In the tourist-heavy city of Caldas Novas, amidst a religious landscape dominated by prosperity preaching and spiritism, Igreja Batista Vida Nova is shining brightly with the transformative message of Jesus Christ. This growing church, pastored by Filipe Niel, is a powerful testament to what it means for Acts 29 to be a network on mission, but this wasn’t always the case.

The early days were marked by discouragement and uncertainty. For three long years, the church remained small—only six to eight people—and showed no signs of growth. Filipe prepared to close the doors. But God had other plans.

Just as Filipe was about to end his ministry in Caldas Novas, a nearby church found itself without a pastor and asked him for help. He agreed to step in for three months. That temporary help turned into six months, and eventually into a full pastoral role, as the two churches merged and the newly unified congregation embraced a fresh start under Filipe’s leadership.

At the time of the merger, the church had about 36 attendees. Over the next five years, that number slowly grew as Filipe and his team poured into the community, built relationships, and offered a gospel of grace rather than performance. By 2019, attendance reached 150. Then came the pandemic—and with it, a surprising explosion of growth. While many churches were shrinking, Filipe’s church was growing!

Despite the restrictions of COVID-19, the church found creative ways to gather outdoors and stay connected. In a few short years, Vida Nova has gone from a church on the brink of closure, to averaging 600 attendees weekly! This staggering growth is not just numerical—it is deeply spiritual.

The church is seeing lives radically transformed by the gospel, like those of Lucas and Jéssica. This spring alone, the church held two full new membership classes, and 33 people were baptized as a result!

Acts 29 has been an essential support for Filipe and his church, offering coaching, counsel, and a community of leaders walking the same path. Filipe was among the first Acts 29 church planters in Brazil when the network began planting there in 2014. Today, he helps recruit and train other Acts 29 planters and is actively involved in building the movement across Brazil.

Looking ahead, the church has a bold vision to send out more planters in the next five years. “We are in the center of Brazil,” says Filipe. “There is not another gospel-centered church within 100 kilometers. We want to see churches planted in all of the neighboring towns.”

Acts 29 isn’t just a network of churches—it’s a network on mission. In Caldas Novas, that mission is clear: making disciples, transforming lives, and planting churches. Through faithful partnerships and the power of the gospel, the vision is becoming reality.