Discipling Kids in the Amazon

The Amazon is one of the most breathtaking places on Earth—a region of beauty, biodiversity, and cultural richness. But it is also home to profound challenges. Vast in size and need, this region is where Justice & Mercy International has been called to serve, promoting Gospel-centered, sustainable life change for the poor, the vulnerable, and the forgotten.

An Area Unlike Any Other

The State of Amazonas, located in northern Brazil, is the largest land area in the country, spanning a territory greater than France, Spain, Sweden, and Greece combined. The region’s population of 3.5 million is scattered across both urban centers and more than 6,100 rural and riverside communities, many of which are accessible only by boat.

In these remote areas, life is shaped by the rhythms of the jungle and the mighty Amazon River. Six months of every year, the river floods, displacing as many as 70,000 families from their homes. Only half of the villages along the river have access to clean water, and nearly half the population in the northern Amazon suffers from food insecurity.

Education is also a challenge. There are only 560 schools across the entire Amazon region, contributing to an illiteracy rate of 9.6%—with secondary-education completion rates 15% lower than in the rest of Brazil. JMI has been addressing this issue since 2004 by building schools in remote villages, saving children from long and dangerous journeys to get an education. Many children have been given hope and brighter futures at these schools. In recent years, JMI launched an initiative to provide school libraries. We work with local pastors and leaders to identify villages that desperately need a school library and then raise funds for construction. Kids are given access to many books and resources through these library projects. This brings joy and opportunity to the whole community, and they are reminded that they are not forgotten.

A Spiritual Need Unmet

The Amazon is not only vast in physical size but also one of the largest mission fields in the world. At least 18.7% of the region is unreached, with many people groups lacking access to the Gospel and no Bible translations in their languages. This means there is less than a 2% Gospel presence in many areas, and no missionaries are living among these communities.

Eighty percent of the population in the Amazon has never heard the Gospel. This staggering reality is why JMI’s mission in the Amazon is Gospel-centered. Through training and equipping Jungle Pastors, we are helping to bring the light of Christ to one of the most remote and untouched places on Earth.

Our annual Jungle Pastors Conference is the centerpiece of this work. Each year, hundreds of pastors and leaders from across the Amazon gather for teaching, encouragement, and equipping. These pastors are the spiritual backbone of their communities, tirelessly serving in areas where the Gospel has yet to penetrate.

Communities in Crisis

Life in the Amazon is becoming increasingly difficult. Alongside environmental challenges, such as flooding and deforestation, the region is facing a surge in drug trafficking and violent crime. Sexual violence in the Brazilian Amazon occurs at a rate 30% higher than in the rest of the country.

These challenges disproportionately affect the most vulnerable—women, children, and those in remote communities. But they also serve as a stark reminder of the spiritual brokenness that underscores the physical and social struggles of the Amazon. Our child protection program equips children, parents, educators, and churches to help prevent abuse and bring healing to individuals, families, and villages.

A Region Vast in Size and Need

JMI exists to make justice personal. Our mission is Gospel-centered and locally implemented through indigenous staff and leaders who understand the culture, challenges, and opportunities of their communities.

We work in the Amazon because the need is great, but so is the potential for transformation. When Jungle Pastors are trained and equipped, they bring not only the hope of the Gospel but also practical support to their communities. They help meet immediate needs, build trust, and share the love of Christ in tangible ways.

We work in the Amazon because every person matters. From the child who finally has a full belly to the pastor who receives his first Bible, we see the beauty of God’s work in lives that are changed.

We work in the Amazon because the Gospel compels us. In Matthew 28, Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations—and that includes the forgotten corners of the world, like the remote villages of the Amazon.

Will You Join Us?

The Amazon is vast in size, need, and opportunity. There is so much more to be done, and we believe God is calling His people to step into this work.

Whether through prayer, giving, or going, we invite you to join us in bringing the love of Christ to the Amazon. Together, we can make justice personal for the most vulnerable, transforming lives and communities for eternity.

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