Maria Jose Da Silva

Maria José da Silva (Zezé) coordinates the Fazenda Emanuel ministry, in Brazil. Fazenda Emanuel is a community center ministry, located in the rural area of the province of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and it is focused on prevention. The purpose of this ministry is to reach poor children and their families, making the Word of God known, through relevant and creative Bible teaching. 

This ministry was created to help poor children, whose parents are semi or illiterate. The vision is to prepare the kids for the future, whether they stay in the countryside or move to the city. The kids receive homework help, tutoring, sports, English lessons, music, taekwon-do, ballet, and camps. 

Children and adolescents learn to work together, make choices/decisions, take responsibility, develop creative skills, learn to become more independent, more confident and develop their self-esteem. The ministry offers opportunities for social, academic, physical, emotional and spiritual development of kids and adolescents; discipleship and spiritual formation of leaders. 

Zeze has studied pedagogy and has vast experience in working with children and adolescents in poor communities.

The ministry also offers the services of a doctor, a dentist, and a literacy course for adults, in partnership with the local government.