Brazil - Day Camps

June 28-July 8, 2024

Gospel Presentations: 460
Believers Mobilized: 46
Scriptures Shared: 1,500

Pedro went to the English camp in Lapa, Paraná alone. He looked around and didn’t see a place he could fit in. Everyone else was playing sports and socializing easily. But Pedro didn’t have a lot of those skills, so instead of spending time with the other teenagers he offered to help the ShareWord Global team set up and take down during the events. He was happy to be there and around the activity, but he still felt out of place.

One of the trip leaders, Ygor, noticed Pedro’s loneliness. He began speaking with him as Pedro helped. Ygor asked if he could pray for him, that he would experience the love and friendship that Jesus has to offer. Pedro readily accepted it. He was already a little in awe of Ygor, who was an ex-professional soccer player. But the fact that he would take the time to pray for him meant so much to Pedro.

Through the English camp, Pedro learned more about how Jesus loves us, is our friend, and that he never needs to feel alone if he places his faith in Christ. Throughout the rest of the time at the camp, the GO team saw Pedro come out of his shell. He was more secure and confident, and interacted more with the other teens. He now knew he had a place to belong.

That’s the goal of the Day and English camps in Brazil: for children and teens to understand that in Christ, they belong. They no longer need to be lonely, feel disconnected from those around them, and they’re safe in the arms of their Saviour. And thanks to those participating on the GO Trip, they see brothers and sisters actively living out a life of ministry so others can experience the love of Christ.

Peru

September 13-23, 2024

Gospel Presentations: 1,100
Believers Mobilized: 135
Scriptures Shared: 4,925

Jose approached the GO Trip team in the busy market in Lima, Peru. He had noticed the GO Trip team walking around and he was curious. What were they doing? So, he got out of the cab he drove and asked them.

Lucas, one of the GO Trip participants, answered. He knew that God had put him in the right place at the right time. He was able to share the full gospel with Jose, explaining God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice. Jose’s eyes filled with tears as they spoke. He wanted to know more. At the end of their conversation, Lucas asked him an important question.

“Do you want to follow Jesus?”

Jose prayed the prayer of commitment and asked for prayer for his wife and two sons, that they would experience the same hope that he now had in Jesus. Please pray for him and his family as he gets involved with the local church and deepens his new faith.

Zambia

October 17-29, 2024

Gospel Presentations: 5,449
Believers Mobilized: 201
Scriptures Shared: 5,509

On a busy street corner in Lusaka, John approached a group of four young men. He began to speak with them, starting with small talk and moved into sharing the gospel. Three of the men were happy to talk to John, sharing their thoughts and asking John questions. But one seemed disinterested, barely looking at him as he shared the gospel.

Suddenly, on the other side of the road, a fight broke out and the three men left to watch what was happening. But the fourth stayed back. His name was Fenway. With his friends gone, he asked John to sit next to him on the rocky ground.

John learned that Fenway used to attend church. Every week he went and heard about a God who wouldn’t accept him because of how many bad things he had done in his life. He wasn’t interested in God after that. But John told him about the God he knows, and the story of the prisoners on the cross with Jesus. And one of those prisoners, dying for his crimes, went to heaven because he accepted Jesus and His sacrifice.

As the two looked through the Hope magazine, Fenway began to cry. This is what he needed. This is what he had been hoping for. Through his tears, Fenway prayed for salvation and recommitted to attending the church in his neighbourhood with a new heart.

USA

November 9-17, 2024

Gospel Presentations: 700
Believers Mobilized: 35
Scriptures Shared: 2,000

Angie wanted what they had. She had noticed a group of people walking around her neighbourhood in Skid Row. They looked very out of place, walking amongst her homeless friends. Something else made them stand out, though. They were handing out Bibles. She approached Andrew, a Regional Manager with ShareWord Global, gathered her courage and she asked for a copy of Scripture.

She needed what they had. Angie shared with Andrew that she struggled with an all-consuming drug addiction. She didn’t know how to quit, despite nearly dying from a recent overdose. So, Andrew did the only thing he knew to do. He shared his own story, and how God had come to his rescue. But more than that, he shared how Christ could come to her rescue, too.

Angie began to cry when she heard this. "I'll try better, I'll try better," she told him. She wanted to be changed from the inside out. There in the middle of the homeless community, Angie prayed for Jesus to be the Lord of her life.

