Lead Church Planter
Burnaby Born Again
September 29
About My Family
Rafael is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Sarah is from Calgary, Canada. They have been married for 10 years and have two beautiful daughters, Isabella (age 7) and Katarina (age 4), who were born on the mission field in Argentina. Both Rafael and Sarah spent all of their young adult lives serving with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in rural, northern Argentina. In YWAM, Rafael served as director for the biblical studies school and for the biblical studies ministry. He also developed and directed an external biblical seminary school for rural pastors in southern South America called Eagle Seminary School. God also led Rafael to plant and direct biblical studies schools in Chile, Venezuela, and Uruguay. Sarah served in YWAM in administration with the performing arts ministry through evangelism and artistic training in churches, as well as in interpretation and translation.
About My Church Plant
After almost a decade with YWAM, Rafael and Sarah felt God leading them to reach the influx of Latin American immigrants coming to British Columbia. In Vancouver, more than 40 percent of the population was born outside of Canada and immigrants speak many diverse lanugages. Among them, more than 48,000 people identify either Portuguese or Spanish as their first language. Since so many different cultures and countries are represented, it follows that there are many different religions and ideas present. Newcomers can easily lose their way in materialism. Immigrants struggle to learn English, to find a suitable job and proper housing in an expensive market and to find enough time for their families.
The vision of Burnaby Born Again (BBA) is to be a church that is rooted in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and making His Word real and tangible in their everyday lives. We are reaching people who have come to reside in the Greater Vancouver area in search of a better quality of life. Through study, discipleship and fellowship, we want to show them that a better life is not just one of comfort but one that has Christ at the centre.
The vision of Burnaby Born Again (BBA) is to be a church that is rooted in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and making His Word real and tangible in their everyday lives. We are reaching people who have come to reside in the Greater Vancouver area in search of a better quality of life. Through study, discipleship and fellowship, we want to show them that a better life is not just one of comfort but one that has Christ at the centre.
NAMB Church Planting
Demonstrated Christian character is essential for missionaries and chaplains to gain credibility and build community. A missionary is a person who, in response to God's call and gifting, leaves his or her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission. The North American Mission Board supports missionaries serving across the United States, Canada and their territories. Churches are the missionary incubators and sending centers for missionaries through the Southern Baptist Convention. Missionaries serve in a variety of settings and face tremendous challenges. But the rewards are tremendous and life-changing. Missionaries have the privilege to represent their church and their Father in sharing the gospel as the primary focus of their activity. If you are interested in pursuing next steps as a potential missionary or chaplain from your church, explore the possibilities at namb.net/send-me.
