Brazil: Um Novo Amanhecer (UNA)

Um Novo Amanhecer, or UNA for short, means A New Dawn in English. It is a new beginning for many of the kids participating in the UNA programs. 

UNA is located on the outskirts of Sao Paulo. Ex-drug dealers, now Jesus-followers, Josué and Cintia Romano, began UNA in 2013 after they felt the Lord’s calling to minister to the teens in their community. They began with outreach on the streets and then set up a little shack in the only available location over an open sewer. Josué began training the boys in soccer, and Cintia offered art classes and help with homework to the girls. Both of them taught of Jesus’ love and power to change lives. 

Years later, it is apparent that the Lord expanded the project. UNA currently operates out of two houses and has a large team of part-time volunteers. They offer a wide range of classes, including soccer, karate, English, Spanish, Pilates, and other classes as the opportunity arises. A children’s Bible program runs once a week, and there are often evangelistic outreaches into the local communities as well as emergency food distribution. Once a month, there is a praise service at UNA, and a number of the young people are being discipled and are participating in the missionary training project. 

ACTION Brazil’s youngest missionary, Gabriel, offers soccer classes and is involved in evangelism at UNA. Gabriel is a disciple of Josué and Cintia’s love and dedication to the Lord from the early days of UNA.

UNA invites Christians who wish to experience serving the Lord in a slum setting to come as interns and work with the team.  Contact us for more information - https://www.actioninternational.org/contact-us