Our ministries are the way we show the love of Christ to the needy. They are what opens the doors for the Gospel and true life change, person by person. Jesus is our ultimate example in life-changing ministry. He didn’t come only to save, but came to heal, to care, to teach, to protect and to serve. He came to treat every aspect of human existence. His very life proved God’s love. The purpose of all of our ministries is to treat each person completely (spirit, soul and body) and open the way for the Kingdom of God to advance through disciple-making and church-planting.

Water Filter Ministries

One of the greatest needs in the Amazon Basin is that of clean water. Although fresh water is plentiful in the Basin, it is widely contaminated with microorganisms that cause many different kinds of disease, some of which are fatal. These water-borne illnesses are a leading cause of death, especially among infants and elders. PAZ provides potable water to the neediest people in the Basin through water filters that are loaded on boats and taken to target communities. There they are installed by local workers. Providing clean water has been one of our most fruitful ways of taking the Living Water to the thirsty of the Amazon. Since the beginning of the program, PAZ has installed over 10,000 water filters.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…”
Matthew 25:34-35a NIV

Church Construction

Joaquim heads up our church construction ministry, a ministry dedicated to serving new PAZ churches by helping them build their buildings. Joaquim travels all over the Basin to work with local churches, pastors, community members and visiting teams. He coordinates and oversees the building of many new churches.

One size does not “fit all” in the Amazon Basin, as different materials and sizes serve different communities. Many communities are best served with a brick and mortar structure, but churches built in flood plains (like many of those built along the Amazon River) are wooden structures built up past the flood plain. Still other communities have received prefabricated structures. Whether wood, brick, or prefabricated, these buildings provide an inviting home for the local church to hold services and spread the Good News.

“…I was a stranger and you invited me in…”
Matthew 25:35b NIV

Social Ministries

Project AmaZon runs a number of social ministries that provide work, assistance, services, job/skills training and education. Social Ministries such as Mary & Martha and Chadash train women and youth in useful job skills so that than can earn an honest income. These classes are offered alongside evangelistic Bible studies. Our PAZ schools provide a place for children to learn in a Christian environment.

Many of these programs (including health and dental clinics) are held at our social outreach centers, such as the Grace Center in Santarém or the Community Center in Guajará-Mirim, near the Bolivian border. These ministries are an integral part of church-planting.

“…I needed clothes and you clothed me…”
Matthew 25:36a NIV

Health Ministries

One of the greatest tools for showing God’s love since nearly the beginning of the mission has been through PAZ’s health ministries. Started in the early 80s by missionary nurse Becky Hrubik (sister of PAZ founder Luke Huber), today’s health ministry is staffed by missionary nurses and dentists from both Brazil and the United States, whose efforts are complemented by teams of visiting professionals. These missionaries serve in local social assistance programs as well as coordinate ministry trips with church-planters to open the way for the Gospel. On these trips, the boat serves as the transportation, sleeping and eating quarters as well as the clinic itself! Trip after trip, we see lives changed and the Gospel enter into hearts through our health ministries.

“… I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…”
Matthew 25:36b NIV

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

Project AmaZon is having an impact today because of the obedient lives lived yesterday. Read the moving story about PAZ’s humble beginnings.

Part 4 | Our History