as of 2001 Oct. 31	please select one The STUDY below

Caixa Postal 123 77700-000 Guaraí , TO, Brazil telephone 1.55.63.464.1530 e–mail -- jmoreland@uol.com.br Jim is most easily reached through his forwarding agents: Stanley & Georgia White 7501 Lawrence 1247 Bois D’Arc, MO 65612-7118 telephone 417.491.4347

Jim´s work for the Lord is in Brazil, South America. He and his wife, Mary went there in 1961. There they have witnessed for Christ faithfully. Mary died in 1995. Jim continues their work. In October 2001 he married Maria Felix, a sister of Nonato, who is a "Timothy" of Jim's.

When he returns to Brazil later this year, he hopes (expects, plans) to work starting a new church in Guaraí while continuing to help the church in Marabá, which had 8 baptisms by June in 2000.

Jim is the son of Elbert T. and Ruth Moreland, who also faithfully served God through all their lives. Jim was born on January 12, 1936 in Cincinnati, OH. He has been part of a large family all his life. God blessed Jim with a good wife and with four children from their union, plus 13 children who joined the family when they needed a family and had none. Jim has managed always to provide as needed for his loved ones while faithfully working for God and Christ.

Jim and Mary in 1966 were helped in changing ministries from river evangelism to begin a work several missionaries agreed was needed at an inland town — the largest city in the state of Tocatins. The church has grown in Araguaína, some 850 kilometers (about 500 miles) on the main road south from Belém where they had spent their first months in Brazil.

Jim and Mary Emily Baker, of Pomona, Missouri, were married September 20, 1958. They served the Phillipsburg (MO) Christian Church until the time came to raise support to go to preach in Brazil. Mary became a registered nurse. Both studied in Ozark Christian College in Joplin. Jim graduated there in 1960. Their daughter Naomi was born July 28, 1959. A daughter Deborah was born May 29, 1961. Philip was born June 22, 1963, and Miriam December 13, 1967. Pictures of some of Jim’s family are below.

At first in Araguaína, Jim and Mary had to supply their own means of mail service, sending by truck or bus to Belém or by aircraft to Carolina, Maranháo. Roads were always either dusty or extremely muddy. Electricity was a promise used by politicians. TV & telephones were something interesting to talk about.

The Araguaína church has prospered, and now has a daughter church as well as doing well itself. Attendance at the first church is running above 150 for the main service most Sundays. Meanwhile the daughter church is running above 50.

Most churches find it convenient to have a place to meet. Jim helped build the larger building here pictured. It´s the first congregation in Araguína.

The building pictured above is on the farm of a man converted to Christ who wanted a congregation where he lived (50 miles from the nearest town). Men from the Araguína church helped build. Pictured are those present one day recently. An elder in the Araguína church led in establishing this church.

Brazil is larger than the continental United States of America. Its huge river is the longest in the world. The Amazon is not only a huge river, it makes a satisfactory baptistry when that is needed. Or, if the Amazon isn’t handy, a smaller one WILL do.

Jim and Mary were joined in Araguaína by Bill and Janet Moreland from June of 1973 until Bill took his family to Belém in 1981.
Now Nonato and his wife Tanya, and Philip and his wife LoAnn continue the work in Araguaína. Nonato is a native Brazilian who joined the Moreland family early. He needed a school and had none. Philip is a son of Jim and Mary. Nonato in 1998 married the daughter of missionaries who had earlier worked in Marabá.

Nonato and Philip are pictured below with Jim at a pulpit stand Jim made from Brazilwood for the Araguaína church. Brazilwood is a very heavy wood. Both younger men feel they are sons of Jim and Mary… Each work for God with enthusiasm.

Of the four children born to Jim and Mary, two now live in the U.S. The family includes seven children born to daughter Naomi (Mrs. Doug Hass) in Joplin, Missouri, and five children born to daughter Deborah (Mrs. Leonard Blake). The Blakes are located in Minnesota. Both Philip and Miriam have also married well and with their mates and families live in Brazil.

The bride in the wedding party pictured is the next-youngest of the several girls who have joined our family when circumstances took away those who had loved and/or provided for them. Her sister, standing to her left, is still living at the house.

Valmor Andreani and Jim’s daughter Miriam have two live-wire girls. They live in Guaraí and are already helping with services which are being held in the building they own and in which Miriam operates a school for those who want to learn English. They’re pictured in front of the school. You can see that Jim and Mary’s girls turned out beautifully!

Son Philip is pictured with his wife LoAnn and their three girls. Philip is famous as the only Christian attacked by piranhas while swimming at the annual “picnic” of the Araguaína churches. This unusual event took place in 1999. Philip was fully recovered in less than three months. He supports himself and family with hard work while also teaching and preaching, following the examples of his father and grandfather.