Almost every February for the last decade, Mike Minter has trekked deep into the heart of the Amazon for JMI’s Jungle Pastors Conferences. A mission-focused pastor, Mike founded Reston Bible Church in 1974 and quickly emphasized the importance of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. From the start of his ministry, supporting missions was a primary focus of his. At Reston Bible Church, a large part of Mike’s legacy is the passion he has for missions and making the name and love of Jesus known globally.
He’s been all over the world, taking his heart for people and knowledge of the Bible with him. But something seemed to click when Mike arrived in the Amazon for the first time. His heart was captured by what he saw there. Friends describe Mike standing on the bow of riverboats wide-eyed and full of wonder at the beauty that is found in the Amazon. Even before JMI formally started working in the Amazon, Mike Minter linked arms with John Paculabo and his already existing UK-based ministry, Ray of Hope. Mike bought into the vision that John had for the Amazon and on the decks of the Discovery, a friendship was formed.
It didn’t take long for Mike to become a staple at annual Jungle Pastors Conferences, bounding up and down the steep wooden stairs that lead people from their boats to the John Pac Center. Jungle Pastors hear about Mike and are immediately drawn to him. During these pastors conferences, you can usually find Mike teaching or surrounded by a group of Jungle Pastors laughing and using his few words of Portuguese to try to connect.
The Mike Minter Heart for the Amazon Fund is a way that we can continue to equip and resource pastors in the Amazon. Mike Minter’s joy and love for the Amazon is contagious, and we hope that as we begin this fund, other people will catch that joy and be inspired to love and care for the Amazon the same way that Mike does, the same way that JMI does.
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