Amazon Vision Ministries - End of Year Giving

AVM in 2025 so far…

What a great year 2025 has been for Amazon Vision Ministries.  With one team still on the river, we have successfully completed nine remarkable trips to the Amazonas region.  These teams ministered to 17 different communities, invested countless hours of discipleship and evangelism, including VBS for over 370 children, attended to 183 medical patients, 24 dental patients and led 20 church services. Giving God all the glory we were able to witness 92 people pray to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and many others rededicating their lives to Christ.  

AVM was blessed to partner with Project Indigenous again this year to assist in teaching their seminary program. There were 60 students representing the Ticuna, Kokoma, Mayaruna, Marubu, and Yagua tribes.  AVM was blessed to lead a church service where 115 people shared in the Lord’s Supper!                                                   

AVM in 2026…

AVM already has nine teams scheduled for 2026 with several others in the making. 2026 is shaping up to be another blessed year for AVM! 

In addition, AVM continues to partner with Project Indigenous on projects in the Three Frontiers area. In July we will return for another Seminary session to equip Indigenous Christians to take the Gospel back to their villages in the protected areas.  We also have partnered with them in building their Cross-Cultural Training Center just out of Benjamin Constant.  Here the indigenous will be able to travel out of the protected area to the Training Center and learn about God.    

The Project Indigenous Seminary opened the door for further training within the Feijoal - Ticuna community (5,000 people) in partnership with the Mundial Power of God Church. AVM will be holding a Bible training seminar for the church leadership and three other nearby community churches.  50 students have already registered for this training which will be held in January and December of 2026.                            

How you can help AVM…

End of the year giving is here, and AVM needs your help.  God continues to open doors, but your prayer and financial support are critical to a thriving and successful ministry.  Your financial support ensures that we have essential in-country staff, provides study materials and food for the seminary and Bible training students, keeps trip costs as low as possible, provides for scholarships, leader financial assistance, staff bonuses and quality translators.  It also supports other projects like Supply the River, internship programs, and the construction of the Project Indigenous Training Center.  As you consider your end of the year giving for 2025, we ask that you prayerfully consider supporting AVM.  Click the links below and watch some short videos to see all that AVM is doing, then please pray for AVM and consider giving to this ministry.  To give now please visit AVM Giving General Fund

 Victor From Brazil Invite ,VBS Nova Cidade, Nova Porta Lima , AVM on the River

Richard Jennings 

AVM Director of Operations

Richard@amazonvisionministries.org                                                                (512)750-6470

Isaiah 53:19 “For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home and create rivers for them in the desert!”

Planning trip out of Tabatinga

Myself and the Stones (Harold and Jan) returned last week from a quick trip to Tabatinga. The trip itself was incredible and we were able to travel to Feijoal to plan the first AVM Bible Training Seminar (more to come on that) and were able to do a scouting trip to 5 other communities, visit Project Indigenous training center and spend time with some friends we had not seen in a while. We had a church service in Feijoal where 11 people came forward during the invitation to pray for healing, rededicate their lives to Christ and 2 prayed to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We were also blessed to spend a few hours in Tabatinga with a local school and present the story of Jesus to 100 seven to eight year olds and build believer braceltes with them. Above all of that, I witnessed our own Victor (AVM staff) be the hands of feet of Christ and assisted a lady in need. He could have walked on by, but he saw she needed some assistance and even though we were in a rush to catch a boat, he stopped and assisted her. The heart of AVM is to be Christ like even when you are not aware poeple are watching. Thank you Victor, you are a good man! Take a look at the video by clicking on the link below:

The Heart of AVM

Foundation Christian Minisitries

Another remarkable mission on the river! Foundation Christian Ministries spent seven days on the river ministering to two different cumminities. The team had a dental clinic with 45 patients seen. The team prayer walked, evangelized, spent numerous hours in discipleship, worshiped, and held church services. There were over 90 childeren ministered to in VBS and this team was able to see 32 people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!! AMEN! AVM prays that FCM will join them again next year and continue the good work!

Cookson Baptist Church

The Cookson Baptist Team returned safely home week before last just as another team was coming onto the river. What a great team they were. True servants of God. In just 8 days on the river this team ministered to 7 different communities, held VBS for over 336 children and met the physical needs of 134 medical patients. Joe Rozell and this team also held 6 church services and had 22 people accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! AMEN!!! Thank you to this team for answering the call to go.