Chile

November 15-25, 2024

Gospel Presentations: 3,543
Believers Mobilized: 121

“Do you have a friend?”

That was a question asked in an elementary school class in Chile. All the children’s hands went up. Friends are fun to be around, they give support, but they can fail us sometimes. They can be mean, they can lie, and they can sometimes drift away. The GO Team showed the class how Jesus is a friend who will never fail them.

As the Chispa magazines were passed out to the students, there was a ripple of excitement as they all whispered the name of the magazine to each other. They had heard about the magazine before, and now they each had their very own copy.

Together as a class, they went through the first five truths in the magazine: God made me, God loves me, I’ve messed things up, God made a plan to rescue me, and God’s gift is waiting for me. For most of them, it was the first time the message of salvation was explained so simply.

Going on a GO Trip, participating in local outreaches like the ones in the Chilean school, changes lives. It brings the gospel in a way that’s relevant, and life changing. And those students will now grow up with a friend who will never leave them.

Brazil – São Paulo GO Trip

February 29 – March 11, 2024

Believers Mobilized: 110
Gospel Presentations: 3,000
Scriptures Shared: 6,000

Jaqueline came up the side of the hill, a bottle of alcohol in her hand. When a GO Trip participant named Nyla asked to speak with her, Jaqueline agreed. She had nothing to lose— other than a few more minutes with her drink.

Moments into their conversation, Jaqueline’s demeanour changes when Nyla asked her a simple question: “How can I pray for you?”

All of a sudden, the hopeless within her took over and as she felt Nyla put a hand on her shoulder to pray, Jaqueline threw the bottle to the side of the road, and it shattered on the stones. She was desperate for prayer. She was desperate for hope, and she knew she needed to restore her relationship with God.

Nyla finished the prayer and embraced Jaqueline, who shared that this was the first time she had been hugged since her father had passed years ago. Jaqueline continued on her way with a renewed hope in her heart and a determination to have Christ at the centre of her life.

The love of God is alive in São Paulo.

Kenya GO Trip

March 7 – 19, 2024

Believers Mobilized: 375
Gospel Presentations: 4,577
Scriptures Shared: 5,352

Sometimes on a GO Trip, the participants are impacted by the gospel just as much as those hearing it for the first time. That was the case for Mitch, the videographer for the trip. Most of the time, he has to separate himself from the situation to get the footage he needs. But something was different in Kenya.

The team met David, a young boy with polio. For Mitch, the gospel conversation the team had with him was a prime moment to capture. But as they prayed for the boy, Mitch was compelled to put down his camera and join in the prayer.

“It’s easy to go around and talk about the Good News. And then you see people who are going through something like this and see how sick David is.”

It was a tough but beautiful moment which brought Mitch and the others to tears.

Canada GO Trip

April 17 – 24, 2024

Believers Mobilized: 16
Gospel Presentations: 460
Scriptures Shared: 550

After being delayed due to the wildfires, the GO Trip to Yellowknife ran this past April! As someone who’s been on a GO Trip, you know that sometimes the journey to get to the GO Trip location can be just as eventful. Carla discovered that just on the plane itself to Yellowknife.

It was her first GO Trip, and she felt a mix of emotions, as many do. Excitement. Nervousness. Anxiety. But she put her trust in God and followed His call. And on the flight to Yellowknife, she sat next to a woman named Val.

Val kept to herself and didn’t even acknowledge Carla when she took her seat and greeted her. When refreshments came, Carla took the opportunity to engage with her. She learned that Val was just as anxious. She hadn’t flown on a commercial flight in nearly 30 years! “I’m not used to being around people, let alone in a confined space,” Val said. “I am a very private person and I’m used to being solo for many things, [for] most of my life.”

The two spoke for the entire flight, through laughter and tears. They spoke to each other as though they had been best friends for years. Before the GO Trip had officially started, Carla was already using what she had learned about relational evangelism. There was an instant connection with the two.

Finally, Val asked what was bringing Carla all the way to Yellowknife. So she shared the purpose of the GO Trip, and she also shared her faith with Val. By simply listening to Val and letting her share her burdens, the Lord used the opportunity to bring some peace, and breathe fresh life into her.

Brazil GO Trip

May 14 - 24, 2024

Believers Mobilized: 23
Gospel Presentations: 800
Scriptures Shared: 1,000

In a small village on the Paraconi River in Brazil, the GO Team met Maciel. He was sitting in the shade with a friend, and they tried to ignore the group of evangelists. Macel wasn’t sure if they should speak with them, but after a moment they approached the two young men.

