Francisco and Wanice Santos serve with their children, Ana Beatriz and Apolo, proclaiming the Gospel, discipling believers, training local leaders, and planting Baptist churches in Esperantinópolis and surrounding communities.
Missionary Biography
Serving Christ in Maranhão, Brazil
Francisco Santos, his wife Wanice, and their children, Ana Beatriz and Apolo, serve as missionaries in Maranhão, Brazil, especially in Esperantinópolis and the surrounding communities.
Francisco came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of thirteen. God soon placed in his heart a deep burden for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting, leading him to seminary, pastoral preparation, and ordination. By God's grace, he has now served for more than sixteen years as an ordained pastor.
The Santos family's ministry is centered on making Christ known through house-to-house evangelism, street preaching, discipleship, leadership training, and the planting and strengthening of Baptist congregations faithful to God's Word.
They also reach the next generation through soccer outreach, building relationships with children, teenagers, and young people while teaching biblical truth and sharing the hope of the Gospel with families.
Over the years, the Lord has given lasting fruit: a congregation planted nineteen years ago still serving Christ, two congregations revitalized in Esperantinópolis, two additional congregations planted and functioning well, and a new church plant being prayerfully prepared in a nearby city.
The opportunities are great and the needs are real: a physical space for youth soccer outreach, trained local leaders, and additional sound systems so evangelistic teams can preach weekly in multiple locations.
Francisco and Wanice desire long-term partnership with churches and believers in the United States through prayer, encouragement, financial support, and mission visits to see the work firsthand and share in the joy of what God is doing in Brazil.
As the Lord Jesus said:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Matthew 9:37, ESV
The Santos family believes that the harvest in Maranhão is ready, and they are asking God to raise up faithful partners who will stand with them for the advance of the Gospel in Brazil.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19, ESV
Ministry in Brazil
The ministry combines faithful Gospel proclamation with practical relationships in homes, schools, streets, neighborhoods, villages, and the gathered life of local churches.
Sports Evangelism Photo
Twice a week, children and teenagers gather for games, fellowship, and the preaching of the Gospel. Before the games begin and again during halftime, everyone sits in the middle of the court to hear a clear Gospel message.
Neighborhood Outreach Photo
During outreach days, ministry teams go door to door sharing the Gospel with families and individuals. The day often concludes with an evening service in that neighborhood or community where the Word of God is preached publicly.
Bible Day Photo
Each year, the ministry holds a public Bible reading in connection with Bible Day, celebrated on the second Sunday of December, encouraging people to read the Scriptures and honor the Bible as the spiritual guide for Christians.
Village Evangelism Photo
With a team and a sound system, the ministry preaches the Word of God in city streets and nearby villages, distributes Gospel tracts, and helps people take the message of Christ home with them.
Food Assistance Photo
Through designated donations, basic food items and other forms of practical assistance are provided to families facing difficult circumstances, always with the goal of pointing them to Christ.
Mission Trip Photo
Partner churches from the United States serve alongside the ministry through evangelism in schools, colleges, streets, homes, satellite congregations, and other Gospel-centered opportunities.
Mission Trips and Partnerships
These photos show several moments lived by a caravan of twelve missionaries from First Baptist Church in Gordon, Texas, where Albert Oliveira serves as senior pastor. The mission team was led by Pastor Patrick. During their time in Brazil, these brothers and sisters experienced the day-to-day life of a missionary on the field, serving shoulder to shoulder with local believers and seeing the Gospel work up close.
Throughout the trip, the FBC Gordon team served in schools, colleges, on the streets, from door to door, in homes, at the mayor's home, and in the satellite churches that have been planted. These moments were more than scheduled activities; they were opportunities for the visiting church to understand the missionary burden, the spiritual needs of the region, and the joy of serving Christ in Brazil.
We are thankful for churches that do more than send support from a distance. When a partner church comes to the field, they see the people, pray in the places where the work is happening, encourage the believers, and return home able to testify of what God is doing among the people of Maranhão.
Team 6 Photo
Team 6
About eight years ago, God brought together a fruitful partnership known as Team 6. Through this ministry partnership, the team has taken part in mission trips throughout Maranhão and Piauí, serving through evangelism, church construction, and mercy ministry among families in difficult circumstances.
God used Brothers Lee Wilson and David Middleton to help begin this partnership. Pastor Jó, Missionary Sandra, and Brother Mateus are also important parts of the work. Brother Mateus serves as one of the interpreters alongside Francisco during mission trips.
Talk about bringing a team to BrazilCurrent Ministry Needs
Sustainable Gospel work requires prayer, faithful partners, and practical resources that help the ministry continue without stopping halfway.
A physical space is needed to continue working with preteens, teenagers, and young people through soccer outreach, Gospel preaching, and discipleship.
At least two additional high-quality sound systems are needed so three evangelistic teams can serve every week in different locations.
We are praying for faithful partners to help plant a Baptist church in São Raimundo do Doca Bezerra, moving carefully so the work can begin and continue for the long term.
Monthly partnership strengthens the work already established, expands evangelistic outreach, trains leaders, reaches young people, and helps plant new churches.
Field Updates
A partner church team served alongside the work through evangelism in schools, colleges, streets, homes, the mayor's home, and the satellite churches planted through the ministry.
A previous church-planting effort there came to a halt because of a lack of partnership. We are praying for the Lord to provide the right partners, timing, and resources.
Food distribution helps meet urgent needs while creating opportunities for prayer, follow-up, pastoral care, and the faithful presentation of the Gospel.
Devotionals
This section is prepared for future devotional posts that encourage believers, point readers to Christ, and connect the missionary life to the Word of God.
A devotional reflection on seeing the mission field with the compassion of Christ and praying for more laborers.
A reminder that Gospel proclamation requires faithful senders, willing workers, and churches committed to the Great Commission.
A meditation on telling the nations of the glory of God and the good news of His salvation.
Pray With Us
These passages are especially meaningful for churches and believers who pray for missions, send missionaries, and labor for the Gospel among the nations.
Give
All financial gifts for this ministry are received through Modern Day Missions, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. You may give a one-time gift or become a monthly partner through the secure giving page.
Gifts may be tax-deductible according to applicable U.S. tax rules. Please consult your tax advisor for personal guidance.
Contact
Use this form for church invitations, mission trip questions, prayer updates, and ministry conversations. Online submissions are received through the website's secure form service.
