"...'Simon son of John, Do You Love Me?'...'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, Feed My Sheep.'' John 21:16-17 (NIV)

Pete and Jodi Brennan answered to God's call- "Do you Love Me? Then Feed My Sheep." The sheep He was asking them to feed were the poor and needy people of Brazil.

In 1997, Pete and Jodi and their three young children stepped out in faith and left home, relatives, friends, and jobs to move to Jacutinga, Brazil. There they helped another pastor start a church and Pete became the founding first vice-president of the First Baptist Church of Jacutinga. Many people came to know Jesus as their Savior, took discipleship courses, and were baptized. During that time they also ministered to the favelas (slums) in Campinas and São Paulo on a regular basis. Working out of local favela homes the Brennan´s ministered to children, teens, and adults.

In 1999, seeing the tremendous needs the favela people had, the Brennan´s formed a non-profit association, Apascentai Minhas Ovelhas (translated- "Feed My Sheep') who's vision was to reach the poor for Christ.

Purpose Statement

To establish Family Ministry Centers to the poor and spiritually needy in the favelas (slums) of Brazil with the purpose of supplying the spiritual and physical needs necessary for abundant living with Christ.

Strategy

To build Family Ministry Centers in or around favelas providing bible study centers for learning about Christ and for use in ministering to the community. To establish a mission-minded churches outside of the favelas which train, equip and send out volunteers to minister in the favela Ministry Centers.

General Objectives

To build and develop Ministry Centers to reach the entire family. To motivate and excite local churches, businesses, and organizations to become partners in the work both in the favela and at the Associations Headquarters.

In 1999, Pete and Jodi took a giant step toward this vision. Property was purchased outside of the city of São Paulo through a generous donation from their home church, University Baptist Church, Coral Gables, FL. Strategically located between the cities of São Paulo and Campinas it is used as A.M.O´s headquarters and church. The property is made available to pastors, local churches and other organizations that have a heart for the poor of Brazil. Here special events, training, and seminary courses are offered to the volunteers who help with the work in the favelas. Weekly evangelical, chronological and discipleship classes are taught. It also serves as living quarters for missionaries and volunteers and lodging for the network of teams who visit the A.M.O. ministry.