Maciel was shy at first and didn’t respond much, but when Macel shared with him a copy of the Hope magazine, something seemed to shift within him. Suddenly, he was ready to speak. He shared that he had escaped the grip of alcoholism through the help of his Saviour.

It was then that Macel shared his own story. His father had struggled with the same addiction. After years, his father accepted Christ as his Saviour and began the long process of being rescued from the disease. The transformation had blessed their entire family, and his father is now a deacon in his church.

Maciel was moved and thanked him for sharing his and his father’s story. He asked how he could learn how to share the gospel the same way as the GO Team. They filled out contact cards so that a local missionary could come back and speak with them about this.

But that wasn’t the end of the team’s story with Maciel. Later in the evening, a church service was held in the village. And Maciel was there to join them.

GOing and sharing the gospel changes lives. It changes the people who GO. It changes the people who hear the gospel for the first time. And it empowers believers around the team to share the gospel in their communities.

Mozambique GO Trip

May 27 - June 9, 2024

Believers Mobilized: 50
Gospel Presentations: 1,505
Scriptures Shared: 6,350

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” - Matthew 19:14

Luisa was walking down a street in her town in Mozambique when she noticed some of her classmates speaking with a group of strangers. She stopped and watched, captivated by the happiness she saw in the strangers. She approached the group slowly and was a bit shy at first.

But little by little she began to open up and allowed the GO Team to share the gospel with her. When she heard that God loved her so much that He had given up His only child, her eyes shone. As the group shared a Faísca (Spark) magazine with her, Luisa became more serene, with a calmness that can only come from God.

Together with the group of evangelists, Luisa prayed and gave her life to Christ.

When people accept Jesus as their Saviour, the Holy Spirit transforms them in a way that others around them notice the transformation. Even in children.

Nicaragua GO Trip

June 28 - July 8, 2024

Believers Mobilized: 36
Gospel Presentations: 2,336
Scriptures Shared: 2,336

Elia had a wonderful day. An unforgettable, wonderful day, where a group of students from Woodland Christian High School told her about Jesus. “I learned a lot from the Word of Jesus,” she shared. “Today, I accepted Jesus into my life.”

The Ontario high school had previously put together teams to go to Day Camps in Brazil, but for the first time, they participated in a Day Camp GO Trip to Nicaragua. They were all grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel with the children, through games, songs, and other activities each day at the camp.

What was different about this trip for the students was they had the chance to go into the city and share the gospel on the streets and in schools. It got them out of their comfort zone from their previous trip to Brazil, and God was able to open doors for incredible conversations.

After sharing the gospel in one of the schools, a group of the students went to a nearby park. It was here they met a woman with her young child. They began speaking and shared the Spark magazine with the child. They soon noticed a guard walking near them slowly, and it was clear he was listening to the conversation. It made them a little nervous, but they tried to not think too much of it. They knew they weren’t causing trouble and hoped that would be enough. As the guard listened, the boy accepted Jesus and encouraged his mom to read more of the magazine.

Cautiously, a member of the team approached the guard and asked if he wanted to speak about what he heard. Amazingly, the guard also gave his life to Christ! God worked through the students in unexpected ways, but it was a very meaningful first time to Nicaragua.

Toronto GO Trip

August 1 - 18, 2024

Giovanna and Evan walked around downtown Waterloo, Ontario, praying. They asked God to lead them to someone who would be open to hearing His Word. They noticed a woman sitting on a bench by herself.

Her name was Kiera. As they began speaking with her, the conversation quickly turned spiritual. Kiera shared that she had a Jehovah’s Witness background because her mom was one. And she said something that sounded so heartbreaking. She didn’t believe God could save her because she was a sinner who smoked. She felt so guilty about it, and she couldn’t grasp the idea of God’s grace.

The two read through the Hope magazine with Kiera and shared Scripture verses with her. They explained that salvation isn’t based on the good things we do but on faith in Jesus and shared the full message of the gospel: that Jesus came into the world, died, and was resurrected to save us from our sins. By believing this, we receive salvation.

Kiera prayed with them then, confessing her sin, acknowledging her need for Jesus, and accepting His sacrifice for her. She expressed confidence that, if she were to die that day, she would go to heaven. It was a beautiful moment during an incredible trip to Canada for the team of Brazilians.

