Chris, Melody and family
IMB Missionaries Chris and Melody Julian work in one of the most dangerous jungles in Brazil – the concrete jungle of the city of São Paulo. As part of their ministry in the mega city they have started a house church with an unusual name, Zoe Marajoara. Chris explains the significance of the name, “Zoe is Greek for ‘abundant life.’ We take it from John 10:10. Marajoara is [the name of] our neighborhood.”
Recently, “Zoe,” as it is affectionately called, started a new outreach ministry called “Zoe Ama São Paulo” (Zoe Loves São Paulo). One part of that ministry is a bit unorthodox. Each Monday Zoe heads downtown to Avenida Paulista, the “Wall Street of Brazil,” where church members give out free hugs. They get some amazing reactions; most accept the hug, while others flat refuse. Some think ”Zoe” wants something in return.
“This free hug thing that God seems to be having fun with – Well, it’s gettin’ pretty wild.”
A U.S. volunteer shares a hug
During this weeks “hug session” Zoe. joined by a U.S. volunteer team, even caught the eye of local media. Three TV stations were on hand to get interviews and capture the “hug nuts” on camera. One even did a live interview with part of the volunteer team on their 6:00 pm newscast. After the interview, the team had several people come out of the buildings where Zoe was set up saying, “We just saw you live on TV! We want a hug!”
What’s the point? The point is to actually share the love of Christ, asking for absolutely nothing in return. Some people asked what it was all about, opening up a chance to share. The participants were armed with business cards with the Zoe website addres. They were also able to invite people to another of the ministry’s meetings that night at Starbucks. Zoe Starbucks Paulista is a church start in downtown São Paulo. “If people asked, ” Chris reported, “we shared about Zoe, and if an opportunity came up, we’d go deeper sharing about Christ.”
Team members took the free hug even a step further. Each was wearing a t-shirt which read, “Z ‘heart’ SP” or Zoe loves Sao Paulo. They were challenged to find a street person with whom they could literally give the shirt off their back! “It was exciting, yet humbling, to see many of the homeless with the t-shirts on,” Chris related.
If you’d like to see more pictues of Zoe’s street hug ministry log on to Chris and Melody’s blog. Just CLICK HERE.
Better yet, why don’t you volunteer to go to be a part of the Zoe ministry! More information on volunteer projects with the Julians in “the concrete jungle” is available on our KBC Partnership Missions Website. Just CLICK HERE.
