Worth Baptist Church

Harold Ralph and LÍlian Gilmer, Missionaries to Brazil

Being born, raised, saved (at age five), and baptized in Brazil, I simply went home when I returned to Brazil as a missionary. I surrendered for the ministry at age nine and specifically for missions ten years later.

As of March 2002 (after a one-year internship with my father, Dr. Thomas L. Gilmer, forty-year veteran missionary to Brazil), I am serving through Mt. Abarim Baptist Evangelistic Association, Arlington, Texas, sent out by Worth Baptist Church, Ft. Worth.

In 2005 I was wed to Lílian Rocha, a Brazilian gem of infinite value, and together we set out to serve the Lord. If we were to summarize the ministry God has given us in two words, it would be “Team Work.” Without it, this ministry would be impossible. Please prayerfully consider being our partner in this ministry. Prayer is vital.

By God’s grace I was born in a Christian home and raised in Church. At five years of age I accepted Christ as my personal Savior.

During my teen years I had much contact with American missionaries. Rev. Chuck Mathews, who is now with the lord, baptized me.

In 2001, while studying linguistics in college, God in His infinite mercy made me understand that my home is in Heaven and that my heart life as a sweet savor to Jesus, and to fix my eyes on Him, Who is my Savior.

When God places a desire in our hearts, He also opens the doors and directs our paths to fulfill His will. I feel that, ever since I was little, God was molding me to be a missionary wife. I praise the Lord that He has chosen me to work in His harvest, among the Brazilian people.

The printed Word is foundational to the Church and is vital for effective missionary work. For this reason we are actively involved in the printing and distribution of the Word of God in Brazil.

The Lord has given me the opportunity to serve on the board of directors of the Trinitarian Bible Society of Brazil, where I met my dear wife, Lílian, who has served as the secretary for eight years.

We have the joy of directly seeing over 100,000 copies of the Scriptures being printed and distributed yearly across all of Brazil. Through special partnerships that the Lord has given us, the total number of Bibles and New Testaments distributed reach almost seven million copies a year.

Getting new churches underway in co-operation with national pastors and missionaries is a pressing need in a city of almost fourteen million people. Why tem work? When Jesus sent out His disciples, He sent them out two by two. The Apostle Paul was most effective when working with others, rather than alone. We find this true in our personal experience.

God has given us a wonderful Church planting Team to establish Bible-believing Churches in Brazil. Our team leader, Missionary Sean Lunday, is a man of great vision. Igreja Batista Nova Vida (New life Baptist Church) is being established as a model Church, from which others will be established. Property has already been donated for the next church, and a congregation in one of São Paulo’s largest slums has come under our care. Seeing people saved, baptized, discipled and discipling others, is what this ministry is all about.

Reaching children is very closed to the heart of God. By molding young hearts you are molding the Church of tomorrow.

Igreja Batista Nova Vida was actually started through our children’s ministry – the soccer school. Over two thousand boys heard the Gospel and many accepted Christ as their personal Savior.

God has given me the opportunity to serve as the Children’s Pastor at Igreja batista Nova Vida, where we have seen many children saved. Lílian is actively involved in teaching the children in the Sunday school department. Our purpose as missionaries is not simply to do the job, but to train others for the task – and that is what we seek to do.

Please prayerfully consider partnering with us in this ministry.