The Atlanta Project

The goal of the Atlanta Project is for churches and individuals to partner with the Hisportic Christian Mission to establish a Portuguese-speaking Christian Church in the northern part of metro Atlanta, Georgia, in the fall of 2008, which will be self-sustaining, self-propagating, and self-governing in four years.

The Need

As immigrant populations move into Georgia, the need to provide Christian congregations for the Portuguese-speaking (Hisportic) population has become more urgent. The Brazilian community, estimated to be at least 35,000, is virtually unreached. The highest concentration of Brazilians in Atlanta is at I-75 and Delk Road. However, as the map shows many Brazilians live in the Sandy Springs and Alpharetta areas.

Brazilians are traditionally Roman Catholic, but that percentage is decreasing. In Atlanta there is only one Catholic Church offering masses in Portuguese.

According to a 2006 survey, there are 43 Portuguese-speaking evangelical churches in this area. Twenty-four of these are Pentecostal, seven are neo-Pentecostal, and 12 are traditional. The highest concentration is in Marietta. There were only eight Portuguese-speaking churches in the cities of Sandy springs, Roswell, and Alpharetta. The North Atlanta Church of Christ is offering Portuguese translation in their worship service. The current Portuguese-speaking churches minister to less than 10% of the population.

The Primary Target

The new church’s primary target is Brazilians who have been in the United States for ten years of less and who are not fluent in English and are still using Portuguese as the primary language in their homes. The goal is to reach both the un-churched non-Christian and the Brazilian Christian who is not attending any church.

The History of the Atlanta Project

In September 2005, Wayne Long met with seven leaders of Christian Churches or organizations in Atlanta and proposed a partnership to plant a Portuguese-speaking church in metro Atlanta. In November 2005, a meal was held during the National Missionary Convention held in Atlanta with the intent of informing other ministers. In May 2006, a Partnership Formation meeting was held at the office of Church Development Fund, and a decision was made to bring Sérgio Santos, a Brazilian evangelist, to the United States to meet with interested churches. This visit took place in August and September of that year. A proposed plan for the Atlanta Project was sent to interested churches and individuals in November 2006. On December 31, 2006, Wayne Long retired, and Carl Bookout became the Executive Director. During 2007-2008, Carl has been visiting with churches in Atlanta and in other parts of the country, informing churches and individuals of the Project and seeking financial support.

The Evangelist

Márcia & Sérgio Santos

Sérgio L. P. Santos is the leading candidate to serve as the church planting evangelist. He has served five churches, two of which he founded. Sérgio received his ministerial training at the Christian Theological School in Brasilia, Brazil. He has two Masters Degrees, one in Biblical Theology and the other in Family Therapy. In addition to pastoral responsibilities, Sérgio teaches at the Christian Theological School and maintains an active family therapy and clinical psychology practice. He is vitally interest in missions and has traveled to Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Senegal, and the United States. Sérgio is married to Márcia, who is a Portuguese-language teacher in Brazil.

The Strategy

In Phase One the evangelist will focus on getting acquainted, surveying the community, and meeting its leaders.  Community events and get-togethers will be sponsored to generate additional leads and contacts. One-on-one discipleship meetings will be set-up.

Phase Two will emphasize home meetings for worship and Bible study. The aim of this phase is to develop a nucleus for the official church launch.

Phase Three will be to launch the church and to begin regular worship services with the nucleus which has been developed.

The Management Team

A Management Team will be selected from Atlanta Christian Church leaders and ministers who will work with the HCM Executive Director in providing oversight of the church and encouragement to the evangelist. The team will support, sustain, guide, and evaluate the progress and needs of the new church. This team will develop the final work plan and budget for the Atlanta Project.

The Financial Need

The proposed financial need is $270,000 over the next four years. Sérgio is seeking to raise $50,000 of this needed support in Brazil. American churches and individuals are need to provide the additional $220,000.

First Year	$ 110,000
Second Year	$   75,000
Third Year	$   50,000
Fourth Year	$   35,000

The Conclusion

A Portuguese-speaking church will enable Brazilians to worship and praise God I the “heart” language.  It will provide guidance and a sense of belonging and well-being to hundreds of people who have recently arrived in this country.  Innumerable men and women will accept Christ as Savior and be baptized into Him.  Ministry will be provided to an under-churched segment of the Atlanta population.

Click here to go to the Atlanta Project website at www.igrejadecristoatlanta.org.

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