had fun with our two grand kids this past weekend. Their parents were preaching at a conference in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte so we got to have the grand kids' help around the house. Lucas the 12 year old helped me design and build an arm rest for our car since it doesn't come with one from the factory. I operated the table saw and he was the design engineer. We came up with an arm rest that will be road tested on this trip. If it is a success he and I are talking about getting a patent on it and becoming millionaires. If it is less than anticipated you won't here about it again, but you might just want to get your order in because they will be selling on the international market if proven successful.
Sunday our local church prayed for us and commissioned us to represent them on this missionary trip. The pastor told the congregation that we would be staying in homes with pastors families and our mission was to let the families know God, who called them into ministry, knows exactly where they are and is with them. At the end of the service a lady called us aside and said that following the service she had planned to drive by the bank to make a deposit. Hearing what your mission is going to be the next few weeks and knowing the economic conditions of northeast Brazil the Lord had told her to give the money for someone we would meet that needs help.
This week, when I talked to one of the pastors we will be with he broke down and cried. He said "Pastor Steve, since my accident (a hit and run) I haven't been able to walk to church and I can't stand up to preach. I feel so useless. I want to be active in the Lord's work."
Last night our small discipleship group prayed for us. Paula prayed: "Holy Spirit give them them the right words to say at just the right moment. Protect them and bring them back to us in safety."
Beginings: Today Brenda and I will begin a road trip to NE Brazil that will take us 6,000 kilometers over a three week period. We are looking forward to seeing pastors and families whom we have worked with over the years, some of them when they were teens and now they have children of their own who are teens. It struck me that this trip isn't beginning today. We've been preparing for the trip for weeks packing, unpacking and repacking. So when I say the trip begins today that is a misnomer because this trip began a long time ago.
Throughout the trip we will meet people and ask them the question: "How did you come to know Jesus Christ and His transforming grace"? We will hear some of the most fantastic stories of parents, radio programs, books, gospel tracts, pastors, evangelists and even some missionaries who slaughtered the Portuguese language but their love for the Lord and their love for the people was used by the Holy Spirit at the right time to find an opening into their lives. So this journal will be more of an "on the road connecting the dots" of God's amazing story of redemption that started long before we appeared on the scene and will go on until His redemptive task is completed. I hope you will feel a part of what is happening here in Brazil because you are! Many of you have written (way over 100 at this point assuring us of your prayers and interest) and all of us are involved in one way or another in this story.
A couple of dots that are part of the story in preparation for this day. We had fun with our two grand kids this past weekend. Their parents were preaching at a conference in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte so we got to have the grand kids' help around the house. Lucas the 12 year old helped me design and build an arm rest for our car since it doesn't come with one from the factory. I operated the table saw and he was the design engineer. We came up with an arm rest that will be road tested on this trip. If it is a success he and I are talking about getting a patent on it and becoming millionaires. If it is less than anticipated you won't here about it again, but you might just want to get your order in because they will be selling on the international market if proven successful.
Sunday our local church prayed for us and commissioned us to represent them on this missionary trip. The pastor told the congregation that we would be staying in homes with pastors families and our mission was to let the families know God, who called them into ministry, knows exactly where they are and is with them. At the end of the service a lady called us aside and said that following the service she had planned to drive by the bank to make a deposit. Hearing what your mission is going to be the next few weeks and knowing the economic conditions of northeast Brazil the Lord had told her to give the money for someone we would meet that needs help.
This week, when I talked to one of the pastors we will be with he broke down and cried. He said "Pastor Steve, since my accident (a hit and run) I haven't been able to walk to church and I can't stand up to preach. I feel so useless. I want to be active in the Lord's work."
Last night our small discipleship group prayed for us. Paula prayed: "Holy Spirit give them them the right words to say at just the right moment. Protect them and bring them back to us in safety."
