“To be sure, God is doing good and beautiful things through the American church. But our part of the church, like every other part, is broken and sinful. Maybe we are discouraged. Maybe we are too caught up in national struggles and strife. Maybe we have forgotten how powerfully God can move. We need the example of other brothers and sisters, sometimes in faraway places, to explode our comfortable vision of what it means when Jesus bids us take up our crosses and follow him. We need each other.”
–Timothy Dalrymple, Christianity Today, “Seek the Kingdom Wherever it is Found,” June/July 2025
After almost 20 hours of travel, 18 people from Schweitzer walked a narrow plank to board a boat on the Amazon River in Brazil. It took another 20 hours of cruising north and heading west on the Purus River to take us to our destination. The Purus, winding through the heart of the Amazon rainforest, stretches into some of the most remote corners of the world. Our church team’s journey up this ancient waterway, past dense jungles and tranquil lakes, revealed villages so isolated that they feel untouched by time. The inaccessibility of these communities underscores their profound need — basic resources, healthcare, and connection — yet the people welcome visitors with warmth and resilience.
Venturing into remote areas, where the world feels both vast and intimate, brings unparalleled rewards. The opportunity to share hope, build relationships, and witness the strength of these communities transforms not only those whom we serve but also our own perspectives. In the stillness of the Purus, where the river’s rhythm sets the pace, we found that the greatest needs often lead to the deepest connections and the most meaningful impact.
We woke up each morning to dock at a new village. After breakfast, devotions, and prayer, we walked across the gangplank to enter the village, which had swelled to capacity when neighbors got word that we were coming. Our team is divided into different ministry groups: medical, dental, eyewear, along with women’s, men’s, and children’s evangelism. It was beautiful to watch how language and culture were no barriers to showing the love of Christ.
These villagers, so remote, often call themselves “The Forgotten People.” Our team was compelled to show them that they were, in fact, remembered by a God that was at work in their hearts and ours and brought us together.
The villagers were eager to hear more about God, excited to have a Bible to read (especially after being fitted for glasses), and, at times, desperate for prayer. Some individuals were the only believers in their village, and they traveled far for Christian fellowship. One village worked tirelessly to clear plant debris from the river so our boat could dock and serve their people. God not only moved among the villagers, but he also moved greatly within our team as well. We learned of skills, gifts, and talents we never knew we had. We accepted the challenge to depend on faith when we were exhausted, spent, and uncomfortable. Most of all, we saw how God is at work all around the world, and while he certainly does not need us, he invites us to work with him here, there, and everywhere.
Interested in learning more about Amazon Outreach and our upcoming trip to Brazil in March 2026? Join us after each service on September 21 in Room 104 as we lay out our plans for what comes next. Want to know more about Schweitzer Global Missions? I’d love to connect with you! Email me (Shelley Rogers) at
srogers@schweitzer.church, call the church office, or find me on a Sunday morning!
