Jeferson Alvarenga

Aquarius Presbyterian Church | São José de Campos, Brazil

Tell us about your family.

I have been married to Izabella for ten years. Our marriage has been one of the greatest gifts of my life, and we have grown together through different seasons. We have one daughter, Sofia, who is one and a half years old.

As a family, we enjoy spending time together sharing meals, traveling when possible, and living meaningful experiences that strengthen our bond. We also value serving together in the church and cultivating a home environment centered on faith, learning, and hospitality. For us, family is not just a private sphere but a core part of our calling and ministry.

How have you seen God working in your family?

We have seen God shaping our family through seasons of growth, responsibility, and dependence on Him. He has deepened our unity as a couple and taught us patience and trust as new parents. Through small daily rhythms -- prayer, shared meals, and serving together in church -- He is forming our home into a place of grace and discipleship. We see His faithfulness in sustaining our marriage and giving us joy in raising our daughter.

How have you seen God working in your life?

God has been deepening my spiritual life as I grow older, teaching me to value character over achievement and faithfulness over visibility. With maturity has come a clearer awareness of my limitations and a greater dependence on His grace. Fatherhood, in particular, has profoundly shaped my heart—slowing me down, refining my priorities, and exposing both my weaknesses and my need for daily reliance on Christ. Through ministry and family life, Jesus is teaching me humility, patience, and spiritual depth.

How have you seen God working in your church?

God is forming a spiritually mature and mission-oriented community. We are seeing new families connect, leaders being developed, and a growing culture of discipleship. There is increasing unity and clarity of purpose as we prepare for greater organizational responsibility. The congregation is embracing both theological depth and practical engagement with the city, and we sense the Lord strengthening us for long-term gospel impact.

What is your church’s mission/vision?

Our mission is expressed through the three pillars of Spirituality, Community, and Impact:

• To experience in the Triune God the answers to our deepest longings and the hope for our struggles.

• To invest intentionally in becoming a welcoming, authentic, and healing community.

• To create intentional impact in people’s lives and in our city through the power of the Gospel. Our vision is to reach and impact the Aquarius neighborhood and surrounding region with the Gospel—embodied in our way of life and proclaimed in our message.

How can we be praying for you?

1. Pray for wisdom and endurance as I balance family life, pastoral ministry, and leadership responsibilities.

2. Pray for spiritual depth and unity in our church as we grow and take new steps of maturity.

3. Pray for clarity and fruitfulness in developing strategic partnerships that strengthen theological education and gospel work in Brazil.

To send Jeferson a note of encouragement, write to HelloCP@spanishriver.com.