Cost: $950 per person plus airfare

 

Register by: March 15, 2012

 

Entry Requirements: USA passport only

 

Why Go?  A beautiful south coast city, Portimao is like most of Portugal, largely under evangelized and spiritually poor with less than 1% of the population in evangelical churches. A younger generation has emerged with extremely little exposure to the gospel. IWC will engage in direct evangelism through beach reach activities, sports such as American football, ESL classes, culture exchange opportunities, ministry in a teen group home, and literature distribution. The possibility for deaf ministry will also be available.  

 

About Portimao: This city was originally a trading port of the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians. Located at the mouth of the River Arade, it provides a natural harbour and has at times been known in its past as a home for smugglers and pirates. Now a modern city, Portimao has plenty of shopping including a new mall, souvenir shops and tourist restaurants. The summers here are normally sunny with minimal rainfall. Days are pleasant, with temperatures seldom exceeding 95°F. Come ready to do a lot of walking as well!

 

Cultural Information: Portugal is one of the oldest states in Europe with a legacy of great explorers and traders and a massive colonial empire, but its more recent history is one of political and economic instability. As part of the European Union, Portugal uses the Euro for currency. The Roman Catholic Church is strongly traditional and retains much influence, but it is in need of renewal. The north is more loyal to Catholicism, but in the center and south, religion is becoming irrelevant to the secularized majority. In some southern areas, less than 3% attend mass.

 

Total capacity for this project: 45