A letter from Tim Carriker in Brazil
March 2013
Marina Silva, leading Brazilian political figure and Christian environmental activist
Last weekend I traveled to Campinas, about 500 miles from our home, for the annual meeting of a Christian environmental NGO called A Rocha. A Rocha (“the rock” in Portuguese) was founded by British missionaries in Portugal 30 years ago and now has chapters in 19 countries, including Brazil, Canada and the United States. I have volunteered as the chaplain for the Brazilian chapter since its founding in 2006.
The staff, board and volunteers of A Rocha almost always come out of a Christian university ministry, often the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. They also are almost always scientists with connections to various universities or private or governmental research organizations. Some are even celebrities, like Marina Silva, previous candidate in the last national presidential campaigns, ex-senator, and ex-minister of the environment, widely acclaimed internationally. She is also known for her strong Christian faith and the high standards of justice that this entails.
Jenny's depiction of Environmental Education
At the annual meeting we heard reports of the different projects our chapter sponsors: new scientific research projects, environmental education in local churches, leadership development of various Christian activist groups around the country, especially in the Northeast, internships for Brazilian university students in the various national chapters around the world, and reports from leading national experts about subjects such as climate change and the newest developments in alternative technologies.
Now this may not seem to be the kind of involvement you might think I would have as a trained missiologist (the study of the mission of the church). And indeed, this is not my official assignment as a PC(USA) co-worker in Brazil. Rather, this is simply my own volunteer work like you or anyone else would do. And actually the environmental interest has everything to do with mission interest, although that is not always easily recognized. As a missiologist and mission co-worker I am deeply concerned for the effective proclamation of the gospel around the world. That certainly means reaching out to people with the love of God in ways that transform their lives, both personally and within their wider social contexts of family, work, etc. But over the years I have grown to see that the gospel also entails a relationship with all of creation. And indeed Romans 8.18-25 clearly teaches that the redemption of creation is in some way intimately connected to our own redemption (disciples of Jesus Christ). I am still not sure exactly what that means, but a minimal view, I believe, means the involvement of the church counts.
Quero-Quero: A Rocha's mascot, because of its persistence
By the way, A Rocha has actually captured the attention of our whole family. I have written Bible studies and devotionals for them. And Jenny has drawn illustrations for their publications, which I am including in this newsletter.
Thank you so much for your faithful support. We are so grateful to be able to serve Christ in so many varied ways in Brazil and we couldn’t do without you.
In Him…
Tim, Jenny (our daughter and illustrator), and Marta
https://www.facebook.com/arocha.brasil
http://ultimato.com.br/sites/arocha/
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 37
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