Introducing the Mike Minter Heart for the Amazon Fund - Justice & Mercy International

Introducing the Mike Minter Heart for the Amazon Fund

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. 

Mike is a teacher, knowing the Bible backward and forwards. He’s adamant, though, that in the Amazon, the Jungle Pastors are teaching him. Mike is often quoted saying,
 
“I teach them the Bible, but they (the Jungle Pastors) teach me about Jesus.” 

February 2020 was the last time JMI was able to host a Pastor’s Conference in the Amazon. February 2022 will be the first time that JMI, along with Mike, will go back to the Amazon for one of these conferences. The wonder that Mike has for the jungle, river, and nature that is a part of the Amazon is inspiring, but it pales in comparison to the way Mike cherishes the people in the state of Amazonas. 

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.

When you contribute to the Mike Minter Heart for the Amazon Fund, you are giving to a mission that is focused on making the Gospel known to the 80% of the Amazon that still has never heard the Gospel.
Through equipping local churches and pastors, we are able to go further than we ever could go on our own.
We hope that you prayerfully consider contributing to this fund, as resources like this allow us to continue our ministry. As you pray, pray also that our impact on the Amazon be multiplied and the reach of the Gospel would move ever more deeply into unreached areas of the jungle.  
 
We hope you’ll stand on the boat with Mike and JMI as we look out at all the Lord has planned for the Amazon.

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