Centro de Treinamento Bíblico Izaias Lopes

Back in 2004 we saw two families lose their patriarch a month apart while still in the prime of their ministries. Both were in full time service here in Northeast Brazil. The Lord saw fit that year to take my Uncle Ray Reiner home to be with Him as well as a dear national pastor, Izaias Lopes, who left a wife and two small boys. We worked with Pastor Izaias for many years here in the Valley. Both left families who loved them, sheep who revered them and a legacy that reminds us of them. In July, we inaugurated the Izaias Lopes Biblical Training Center in Juazeiro in partnership with the Cariri Baptist Seminary. Our hope is that the institute will serve for both better equipping our people for service in the church as well as create a springboard for many to go on to seminary. Doug is currently teaching Evangelism and Discipleship. Next semester he will be teaching systematic theology. There are 14 in his class of which five will go on to seminary having already completed the first year of their undergraduate studies with us. Pastor Izaias had plans to bring theological higher learning to our valley. Eleven years after his home going, his vision lives on.