Three Questions is a semi-regular series introducing individuals across the NAB by asking them about their story, their ministry, and what they are learning. These features on members of our NAB family also provide great opportunities to pray for them as we get to know more of their story. This week, we hear from Lyndell Campbell-Réquia, an NAB missionary in Brazil.
What’s your story?
I was born and raised in Saskatchewan – go Riders! – and I grew up in a Christian home. I gave my life to Jesus at summer camp at the age of 7 and was baptized when I was 14 years old. Looking back, I see many influences that contributed to my faith: my parents; my grandparents; my great aunt, who faithfully prayed for me daily; and my youth group pastor and his wife, whom I followed to Bible college when I graduated high school. And these are just the ones I know about. Church always had a central place in our family. It was at church that the Lord helped me realize he had a purpose for me.
I knew from a young age that the Lord was leading me into international missions. As a child, my favourite Sundays were when the missionaries visited our church. Their stories made God seem so much bigger than I had realized. It was just a matter of waiting on God’s perfect timing.
After two years of study at the North American Baptist College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (now Kairos University), I received my vocational calling into full-time ministry. I had the privilege of serving in three NAB churches and at Taylor University College in the Student Development Department. All of this was in preparation for the Lord opening the door for me to start serving in southern Brazil in 2003.
What’s ministry like for you?
Ministry is a never-ending adventure! Since arriving in Brazil, I continue to teach at the Brazilian Baptist Convention’s seminary in the capital city of the southernmost state of Brazil. Over the years, I have also been the chaplain, I have the added privilege of mentoring many young women going into vocational ministry, and I currently coordinate the Pastoral Formation Program. I also enjoy various opportunities during the year to host North American professors and teams. Besides this, I have many opportunities to train lay leaders in local churches. In the last number of years, I have been serving as field director for Brazil for the NAB and as a member of the NAB Mission Advisory Team.
I am married to a Brazilian pastor and missionary, Paolo. He and I serve a small Baptist church, which also has two church plants. We minister the Gospel in the most unreached part of Brazil.
Several years ago, I took up photography. Not as a professional but as a hobby that I can use for the Lord. It has been a wonderful creative outlet for me.
What are you learning?
This year has been extremely challenging, with catastrophic flooding in our country. Ministry has looked quite different as our field assists flood victims in the recovery process. God has been teaching me a lot about resilience. While perseverance has always been a big theme for me in full-time ministry, the Lord has challenged me to think more about how I persevere. Am I continuing to push through in a state of survival, or am I thriving in good and difficult times? Adopting a posture of resilience based on the hope and joy we have in Jesus, beyond simple perseverance, is helping me to do more than just cope. As the apostle Paul says, it is in our weakness that God’s grace, the very best gift of the Lord, strengthens us.
What a blessing it is to be part of the great North American Baptist Conference community. Would you please take a moment to pray for Lyndell Campbell-Réquia and her ministry in Brazil?