timeline | West Amazon Missions

1999

West Amazon Missions is founded as a 501c3 non-profit, dedicated to helping native pastors reach the Amazon for Christ.

2000

WAM sponsors full-time leaders Luiz and Lia Silva to start a puppet ministry, bringing them to the States for training with professional puppeteers and I-Fest, the International Festival of Christian puppeteers.

2002

The WAM-sponsored puppet team stages the first "Sonho de Natal" (Christmas Dream) show, reaching 1,000 people from the community with a Christmas Gospel message.

2012

10 years of Sonho de Natal! The show reached 80,000 people with 4,500 decisions for Christ. Sonho de Natal was also broadcast for free on Amazon Sat, reaching across the state of Amazonas on TV and achieving national publicity.

Continued construction on the NIB campus as the church grows from 1,500 to 3,000 members by the end of 2011.

2011

2010: Construction of the Santo Antonio de Mamuriaca community church

2011: Construction of the Castanha community church

2000 - present Ongoing support for the puppet and theater ministries, with donations of equipment, puppets and training.

Sonho de Natal show

The puppet ministry

WAM-sponsored missionaries,

Luiz and Lia Silva

Construction on a balcony in the NIB auditorium, expanding from 3,500 to 4,300 seats as the church grows.

2013

2013: Construction of the Tefe community church, moving them from rented facilities to a new 250 seat campus.

WAM donates funds to help in the construction of the Nhamanda community church.

2007

Executive Director Milton Fielding and his wife Gloria move to Brazil to lead construction on the new 3,500 seat Nova Igreja Batista campus in Manaus.

2009

2009: Construction on the NIB campus

2012: Construction of the Assai community church

2011: WAM sponsors a puppet and theater ministry training festival with puppeteers June Turner and Dave Privett.