BTGMI Approves New Ministry Leader

Rev. Hernandes Lopes was approved as the new Portuguese ministry leader for Back to God Ministries International by the BTGMI Board at its January meeting in Palos Heights, IL.

Rev. Lopes replaces Rev. Celsino Gama, who after 30 years stepped down as Portuguese ministry leader in 2009.

Rev. Lopes' name was submitted to BTGMI by the Board of the Portuguese Ministry (LPC) and

final approval is pending ratification by the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) at its March 2010 meeting.

Rev. Lopes, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB), brings a wealth of ministry and media experience to the collaborative ministry of IPB and BTGMI in Campinas, Brazil. A 1981 graduate of Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul in Campinas, Brazil, Lopes has served two different Presbyterian congregations in Brazil.

Both of these congregations helped plant several new churches throughout Brazil. In 2000, Lopes earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, where his dissertation focused on expository preaching as a model for church growth.

Rev. Lopes has served as the host of BTGMI's Portuguese TV program Verdade e Vida (Truth and Life) since 2006. He is a popular conference speaker in Brazil and has authored 78 books, including expository commentaries on many of the books of the Bible.

In his testimony, Rev. Lopes told the board, "I grew up in a Christian family in Brazil, learning God's Word since my childhood. Before I was born, my mother was given two choices: preserve her life or sacrifice mine. She decided to pray for a miracle and dedicated my life to the Lord. God heard her prayer and spared both her life and mine."

Lopes originally planned to enter politics and run for government office, but felt God's call to attend seminary.

BTGMI director Rev. Bob Heerspink noted, "With his heart for missions and a wealth of theological and media experience, Rev. Lopes is an ideal choice to give leadership to our Portuguese media outreach."

Rev. Lopes will oversee LPC Media, the joint media ministry of Back to God Ministries International and the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. LPC Media not only works in the Portuguese language, but also produces and distributes BTGMI Spanish programs, working closely with Rev. Guillermo Serrano, Spanish Ministry Leader of BTGMI.

LPC Media is scheduled to move into new facilities in Campinas, Brazil the middle of February. The ministry produces four radio/audio programs, four TV/video productions (including one for children), and a unique telephone ministry that provides a devotional message for an average of 244,000 callers each month. The Campinas staff also prints and distributes 20,000 monthly devotionals, as well as maintains four discipleship websites, reaching Portuguese-speaking people worldwide.