Newsletter 05 - Weight of the Fruit

Hello.
It seems that the cold winter has passed in the U.S., and now spring is finally arriving.
Meanwhile, here in Recife, we’ve endured the peak of a scorching summer, yet the heat still lingers.
 
I remember my first visit to Recife. Everywhere I went, I saw mangoes hanging in abundance—left unpicked, falling to the ground, and rolling along the streets. That sight reminded me of the lost souls in this mission field. In some countries, mangoes are considered a luxury, too expensive for many to afford. Yet here, they remain untouched, hanging on trees, unclaimed. I remember thinking, "If I come here, all I need to do is reach out and pick the fruit." And just like that initial realization, I now see that this is indeed a season of harvest in Recife.
 
Since last year’s youth retreat, about 30 to 40 students from local schools have been attending church services regularly. As a result, the atmosphere of our ministry has changed significantly. Despite the sudden growth and expansion, the existing church members have embraced it with maturity, joy, and a strong sense of mission, working alongside us.
 
I’m deeply grateful that so many students have stepped into the church. But at the same time, the weight of their unresolved wounds, sins, and the harsh realities they face inevitably falls upon the shoulders of those ministering to them. We hold a youth service every Friday evening, yet many of the students have no real heart for worship—some don't even show basic respect. Seeing this, I often wonder, "How should I handle this?"
 
During worship, whether it’s the time for praise or the sermon, the atmosphere is often chaotic—students chatting loudly, goofing around as if they were in a marketplace. Week after week, I find myself questioning, "Is this gathering meaningful at all?" "Should we even take these kids to another retreat?" There are also moments when we witness students manifesting spiritually, while others whisper behind their backs, calling them possessed.
 
Individually, they are all good kids. But when you bring together a group of teenagers, each carrying deep wounds, it truly becomes a chaotic battlefield. Ideally, we’d have student leaders from the church who could step up and take charge, but unfortunately, just three or four years ago, there were no steady ministers here to disciple them. As a result, leadership training wasn’t even an option. Only now are we beginning to disciple a small group of students with potential.
 
At first, picking the fruit was exciting. But now, carrying the sack full of fruit feels heavy on my shoulders. And if it feels heavy for me, how much heavier must it be for Pastor Rennan? Watching him, I am constantly amazed by the love and patience he has in embracing these kids. There’s no doubt—this is a calling not just anyone can take on. As time passes, my gratitude for Pastor Rennan and his wife, Clarissa, who have faithfully obeyed this calling, only deepens.
This year, we’ve decided to serve one more school, bringing the total to three schools participating in our youth retreats. We are expecting 300–350 students to attend across two retreat sessions in April and July, and we are currently preparing for it.
 
Though things seem to be growing beyond our ability to prepare properly, I can’t help but feel that God’s urgency for these souls is even greater. The children here are so vulnerable. In just a few months, I’ve seen some of them change—suddenly carrying the weary eyes of an adult. Seeing that, I feel an even greater urgency: They must encounter the truth and experience grace as soon as possible, as often as possible. Like rain falling on a dry desert, even a short downpour of grace allows these young hearts to bloom.
 
This is the time of harvest. This is a time of revival.
And revival is like an explosion—sudden, chaotic, and full of change. This is a season that requires wisdom and patience more than ever. Please pray that every leader, minister, and church member here will serve with wisdom, humility, faithfulness, and above all, with joy and gratitude. Please also pray that the students coming to church will leave behind their old selves and grow in maturity in Christ.
 

Friday Youth Service
It often takes Pastor Rennan raising his voice for the students to even pretend they’re listening. But even so, there are those moments—brief but real—when we see them touched by grace, their hearts stirred, if only for a little while.
 
 

Faithful Servants of the Church
The church leaders in this photo have been serving the church unwaveringly. Some of them have helped sustain this church for the past 30 years, and we are deeply grateful for their dedication.
 

T-Shirt Fundraising Project
Originally, our student design team aimed to turn their work into a business project. But after much consideration, we shifted directions and turned it into a fundraising campaign. This campaign, sparked by a simple T-shirt design, has brought new energy to the mission field.

 

 

A Special Thank You

I sincerely thank each of you for being a part of this ministry. None of this growth and revival would have been possible without your prayers and generous support. Every bit of what exists here today is a testament to your faithful partnership.
 
As a small token of our gratitude, we would love to send you a T-shirt that was recently designed. It features artwork representing the mission field and a message we want to share with the people here. Shipping from here is still costly and complicated, so it may take some time to reach you. But if you let us know your size and preferred color, we will carefully set it aside and send it with someone traveling in and out of the area when an opportunity arises.
 
I’ll do my best to update you again soon!
 
With heartfelt thanks,
Jihye Kim
 

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Personal Account: @wisdomcallsout
Ministry Account: @projeto_milagres_recife