Ministry Focus
Pastor Aurelino Cruz and family came to the United States from Brazil in 2001 to work in New Bedford, Massachusetts, beginning a church plant for the First Baptist Church of Great New Bedford. In 2004, with Missions Door, they began a new step being a church planting in Rhode Island among the ethnic community of Brazilians, Portuguese and Cape Verdeans, planting 3 churches (2004 East Providence/ 2008 Newport – RI . Since 2015 Aurelino had been working as a Church networker for Missions Door Northeast (International Minister) among Ecuadorians Quechuas immigrants in NY. Since 2020, during Pandemia, start planting a Brazilian/American church (New Covenant Baptist Church – Boston), training new boards, developing ministries in whole levels. Aurelino still member at Barrington Baptist Church/RI – where he had been leading Missions trip to Honduras and inside USA, he had been working in two areas: Spring Valley, Albany – NY, among Spanish speaking, also planting Church in Boston - MA, among Brazilians community.
Faith Story
Pastor Aurelino and Isabel grew up in the country of Minas Gerais in Brazil, but in different towns.
Aurelino was evangelized by Campus Crusade in the college where he accepted Jesus and was baptized in 1990. He became a member of Missionary Baptist Church in the town of Ipatinga – MG Brazil. The church encouraged him to attend the Baptist Seminary where he graduated with a bachelor’s in Theology degree in 1996. The church also ordained him in 1998.
Isabel, after graduating as a pharmacist from Federal University in 1990, became a Christian at Missionary Baptist Church and got involved in a lot different ministries (children and families). The Cruzes focus their lives on missions, and after working in two churches as an associate pastor, Aurelino moved his family to the U.S. where he’s been planting churches and Church Networker International Minister for Missions Door.
The entire family are members of Barrington Baptist Church, Rhode Island.
WAYS TO SUPPORT
Aurelino and Isabel by making a financial donation using a Credit Card or by Direct Debit (ACH).
Learn more about where this ministry happens
In colorful communities and along scenic highways, diverse people and landscapes span coast to coast
Iconic American traditions include Thanksgiving dinner, jazz music and the Super Bowl. They meld with eclectic examples of multicultural heritage: numerous local Chinatowns, family-owned taquerias and even cowboy boots, which originated among the nomadic Huns of eastern Europe.
The nation's landscape shows just as many contrasts — sandy beaches and rocky coastlines, open plains and vast deserts, rugged mountains and winding canyons, and abundant rivers and lakes.
The ideals of life and liberty that founded the United States have made the country one of the world's most prosperous, though not without dark chapters and present troubles. Crime, discrimination and ethics violations make regular headlines, and many people live below the national poverty level.
Families view education as essential to the pursuit of happiness, if not also a path to wealth and power for the most ambitious. Yet Americans also demonstrate a charitable spirit of generosity toward neighbors and nations in need.
Freedom of religion grants opportunity for all faiths, but Christianity holds particular influence in country's history and daily life.
Your participation with Missions Door supports ministry in the United States among college students, including many international students, in collaboration local churches. It also enables social outreach, church planting and leadership development in a wide variety of communities — among Native Americans and other cultural groups, and in urban and suburban settings where growing and changing demographics create new opportunities for the Gospel.
Cultural Snapshot
Aside from the Native American, Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan populations, nearly all Americans and their ancestors immigrated to the United States.
Faith Fact
In a 2013 survey, 56% of Americans said that religion played a "very important role in their lives” — a larger number than any other wealthy nation.
Country Profile
Population: 320 million
Major Religions: 47% Protestant, 23% unaffiliated, 21% Catholic, 6% other
Languages: 82% English, 11% Spanish, various others
Literacy: 99%
Poverty: 16%
Ministry service area:
City
Ministry location:
, United States