Class of 2020, by David McKinney

Our young missionaries, in the AME program, have just completed their nine-month training in Joao Pessoa. This class started with nine students but only eight finished this first part of the program. They had to deal with the Covid-19 protocols and social contact restrictions. They responded well to the situation, although the pandemic limited certain training activities, such as, visitation and campaigns.

The church had an all-night prayer vigil for them. This meeting is done in a dynamic way, using singing, small groups, coffee and snacks to help keep the participants awake. In one of the activities, we divided up into three groups. The students would rotate among the groups as we prayed over them and expressed to them our appreciation.

I ended up in the same group with Ayane, AME secretary, and Raniere, AME director. The three of us spent a lot time with the students on a weekly basis. As we spoke to each student, the word that kept being repeated over and over was GROWTH. Each one had grown in so many ways. It is amazing to see what Christ can do in a person’s life in so little time. Although the growth was visible, significant and points to the glory of God, we also expressed that Jesus had much more to do in their lives and motivated them to continue to let Him transform them into His likeness.

The purpose of this vigil is to send them off asking God’s blessings on them in all their endeavors on the field. The meeting ended around 4:00am with a nice breakfast. To top things off, several of us went to the beach to behold the sunrise, catching a glimpse of God’s glory in nature. They are all going home for the holidays and in January, they will join their teams and travel to their mission spots. Keep them in your prayers!

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