BELÉM CITY, Pará, Brazil — On August 2, 1997, at the Belém Yacht Club, the official launch was celebrated of the boat Light of the Amazon III, thereby extending the spiritual, medical and social care work being undertaken by the Bible Society of Brazil (BSB) in the Amazon region.

The inauguration ceremony, which included a worship service, a guided tour of the boat’s facilities, and a party, was conducted by BSB General Secretary, the Rev Luiz Antonio Giraldi, before an invited audience representing the civil and religious authorities and including UBS and Bible Society leaders from overseas, church leaders, and state officials.

Throughout, the atmosphere was one of warmth and gratitude to God.

With the new vessel the BSB will be able to extend its missionary work throughout the Amazon Basin, doubling its effectiveness to reach the 700,000 needy families within Pará State. In 1996 8,000 riverbank inhabitants (ribeirinhos) were helped through this project, and received the Gospel as well as necessary medical or dental treatment and social care.

 

The Bible Society of Brazil's newly-launched Light of the Amazon III

In many cases the boat’s visit is the only access they have to get such help, as they live in small communities, secluded in the forest, far away from urban life.

The construction of the new hospital-boat was made possible largely through the generous support of thousands of Brazilian, Dutch and Canadian Christians following fundraising activities by the Bible Societies in their countries. And the BSB anticipates continued spiritual and economic support from churches in order to sustain the project and its two vessels.

An improved design on its predecessor, Light of the Amazon III is larger (50 tonnes, 25.8 metres long and 7 metres wide), better equipped, and more comfortable, with accommodation for up to 21 persons and provisions to sustain a trip for 20 or so days. It also has a medical room, clinic, assay lab, dental room, storage place for medicines, and an infirmary. Safety features have also been added, making the new vessel even more suited to navigating the region’s many waterways.

The project continues to be coordinated from Belém City by BSB Social Action Secretary, Ms Rita Albuquerque de Sena, and now involves some 120 volunteers – evangelists and health workers – working as two teams and two volunteer corps based in Belém and Manaus, the largest cities in the Amazon region.