Michael and Yvonne Walmer -- Missionaries to Uruguay

As a young teenager, Michael D. Walmer accompanied his missionary parents to Brazil. He began his ministry in Brazil in 1979 as a youth leader in the district headquarters church. In 1980, he met a beautiful Uruguayan girl, Ivonne González, and they married in 1984. In that same year they founded the church in Rio Grande, in extreme southern Brazil. He also served as the district youth president and treasurer. In 1986, he took the pastorate of a church in Novo Hamburgo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where he pastored four years. During this tenure, he placed four young men in the ministry. After eight years as an Associate In Missions, Bro. Walmer, his wife and their firstborn, Jonathan Michael, returned to the States in 1990 to attend Bible school. He and his wife received their missionary appointment in October 1992 to northeastern Brazil. He graduated from Christian Life College the following June.

In 1996, after completing deputation, the Walmers returned to Brazil and pioneered a new work in Recife on Brazil's northeastern tropical coast. In October 1997, their second child, Christian Lucas, was born. The Lord gave them great revival throughout northeastern Brazil and in just ten short years they have seen the work develop to twelve active churches and pastors along with a Bible school which has completed its seventh year of training.

Following God's leading, Bro. & Sis. Walmer applied for a change of field to Uruguay, South America and completed seven months of service there from January through July 2007. During this time they taught in the local Bible school, held pastoral seminars and traveled extensively among the churches, preaching and mentoring the leadership.

How motorcycles will help Bro. Walmer:
The Lord planted in Bro. Walmer's mind the idea to reach the poor rural areas of Uruguay with the assistance of Bible School Students venturing out as "circuit-riding evangelists" to reach the many countryside villages with the Gospel.

Uruguay is vastly rural with an untold number of small farming communities and villages spread over the countryside. It has been a challenge to plant churches in these areas due to the impoverished conditions of the people and community. Building a church or supporting a local pastor is unviable in these areas.

The circuit-riding evangelists make reaching these communities with the Gospel a reality. With the use of a cost-effective 125 or 200 cc two-seater trail bike, the evangelists venture into these country settings weekly and minister the Word of God. Through personal contacts, home Bible Studies and public services in community centers and one-room school houses, these young evangelists preach and teach the Word, baptize the believers in the Name of Jesus and mentor them in spiritual development. Azuza StreetRiders will provide Spanish language "backpatches" for these evangelists.

Azusa StreetRiders, "The Apostolic Motorcycle Ministry of Jesus Christ", has supplied the missionary fellowship in Uruguay funds to purchase three motorcycles for these circuit-riding evangelists, but more are needed! The motorcycles will be presented to the local pastors and churches established in the urban complex in Uruguay. Once receiving the motorcycle, these local assemblies will be responsible for the operational expenses, maintenance and preservation of each motorcycle. Through a simple record-keeping system the churches will report on the results of ministry as well as on the maintenance on the bike. In order to promote high-quality maintenance on the motorcycles, the missionary fellowship will sign an agreement with each church that states the responsibilities of the local church with each bike and the missionary commitment to transfer title on the bike through a five-year depreciation program. In other words, at the end of five years, if the church maintains the motorcycle and keeps up-to-datemaintenance records, the motorcycle becomes the property of the local church. The main purpose is, of course, to reach the lost. We must do ALL that we can do to take the Gospel to "whosoever will" believe on Him and receive everlasting life.

Thank you for giving to this worthy cause and spreading even further the precious seed of the Gospel in Uruguay, South America!

DONATE:
Ot the left side of this page is a place to make a secure online donation using PayPal with Visa or MasterCard to help Brother Walmer get his motorcycles. Simply denote "Donation for Walmen" on the PalPal form, or, if you like, simply send a check to Azusa StreetRiders, PO Box 7606, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 and note on the check that it is for "Motorcycles for Missionaries; Michael Walmer". Please help!