Brazil GO Trip

March 24 - April 4, 2023

Participants in the GO Trip to Brazil's Amazon region used a range of techniques to effectively convey the Good News. For the younger audience, they organized lively Bible puppet shows that brought the stories of Jesus to life in a fun and relatable way.

They also took time to sit down with the adults, listened to their stories, and shared their own experiences of how the gospel had transformed their lives.

The outreach didn’t end there!

Psychologists and dentists on the team provided much-needed care to the communities they visited. And through these acts of kindness, they found open doors to talk about the gospel.

Gospel Presentations: 750
Believers Mobilized: 50
Scriptures Shared:
Hope – 400
Spark – 300

British Columbia GO Trip

May 10-16, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 9
Gospel Presentations: 12
Scriptures Shared: 300

When the GO Team from Weatherford, Oklahoma landed in Vancouver, B.C., they felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. With some of its eight members venturing outside of the United States for the first time, they didn’t know what to expect in the Great White North.

They quickly realized that earning the respect of the local community was crucial to effectively share the message of salvation. And so the GO Team reached out to the community in innovative ways, offering free coffee, volunteering at a food bank, and partnering with churches in outreach events.

By the end of their trip, the GO Team had made significant connections and planted seeds of faith in the hearts of many.

Brazil - Amazon GO Trip

May 19 - 31, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 67
Gospel Presentations: 930
Scriptures Shared: 1250

Eliete was going about her usual business at her eatery when she noticed a group of unfamiliar faces walking towards her. Her eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of a windfall. It wasn’t every day that tourists strolled into her establishment.

Eliete greeted them with a warm smile and welcomed them to take a seat. She quickly handed them menus, making sure to explain any dishes they weren’t familiar with.

The tourists were Gospel Outreach (GO) Trip participants, sharing the gospel in the heart of the Amazon. They had spent the day going from house to house, spreading the message of love and hope. As the evening approached, they found themselves exhausted but satisfied with their efforts. All they wanted was to sit down and enjoy a hearty meal to replenish their energy.

Many of the participants wanted Eliete’s recommendations on the unique and delicious cuisine of the area. But one of them could not contain the passion for evangelism still burning within him. He told Eliete about how much Jesus loved her and how He could change her life for the better.

Eliete said she was once a believer but had strayed away from God. She carried a heavy burden of guilt and condemnation due to the choices she had made.

The evangelist assured Eliete their role was not to judge or condemn her, but to remind her of the unending grace and forgiveness that God offers. He shared his own experiences of backsliding and finding his way back to God.

With each word, he painted a picture of a loving and merciful God who desires to uplift and restore His children.

A glimmer of light began to flicker in Eliete’s eyes. She realized that there was still a chance for her to find her way back to God, to experience His forgiveness and grace once again. Eliete eagerly asked the GO Trip participant to lead her back to God’s loving embrace.

Eliete is one of countless souls transformed during this GO Trip to the Amazon. Stories like hers show the impact these trips are having all over the world.

Nicaragua GO Trip

May 26 – June 5, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 365
Gospel Presentations: 6,249
Scriptures Shared: 6099

The GO Team to Nicaragua had their hands full, but they were up for the challenge. From schools to hospitals and the bustling streets, the team made a lasting impact on everyone they met. They carried with them copies of Scripture that brought joy to curious schoolchildren and hope to weary hospital patients.

One of them, Edwin, said: “They gave me this Esperanza (Hope) magazine that became like a treasure for my life. I found a very special passage in Psalm 34 that says: I prayed to the Lord and He answered. When I read that portion, I understood that I could pray and ask Him to get me out of that (sinful) path.”

Malawi GO Trip

July 13-25, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 163
Gospel Presentations: 3,665
Scriptures Shared: 8,188

To say the first GO Trip to Malawi was a success is an understatement.

It’s normal for God to change the participants, draw them closer to Him no matter how many trips they’ve been on. But even the most unexpected lives were changed in Malawi, including the team’s driver, Peter.

At one point, the team’s van broke down. They stepped off to stretch their legs while the van sat on the side of the road. That’s when a group of people began to approach the group.

“What is this? What are they doing here?”

To the surprise of the team, Peter spoke up. He told the crowd that they were here sharing the gospel—the hope that can be found in Jesus. The participants saw a side of Peter they didn’t know existed. He went from driver, to translator, and finally he became an evangelist.

