Brazilian families find Christ-centered care

Their choice is unimaginable. Infanticide or rejection by their tribe.

Many Indigenous families in Brazil experience rejection by their tribes because the families refuse to practice infanticide. This cruel tradition, which involves the killing of babies born with birth defects, incurable diseases, or in cases of twins and unwanted pregnancies, is still observed by some tribes in Brazil.

International Mission Board missionaries Nick and Amber Sroka are bringing the Light of Christ into this darkness.

This past summer, the sound of a hammer rang through the air as Amber hammered one nail after another into a round wooden block to form the shape of a cross. She passed the craft to her young friend Jessica to finish by wrapping colorful string around the cross.

The bright colors of the craft reflect the vibrant city of Brasilia, Brazil, where Amber and Nick live and serve. During the summer event, the Srokas worked with a Baptist church group from Missouri to host a VBS-style program at a local ministry center. Volunteers formed meaningful connections with children like Jessica, who was born with muscular dystrophy, and whose parents made the choice to leave their tribe to protect their child.

While serving in support roles to other missionaries, the Srokas also stay involved in sharing the love of Jesus with those who do not know the good news. They cast that vision to others, like the Missouri Baptists whom they connected to families at a ministry center called ATINI.

ATINI means “voice” in one of the tribal languages. This center helps families receive medical care and get acclimated to a new living arrangement. The center also works to enroll children in local schools and provides tutoring.

The Srokas communicate with other IMB missionaries across Brazil to help identify and support families who experience similar tribal rejections or have children who need medical help that isn’t available where they live.

“When someone says, ‘Oh my child was born with this deficiency, I don’t know what to do,’ we can tell them about this great resource for families who face similar situations,” Amber said.

The Srokas encourage the staff at ATINI who help these families. They coordinate volunteer mission groups from the U.S. to come to Brasilia and minister to the families, as well as complete service projects on the 10-acre campus. These visits not only provide support but also offer opportunities to share the gospel.

Edgar and Elisa live at ATINI with their five children, including Jessica. The couple make jewelry and woodcrafts to sell at local markets. Both Edgar and Elisa have made professions of faith in Christ and observed believer’s baptism. They are a testimony that transformation through the gospel is possible, even in the most hopeless of circumstances.

*Some names changed for security reasons.