1. The Brazilian Protestant church has more than tripled in size over the past 30 years.

2. However, this growth has not been uniform throughout all regions of the country.

3. We currently estimate that approximately 17 % of the population of Brazil identifies itself as Protestant. Percent Protestant by Geographical Region 1980 -- 2002 Brazil Sepal Research 2002 Source: IBGE – Demographic Census

4. Due to historic nominalism, the Southern region of Brazil demonstrates the slowest church growth.

5. However, we praise God that in recent decades, the church as a whole has grown at 3 to 4 times the rate of the general population. Protestant Growth Rate by Region 1980 -- 2000 Brazil Sepal Research 2002 Source: IBGE – Demographic Census

6. The Northeast is clearly Brazil’s neediest region.

7. While 30% of the inhabitants in some sections of the country identify themselves as Protestants, most of the Northeast region is less than 10% Protestant.

8. The needs of the Northeast are not only spiritual, but social and economic as well.

9. Please pray especially for the draught stricken interior of the Northeast called the Sertão.

10. The North (Amazon) Region presents the greatest geographical challenge, with over 36,000 remote river villages still without churches.

11. Half of Brazil’s Indian tribes also remain unreached. 113 8 121 No Protestant Missionary Presence Tribes with a church and autochthonous leadership Work in progress The 258 Brazilian Indian Tribes and the Advance of the Gospel TR-503 Source: AMTB (indigenous Database) Sepal (Tel: 11-5523-2544) Feb//2002 16 Situation unknown

12. Case studies from throughout Brazil demonstrate the need for at least 125,000 new churches to be planted in the first decade of the 21 st Century.