Peter had such a joyful look to his face. “I’ve never done this before, to do translation. I’ve never done evangelism. I never dreamed I would do this.”

That’s what happens on a GO Trip. God moves through His children, enveloping people with His love and comfort. Even on the side of the road with a broken-down van. In a prison. Or in a refugee camp where, for even just one moment, local participants were able to forget they were a refugee and just a child of God.

Brazil – Day Camp GO Trip

June 30-July 12, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 80
Gospel Presentations: 1,200
Scriptures Shared: 1,350

The Day Camp GO Trip was an incredible experience, not only for the children and youth, but the participants as well. This was Lydia’s second GO Trip to Brazil. After her first trip, she realized how important it was to share the gospel and recognized how much Brazil needs the gospel.

“I’ve seen God working in the children’s lives as they come to our camp,” Lydia said. “Their faces when they come in are a little scared. As we share the gospel, by the end they leave with big smiles on their faces. I just know that God was working in their hearts and changing them through our camp. Even if they didn’t accept Jesus right in that moment, the seed was still planted in them, and they can always look back and see that was God later in their life.”

One of the camp’s students, 16-year-old Eduarda said, “It was really good to be here. It was an amazing experience to talk in English, and to be close to Jesus. We all now know and understand that He’s the way, the truth, and He’s the life. There’s no life without Him. And He loves us.”

Peru GO Trip

October 27 – November 5, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 138
Gospel Presentations: 1,202
Scriptures Shared: 6,120

It can be difficult for many non-Christians to believe that they’re good enough for God. This was true for two women a team of GO Trip participants met in Peru.

They were sitting on a park bench when the evangelists approached them. After some talking, the women shared that they believed they needed to be good to get into heaven. With tears coming down her face, one of the women said she had recently suffered a stroke and had been praying. But she knew she needed more. With some words of encouragement, the team prayed with her as she accepted Jesus as her Saviour.

With GO Trips, the good work doesn’t stop when the trip ends. Often, the trip creates an evangelistic spark in people’s hearts, and they return home ready to share the gospel. That was the case for Max, who shared: “Thank you all for sharing this life-changing experience. I had the same driver bringing me home as had taken me to the airport. I had previously told him that I was going on a Christian mission but hadn’t taken it any further than that.

“Last night, I was emboldened to ask him where he stood, and like many in our society, it seems that he had received zero Christian teaching. But I was able to share quite a lot about the gospel, and he listened with interest. Hopefully we covered enough to get him thinking, and he was happy to receive a Testament.”

Canada GO Trip

October 29 – November 5, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 18
Gospel Presentations: 68

For many of the Brazilian GO Trip participants who travelled to British Columbia, it was their first time outside their country, and they had quite the shock when they learned how difficult it was to share the gospel in Canada. But were also surprised at how diverse the people are. Over 40% of people in Vancouver are immigrants, and so the team was able to meet people from all over the world while evangelizing within one city.

One of the participants was Ana. She has a huge heart for teenagers—her “lambs” as she calls them—as she mentors and disciples them back home. One evening during an outreach event, Ana met a girl named Sarah. As they spoke over a hot chocolate, she discovered that Sarah is an artist, and she loves doing it because it’s how she helps people. Ana told Sarah she has a good heart.

She was stunned, as though she had never heard these words before. Ana was able to give her the e-mag ‘Who Am I’ card along with the Spark magazine. “Knowing people is more than just ‘knowing’ them—it means to have an interest in their hearts and to give it worth. To look at every heart and see its precious worth.”

Chili GO Trip

November 10-19, 2023

Believers Mobilized: 33
Gospel Presentations: 8,330
Scriptures Shared: 7,850

While visiting a school in Chile, the GO Team handed out Spark magazines and bracelets to the children. They passionately explained the gospel and who Jesus is. Once they finished their presentation, they began to leave. But the teacher ran after them, calling for them to come back.

Sitting at his desk was a young boy, around seven-years-old. The teacher asked him to repeat what he had said for the GO Team. The young boy looked at the bracelet and said, “Jesus loves you.”

Until that moment, that boy had never been able to read. His teachers had all but given up on helping him, but when he began to read the words on his bracelet the teacher couldn’t believe what she was seeing or hearing. How incredible for those to have been the first words he ever read.