It was in May of 1998 that Cal Clark and Dan Branda started a search for another city to start a new work. The work at New Covenant Church in Campinas had reached a stage where they could, in good faith, head out to a nearby city to begin a new church. The Sao Paulo Field Council gave them permission to survey cities in the Sao Paulo state. They started out in cities as close as fifteen minutes away and went to cities as far away as twelve hours. In all nine cities were surveyed.

Bauru, in the center of the state of Sao Paulo, was among the last three cities surveyed. They noticed important aspects of Bauru’s future in their survey results. Number one was the prognosis that it would double in size in the next ten years. Also taken into account was the location of the city in regards to the state, and the fact that although there were Baptist churches in the city, none of them exhibited the family orientated, informal aspects in which they were interested.

During this time, while attending a doctoral defense at UNICAMP (University in Campinas), Dan sat next to a young man who interestingly enough was from Bauru. Guto (Caesar Augusto) Vaninni talked animatedly about his city, and his desire to see missionaries come to evangelize his town. In July, Cal and Dan visited Bauru. Guto and his wifeVanice, were able to show them around the city. Later, they returned with their wives to make a visit, and Guto and Vanice again willingly showed them around their town.

As individuals, as couples, and later as a team the two couples decided that Bauru was the place God wanted them to go to start their new work. The Brandas left for their furlough in December of 1998 with plans to return to Bauru with the Clarks.

However, during the time they were on furlough Clarks rethought their decision and decided that they wanted to stay in Campinas for a while. Brandas then sought advice from their administrator with ABWE. They wondered about approaching Bill and Sue Spoelhof who were ready for furlough. Given permission, they approached the Spoelhofs in June of 1999, soon after they arrived in the states. The same weekend that they spoke to the Spoelhofs, they also encountered Dave and Val Smallman at a wedding. The Smallmans had recently been appointed by ABWE to Brazil. They and their teammates, Tim and Andrea Blazer, were looking toward another area in Brazil, but when asked to consider joining the team going to Bauru, they agreed to prayerfully consider the option.

During a summer of many meetings, phone calls, much prayer the four couples considered the area of Bauru. In August of that summer the Spoelhofs had made up their minds to join the Brandas. The Smallmans and Blazers soon became part of the team.

On June 22, 2000, Dan and Debbie Branda arrived in Bauru. Guto and Vanice were there to help them find a house and settle in before the next couple arrived. Tim and Andrea Blazer arrived on August 2 and they had 6 weeks to settle in before the Spoelhofs arrived on September 15. The only ones who had furniture in their house at that time were the Brandas since they had moved things from their house in Campinas. The other two couples waited for another 4 weeks for a container shipped from Grand Rapids, MI, to be released from customs.

Guto and Vanice Vannini have been an invaluable resource from the beginning. Not only did they know the city, and were able to help with locating needed items. Guto had a Bible study already started on the USC (Sacred Heart University) campus that Dan and Bill could become involved in and start to make connections in the city. Making friendships and connections with people who we came in contact with on a day-to-day basis was the beginning of the work. Guto and Vanice had a wide base of friendships and contacts through their computer programming business. They were able to introduce the newcomers to many people they would otherwise not have known for many years.

On December 4 the Smallman family arrived in Bauru. They soon found a house to live in, but needed to wait 4 months for their furniture to be released by customs officials. However, they have made a rapid adjustment, and began to be involved in the work in the city.

A home Bible study was started in the Brandas home in November of 2000. There were 9 people at the first study. Since then, it has grown in numbers and at least 3 have been saved as a result.

After the first of the New Year, Bill and Dan decided it was time to begin looking for a place to rent to begin services. They looked at about 14 locations, and kept coming back to an upstairs storefront that seemed to be ideal for the needs they had. In March, they signed the contract for the new Alfa Center. Located on Getulio Vargas Avenue, it is in an ideal site for visibility and exposure. The area around the Center is an upscale shopping district. With the improvements made in the building since renting it, it is a very attractive location.

On April 21, a large group came from the New Covenant church in Campinas for a survey of our city. We had a form to follow asking questions such as what people were looking for in a church, and if they found such a church would they attend it. Almost 800 people were surveyed in that one day. The results have been a real help to us.

The first service was held on May 20th. The celebration in Portuguese was scheduled for 5:30 pm. On the first Sunday of services, over 30 were there to worship in the new building. After that first celebration, numbers dropped and then started an upswing until at this writing there is an average attendance of fifty each service. On July 1st, an innovative English Bible Hour was started on Sunday mornings. The Smallmans and the Blazers coordinate this program. Since they had to go through language training, these English services were a good service outreach for them and also met a need in the community where there are many studying English. Many people have come to the service as a novelty since it’s in English and stay to hear the word preached.

In March, a new program was begun in the Spoelhof home and later transferred to the Center. Sue Spoelhof had been trained as an English as a Second Language teacher in the states and decided to carry the training to Bauru as a means of meeting and getting to know people and hopefully getting them involved in the church. In January, short-termer Jennifer Gossel (Debbie Branda’s sister) arrived to help in this ministry. Since classes were started in March, they have had as many as nineteen students attending the private lessons. They have been excited to use the Bible based material to reach into their students lives, and even have them coming to the services as a result of this useful outreach.

There have been special events for Sweetheart’s Day, an outreach for Friends’ Day and many other events are planned to draw people to our services and reach them for Christ.