Shawn and Donna Alexander

The first two conversations that Donna and I ever had were about missions. Two weeks prior to those conversations Donna had surrendered to go to the mission field through a message at the Wilds Christian Camp by Ron Comfort. That was the summer of 1984. Donna and I married in June of 1985 and knew then we were headed to the mission field. From 1985 through 1986 the Lord used various sermons and people to guide our hearts toward the country of Brazil. Arriving in the spring of 1988 in São Paulo we began our study of the Portuguese language. It was difficult at times but by God’s sustaining grace we with time became fluent in the language. God was kind to also give us a love for the people and their culture.

In the fall of 1989 we moved to the city of Sorocaba and began New Life Baptist Church alongside my brother Ed and his wife Jan. Seven years later that church was handed over to a Brazilian pastor and to the people that had come to Christ. In 1997 we began the construction of Calvary Baptist Church. This church grew rapidly and in 2003 one of our seminary grads from the previous church arrived to be the pastor of Calvary. In 2001 Hope Baptist was started with the help of a national missionary that was saved in the New Life Baptist Church through the preaching of Evangelist Steve Pettit. Within 8 years this ministry was pastored by a graduate of our seminary. A few years later (2011) the plans for Victory Baptist Church were initiated. We were thrilled when a young man called into ministry from our second church plant came to be the pastor of this church in 2018.

Over the years over 35 young people studied at our seminary from the churches in Sorocaba. Today many of them are serving in local ministries as pastors or church planters. Since prior to arrival in Brazil in 1988 Donna and I have supported students at the Bible College every year since that time. God has used these Brazilians to serve Him after our departure from Brazil. In 2020 we arrived in the States for our normal furlough and it was during this time God stirred our hearts for another ministry.

Today we serve at Furman University in Travelers Rest, SC reaching students with the gospel and encouraging believers through our weekly Bible study on campus. We have seen the Lord work in the lives of these students in such a marvelous way. It has become clear to us that God used our 35 years working among the Brazilian youth and college age to prepare us for our present ministry. We are truly grateful that God was willing to choose weak vessels to be used for His purposes in reaching the lost, establishing churches and raising up young men and women to serve Him with their lives.