AVM Combined Team - What a Blessing! (John 10:27)

With the assistance of Global Missions 365, AVM was able to facilitate our latest team that just came off the river. This team had members from Georgia, New Mexico and Kenya. Yes, Kenya Africa. What an incredible team God assembled. This team visited four different communities, held three church services, ministered to over 232 children in VBS, discipled in 46 different homes, had eight Bibles studies, two rededications to Christ and 11 people pray to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. All of this in six days! Praise God!! This was said from one of the Team Leaders:

As I work through all the post trip emotions, this has been on my heart and I wanted to share:

One of the hardest parts of a mission trip for me is saying goodbye. Not only because I dearly miss the people of the river, in country team staff, and this year, two team members from Kenya, but also because we have to say goodbye to part of our team from the states. Why is this so? Thanks to AVM and Global Missions 365 our team of five from NM had the opportunity to join with another team out of GA, as well as missionaries from Kenya! When I first spoke to GM365 about what it looks like to join teams they said, “we see teams meet for the first time at the beginning of the trip and it’s like they’ve always known each-other”. This was true for me with a team I went with last year and again this year! From the moment we met in the airport, we felt like family! After little sleep from traveling, we went into our first village that afternoon, and as we all worked together for the first time, you could clearly see God’s hand in our team’s unity. Thank you GM365 and AVM for bringing us all together. We know it’s God who truly puts these teams together, but you helped facilitate and for that I am grateful!

-Hanna

Jonesville Baptist Church

Jonesville Baptist lead by Larry Wooten have safely returned home. What a great mission this team had. They traveled down the Black River, “Rio Negro” to a community that AVM had not been to before. The team had the blessing of watching over 60 people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The team not only ministered to the spiritual needs of the community but also to their physical needs by having a dental and medical clinic. Below is a snipit of what Larry and the team experienced. Thank you Jonesville Baptist for answering the call to GO!

What we have been up to...

AVM Family,

Amazon Vision Ministries has been busy!  So far this year, we have successfully completed three trips and have several more trips planned and opportunities for you to join us.  

Richard and Christi Jennings started the year off in February leading a team to Feijoal in the Three Frontiers area.  They partnered with Project Indigenous teaching for 5 days in a seminary where they assisted in equipping Indigenous Christians in biblical truths from the Ten Commandments to the ascension of Christ.  The Mayaruna, Kokoma, Ticuna, Marubu and Yagua tribes were all represented. The team led three church services, one of which they shared the Lord's supper and one where seven people prayed to accept Christ.  They spent much needed time in intentional prayers for healing, discipleship and VBS.  The team was also able to have a street ministry at a soccer game where two people prayed to accept Christ.

AVM will be returning to Feijoal in January of 2026 to continue teaching at the invitaion of Pastor David Ticuna of the Mundial Power of God Church. 

In early March, Pastor Will King led a return trip to Nova Esperanca out of Manacapuru. The team presented the Gospel over 20 times and had four people accept Christ.  The team led seven church services and spent invaluable time in fellowship with the community.  Pastor Will King hopes to return to Nova Esperanca before the year is out.  

In late March, David Wood led a team to Terazzina 3 out of the Three Frontiers area.  The team spent time fellowshipping with the community.  Possibilities of planting a church here are in the talks.  More details to come on that...

The team was also able to travel to Feijoal to celebrate Mundial Power of God Church’s 16-year anniversary.  Pastor Eli was invited to preach at this celebration.  It was a great day of church and fellowship which assisted in solidifying the relationship between AVM and Feijoal.

AVM has several more trips planned.  The next trips will begin in June and will continue through September and possibly into October.  Come join us on the river!! We would absolutely love that.  Also, please be in pray for AVM, our board, our team leaders and team members!  Your continued support is very precious to us.  If you woul d like to donate you can click here. AVM Give

All for Christ!

Richard Jennings

Director of Operations

richard@amazonvisionministries.org

December 2024 Supply the River

AVM once again returned to the river to deliver food to the families in much need of supplies. What a blessing it was to be able to do this, especially during the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Along with the over 500 bags of food that were given out, toys were also given to families with young children. The bags of food were enough to supply a family for two weeks:

16 different communities/ 413 families and 186 children

This is such a special ministry to AVM and thank you to Allison Crepeau for making the journey and thank you to Pastor Eli and Victor for making it possible. Prayers and financial support are much needed and appreciated for this ministry with AVM. If you feel led, please visit our DONATE page; dontations can be made directly to the “Supply the River” fund: the link below will take you to the donation page

AVM Donations

Please watch the below short video of this wonderful Supply the River trip:

https://youtu.be/IBf0fVYUWXM?si=O1F7j2LR-yTiI8q9

New Director of Operations

AVM family,

I wanted to take a quick moment of your time to introduce myself. My name is Richard Jennings, the new Director of Operations of Amazon Vision Ministries.  

