What does it mean to follow Christ in the day-to-day realities of life? This question lies at the heart of a new partnership between the Relay Trust (RT), Estímulo, and the Anglican Church in Brazil (ACB). Through the leadership of the church, a new initiative is now underway in Brazil that brings together the business mentoring expertise of Estímulo, the biblical formation of the ACB, and the coordinating support of Relay Trust. The aim is simple, yet profound in helping people flourish both spiritually and economically.
Estímulo, a non-profit civil association based in São Paulo, provides financial support, mentoring, and training for small and medium-sized enterprises. Recognised as a case study at Harvard University and a partner with Yale University, it has become a national success, working with established organisations to deliver entrepreneurial training to thousands of people from diverse backgrounds. Among its recent initiatives is the Amazon Fund, which seeks to equip communities in the Amazon Forest, one of Brazil’s most challenging regions, with business skills and economic resilience.
The Anglican Church in Brazil provides the other side of the foundation by grounding the programme in Scripture. Through local churches, participants will explore biblical teachings on work, stewardship, and community life. It’s not about prosperity as the world defines it. It’s not the false promise of the prosperity gospel, which twists the words of Christ into a pursuit of wealth. It’s about following the real Jesus, who came to set captives free, including from poverty, through love, justice, and truth. Supporting this kind of freedom requires a different kind of thinking. It calls for strategic investment through the Church, not just in its leaders, but in the whole congregation. Church leaders are there to disciple and guide. But it is the people, the families, the workers, the entrepreneurs, who carry the light of Christ into daily life. Businesspeople need different skills than clergy, but both are part of the same body. When each is equipped, the Church grows strong.
The Relay Trust serves as the bridge, trying to connect church and business, theology and practice. Our role is to make sure this work remains both transparent and sustainable. We are not simply funding a project. We are helping to lay a foundation for a self-sustaining, Gospel-shaped community.
Daniel Magagnin, our Chief Relationship Officer, was in Brazil in early September to strengthen this very connection. As a Brazilian himself, Daniel already has a strong and trusted relationship with the Anglican Church in Brazil. He also had the opportunity to spent time at Christ Church in Rio, meeting the community there. However, the heart of his trip was to facilitate the link between Relay Trust, ACB, and Estímulo, first in São Paulo, and then in Recife. He was joined by Daniel Mulrine, a member of our Lusophone support team, whose presence reinforced the deepening collaboration between our organisations. They were warmly received by Archbishop Miguel Uchôa, Primate of the ACB, whose leadership has been instrumental in moving this initiative forward. Archbishop Miguel also took part in the meetings, affirming the Church’s commitment to seeing both spiritual and economic transformation.
This model has great potential, and the aspiration is for the programme to move into our partner churches in Africa, once lessons are learnt in Brazil. On that continent many churches long to be financially independent. But for this to happen, congregations must be equipped not only to serve, but also to give, biblically and generously. That requires training, vision, and a long-term commitment to discipleship. This is not just a project. It’s a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God can look like when lived out through the local church. A place where men and women are equipped to serve Christ in the marketplace, in their homes, and in their communities.
Please pray for this new initiative, for wisdom, faith, and lasting impact. And pray especially for the local leaders in Brazil who will carry it forward. May this work bear much fruit, not only in business, but in lives transformed by the Gospel.
