MDiv Students Prepare for Mission Experience in the Brazilian Amazon

By: Amy Rhodes

June 2026

A group of Master of Divinity (MDiv) students from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University will soon embark on a unique mission experience in the Brazilian Amazon. The trip, scheduled for June 7–21, is part of the academic requirements for students enrolled in summer courses focused on cross-cultural mission, evangelism, Christian history, family and relationships, and ministry to human needs.
After spending the first term of the summer studying these subjects in the classroom, students will now have the opportunity to put theory into practice by serving communities located along the rivers of the Amazon region. Many of these communities face challenges related to access to healthcare and other essential services. In addition, some residents have had limited opportunities to learn about the gospel and the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The primary goal of the mission trip is to demonstrate Christ’s love through both practical service and spiritual ministry. Students will participate in community outreach activities, including church and school improvement projects, home visitations, and nightly evangelistic meetings throughout their stay. By serving side by side with local residents, participants hope to build meaningful relationships while sharing the message of God’s love and hope.
The team will travel through the Amazon aboard two riverboats, experiencing a lifestyle very different from what most are accustomed to. With little or no internet access, students will have greater opportunities for fellowship, teamwork, reflection, and spiritual growth. Surrounded by the beauty of the Amazon rainforest, its unique rivers, and remarkable wildlife, participants will also gain a deeper appreciation for God’s creation and the diversity of the people He loves.
For many students, this trip represents much more than an academic requirement. It is an opportunity to experience firsthand the realities of cross-cultural ministry and to develop practical skills that will help prepare them for future service around the world.
For Caundee, student of the master’s in divinity, the Amazon mission trip is an opportunity to participate in God’s mission in a tangible and transformative way. Inspired by Christ’s call to make disciples of all nations, she believes mission involves not only sharing the gospel through words but also demonstrating God’s love through service, compassion, and meaningful relationships.
Uarlisson Machado is also student do the MDiv program and is serving as the liaison between the parties involved in this mission. He explained that his is a joint mission involving the Andrews Seminary and the Northwest Institute of Mission; the team will include 30 students, two staff members, and three seminary professors—Dr. Oriz, Dr. Wagner Kuhn, and Dr. O'Reggio—along with Dr. O'Reggio’s wife, a leading pediatrician at the Adventist hospital in New York. We are heading to a region called Purupuru, located near several indigenous communities, where we will engage in missionary activities day and night for ten days. This is a holistic mission covering various areas of service—ranging from educational activities for children to healthcare and evangelism—and it will undoubtedly be a blessing both to the community receiving the students and to the students themselves as they serve and share the love of Jesus.

A Word from Seminary Leadership
Pastor Fernando Ortiz, director of the Brazil Amazon Study Tour and coordinator of the MDiv program, believes that experiences like this are essential to ministerial formation. As he often reminds students, “Your time in the Amazon is a gift, one that will remain with you for years to come and one whose impact may reach into eternity.”
Through service, evangelism, and immersion in a different cultural context, the Seminary seeks to help students connect classroom learning with real-world ministry and develop a lifelong commitment to God's mission. May God bless this team as they seek to put faith into action and share the love of Christ in one of the most unique regions of the world.
We also encourage you to follow the Seminary’s social media channels during the trip to see updates, photos, testimonies, and highlights from this life-changing mission experience in the Amazon.

Instagram: seminary_andrewsuniversity

Facebook: seminary_andrewsuniversity