Who are we at Amazon Vision Ministries
The Mission
The mission of Amazon Vision Ministries is to carry the Hope of Christ to the Ribeirinho People of the Amazon River Basin
AVM provides resources and organizes workers, mostly short-term volunteers, to reach out to the isolated villages located in this vast region. The volunteers minister to spiritual and physical needs of the people from a floating base of operations, the river boat, Marco Polo. The scope of these ministries include medical and dental care, distribution of certain medicines, fresh water well drilling, clothing distribution, evangelism, discipleship, leadership development training, church planting, children's Bible education, and construction teams.
AVM maintains partnerships for this river ministry with American and Brazilian organizations including the Florida Baptist Convention, The International Mission Board, The Amazonas Baptist Convention, The Brazilian Baptist Convention, and Asas de Socorro.
The Challenge
In just a few short years, Amazon Vision Ministries has gone from concept to reality as a missionary effort to reach hundreds upon thousands of souls living throughout the Amazon River basin.
AVM organizes workers, mostly short-term volunteers, to reach out to the people located in the estimated 33,000 villages which make up the region. Theses committed volunteers provide medical and dental care along with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Since AVM’s inception, there have been over 23,000 recorded decisions for Christ, 15 new churches started, and five new church buildings constructed. AVM is currently engaged in raising funds necessary to support new opportunities and to carry on this vital work
The ministries are conducted from a floating base of operations, the river boat. In order to be more efficient and effective, AVM is building a larger boat to serve as their base of operations. The Marco Polo II will accommodate 38 volunteers and crew, have an on board surgical suite, and a pharmacy with storage space for medications. Nearly 100 American and Brazilian volunteer doctors and nurses have attended to the medical and dental needs of over 6,000 people. To complete the construction of the boat, and additional $600,000 is needed.
A well drilling rig is being prepared for use in drilling for fresh water sources to improve hygiene. Plans include providing 20 - 25 wells per year as a means of improving sanitation and health for literally thousands of Ribeirinhos who are in need of clean water. One hundred seventy-five thousand dollars is required to make this ministry operational for the next twelve months.
Additional funds are being sought to provide for endowment, general operating expenses, and a reserve fund. The total amount being sought is 1.5 million dollars.