Jo McMillen

Church-based ministry in Belém, Brazil

Work with street children

After I finished my A-levels, I spent three weeks working with street children in Russia. It was there that I was faced with the reality of the millions of street children all over the world who are in desperate need of the saving gospel of Jesus. While at university God opened up opportunities for me to spend each of my three summers working with street children in Brazil. On returning from each of the trips, I had an overwhelming desire to return to Brazil full time to work with these children.

In Brazil, I worked with ARCA. This project has a number of different aspects to its work including direct work on the streets, a drop-in centre situated in the centre of Belém, a girls’ home, and a boys’ home. ARCA aims to help these kids practically but much more importantly, it seeks to share the good news of Jesus. ARCA is confident that the gospel is the only thing that can truly transform young people’s lives, and give them a sure and certain hope for the future.

Work with the church

Currently, I work with teens at a church in the city of Belém.