In 1999, Jeff and Amy Dowdy moved to Belo Horizonte, Brazil to join other key staff in launching the CO Belo ministry. A lot has changed since then. 

After serving for eight years, the Dowdy family moved back to America, not knowing if they would return. They stayed in touch with staff and church members, prayed fervently for the ministry movement, and even went back to visit and serve the ministry by facilitating a marriage retreat. 

While they always had a heart for Belo, God also grew their passion for the local church. He was giving them experience and opportunities to invest in young couples, families, and small groups in their community. 

“It was through our involvement in the local church that we were sent initially and how we’ve now returned overseas. Our whole reason for returning is to support the local church,” Jeff said. 

We often hear stories about starting ministries — the early years when things are just getting off the ground. But we rarely get insight into the transition from beginning the ministry to supporting the ministry. Jeff, Amy, and their family have walked through both seasons. Recently, they re-joined the CO staff in Belo, focused on supporting campus staff and assisting the pastor of the ministry’s hub church, Comunidade Horizonte.

By God’s grace, the campus ministry in Belo Horizonte is now led by an indigenous staff couple, Pedro and Pri Alberquerque, supported by pastor Rafael Santos and his wife, who lead the local hub church. 

For the Dowdys, moving back to Belo is an opportunity to help build on the ministry’s solid foundation.

“We believe that any further expansion of Campus Outreach in Brazil to other campuses depends on the local church sending out laborers. And really, that’s what it’s going to take: Comunidade Horizonte growing in maturity and supporting further expansion of the ministry in Brazil. Global missions depend on healthy local churches growing in maturity and sending out laborers.”