More than 100 students attended the seventh annual Teen Missions School, a training program for youth and adolescents who feel a call to missions. 

The 15-day program, held 16-28 July in São Paulo, Brazil, taught the participants about holiness, devotional life, discipleship, and what it means to be a missionary. The school features a three-year program that takes place each July, and students work through one level each year — basic, advanced, and ultra. 

In addition to classes, students can choose from four art disciplines to specialize in: dance, praise, theater, and circus. Students are also encouraged to seek alone time with God during the program to attune their hearts to God’s. 

Maryana Balliaro recently completed her third year. 

“God showed me my missionary call [through TMS],” Balliaro said. “I came back transformed. The Lord spoke to me through devotions and lessons, through the praise workshop, and this was very important to me because it helped me in my spiritual growth.”

Gabriel Moutinho just finished his second year at TMS. He says TMS has affirmed his pastoral call and has helped him understand that support for missionary work begins in the local church. 

“God has placed in my heart a program for my local church, along with the help of my [Nazarene Missions International] leader, [for] a mission preparatory course,” Moutinho said. “It will be open to every church. We will present mission-related matters, both theoretical and practical, and show the church the importance of them.”

Brenda Vieira, a TMS graduate, believes the program provides valuable fellowship and training for teens throughout the district.

“[Since TMS started in 2011, hundreds of] lives have been impacted, hearts transformed, and a generation [has been] called to holiness and qualified for service,” Vieira said. 

--Church of the Nazarene South America