Lockdown, Lent and a Latin American evangelist

In September 2020 Fabio Vilela from Brazil started working as an evangelist with Chester-le-Street Circuit in Newcastle upon Tyne District. In spite of all the lockdown restrictions since then, he and his wife Aline are making meaningful connections in the local area. In the run up to Lent 40 families with 100 children between them asked to receive a Lent activity pack for children which Fabio and Aline devised.

Fabio and Aline have joined Chester-le-Street Circuit through a programme the Methodist Church in Britain is running in partnership with CIEMAL, the Council of Evangelical Latin American and Caribbean Methodist churches. Newcastle upon Tyne District agreed to pilot the programme and in early 2019 Elaine Lindridge, the District’s Evangelism Enabler, began exploring possibilities. For some time Chester-le-Street Circuit had wanted do some mission work on the Barley Mow estate, an area with very little church presence. Superintendent Revd Ian Kent and the Circuit leadership team were enthusiastic about welcoming a CIEMAL evangelist, and a few months later CIEMAL proposed Fabio. This was in summer 2019 when no one anticipated it would mean starting church-planting work in lockdown.

Fabio and Aline, along with their 3-year-old daughter Angelica, (pictured above) moved onto the Barley Mow estate just a couple of weeks before the north-east of England was hit by Covid-19 second wave restrictions. Nevertheless, they immediately started to make connections on the estate, beginning with a couple of people associated with the Circuit, one of whom works in the local primary school. Then with Angelica starting nursery there, they developed further links. Fabio tried various other ways to connect with the community, including setting up a Facebook page and offering support to self-isolating neighbours. There was little interest until he and Aline offered activity packs for children during lockdown which were requested by the parents of 12 children. Encouraged by this response, Fabio asked if the school would promote Lent activity packs on their behalf and 40 families signed up. (See above the packs lined up and ready to go!)

Aline and Fabio developed the activities, with others helping with proof-reading and delivery. A local branch of Morrisons donated pancake mix and toppings to be included in the packs, which were delivered in time for Shrove Tuesday. Other activities include creating a prayer space at home and encouragements to build good and “helping” habits into daily life. The messages are explicitly Christian leading up to a short explanation of Easter. Fabio is very aware that God has been with them in this venture:  

"Being in Barley Mow to plant a church in a context so different to what I was used to has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. At first the challenge felt like facing a great giant. However, God has shown his grace in each connection we have been making. In addition He has provided a great family in the Circuit and District who have welcomed us and been a sign of God’s love and care for us"

Click here to read and download the Lent Activity pack.

Please keep Fabio, Aline and Angelica in your prayers as they continue in God's mission with the Chester-le-Street Circuit.

To find out more about the CIEMAL Evangelists programme please contact Global Relationships at gr.admin@methodistchurch.org.uk