I have been with AVM since 2005 when I went on my first mission trip.  On that trip, I surrendered myslef to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  The trip made such an impact on me that I continued to go on teams, then began to build teams.  I became an AVM Board member three years ago and now here I am as Director.  This is something that I never thought possible or was even on my radar.  God has brought me here and it is an honor to be in this position as Director. My heart is to further God's kingdom in the West Amazon Basin and beyond.

I recall in 2018, I was on mission with Pastor Gary Crawford, co-founder of AVM, he shared with me Psalm 22:27-28 & 31: 

 "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.....they will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!"

This was the verse given to Pastor Gary by God to give him clear discernment on starting this ministry.

As the new Director we continue to move forward with the vision and mission of AVM:
  

 Vision  
 

"Establish communities of followers of Christ worshiping together and serving in ministry toghether and missions in the west Amazon Basin and Beyond"
 

Mission  
 

"Bring the hope of Christ to the people living in the western Amazon Basin of Brasil"

Please come join us on the river.  We have several oppurtunites that we are blessed to be a part of:

• Supply the River trips

• Trips out of Manacapuru

• Trips out of Tabatinga

• Pastoral Leadership and Training

• Partnership with Project Indigenous - Equipping Indigenous Christians

I spent time earlier this month with Pastor Eli and Victor along with our in country coordinators.  Several new communities and oppurtunities have been identified and we are all excited to have you come on board with us and continue with the Great Commission.

God bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please contact me for trip interest, support and prayer inerest or if you just want to chat!

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" -
Jeremiah 29:13

All for Christ!!

Richard Jennings

Director of Operations

Amazon Vision Ministires

Director Transition

January 1st, 2025

By Michael Allen 

Dear AVM Family,

It has been a blessing, privilege, and honor to serve as AVM’s Director of Operations for the last six years. This past Fall, I notified the Board of my intentions to step down and that I would assist in a smooth transition of leadership. I want to thank each one of you for your continued support as I served in our shared ministry, especially in the last year as my family suddenly and unexpectedly lost our son, Max. Your prayer and support have meant a great deal to myself, my wife, and children. In knowing me, you can be assured that this move was guided through prayer and discernment. The ministry is primed for growth, and the incoming Director, Richard Jennings, will be able to make an immediate impact.

During the last six years, we have navigated some difficult and uncharted waters. Not only did we survive - but through the grace of God - AVM thrived. Look at what we have overcome:

COVID-19

Amid a worldwide pandemic and travel lockdown, it was thought that this ministry could not survive without teams on the river. God had different plans and we thrived with a new ministry named Supply the River in which AVM would supply food and the gospel message to families along the river. Fueled by your generous giving and with the help of our dedicated Brazilian staff, we fed over 5,000 families and shared the gospel with over 25,000 souls! Praise God!

Passing of our Co-Founder

Joe Fincher, an AVM founder and friend to many, had a tremendous impact on all aspects of our operations, well beyond his formal roles as Board Member and treasurer. In the wake of his passing in 2020, AVM mourned our great loss, while also needing to transition Joe’s many responsibilities. At the onset, it was overwhelming because we knew that no one could replace Joe. However, we were highly motivated to keep his legacy alive and well. Through persistent prayer and diligent work, the ministry experienced supernatural continuity and we praise God for celebrating our 20th Anniversary.

Eli’s health

When Eli was diagnosed with cancer in 2023, we questioned if the ministry could survive since most of the in-country operations rested upon his shoulders. At this time, we were able to onboard new in-country coordinators and a full-time assistant so that ministry could continue as Eli courageously battled cancer. As a result of this setback, the future of AVM Brazilian operations is now in place. Not only that, but through the miraculous healing hand of Jesus, Eli is currently cancer free. Praise God!

As we look back, I am even more excited what AVM will do in the future. Our pastoral training conferences have begun, new doors have opened to work with the Hagekai, and many teams are committed to return to the River in 2025. Also, thank you for making our Christmas Supply the River project a success! Because of your generous contributions we raised $14,875! This supplied over 500 families with a week’s worth of food, over 500 children with toy bags, and the gospel was preached to all of them. Click here to see a video from this trip.

In closing, I am excited that Richard will be transitioning into the Director role. Richard and his wife, Christi, are long-time Board members who have a deep love for Jesus, the Great Commission, and the people of Brazil - especially the unreached. They boldly go where most will not go to share the hope of Jesus Christ. I ask that you pray for them and the vision that God has for AVM, now and in the future.

God bless you and may God continue to bless Amazon Vision Ministries!

“I will give thanks to you Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” -Psalm 9:1

In His Name,

Michael Allen

Former Director of Operations

Amazon Vision Ministries