Last year, when Dave Santos began a shepherding ministry for Brazilian pastors in the São Paulo area, his goal was to help them avoid burnout, a problem as common in Brazil as in the US. To Dave’s surprise—and great joy—the group of 12 pastors have not only avoided burnout, but they have also developed profoundly strong relationships with one another. 

In Brazil’s machismo culture, even Christian men find it very difficult to open up about their problems. Dave knew that his weekly mentoring meetings would have greater impact if the men could let go of pretenses. So he took the lead by sharing his own struggles. In the safety of Dave’s honesty and love for the men, the pastors began opening up. One even broke down and cried as he shared a struggle he’d kept bottled up inside. 

The effect has been iron sharpening iron, and the men have been forged into an iron-strong group, a band of brothers dedicated to helping each other—and their churches—through thick and thin. One of the churches went through hard times. Just as it was starting to rebound, its pastor fell off a roof and died. Dave’s group quickly rallied around the church. All of the pastors’ churches are helping with pulpit supply, and they are contributing labor and a monthly offering to help the congregation build its parsonage. They are united in helping the church move forward to revitalize its neighborhood. 

Dave’s missionary coworker Nathan Fray is excited about the pastors’ increased unity, passion, and purpose. As Nathan and his wife, Rebecca, plan their next church plant, they want to have the Brazilian pastors take the lead and plant the new church as a team. The Frays will stay in the background, offering guidance and help as needed. It’s a new and exciting cooperative approach that will train the pastors in how to start daughter churches, all the while making their own churches even stronger.