Bret and Susie Cox met in High School and were married in 1985. Twenty three

years later, they have answered a calling, by faith, to serve the poor in

Jarinu,Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"As I look back, Bret says, I realize that this has been God's plan from the

beginning of time and He has been preparing me for this day for the past 48

years. 

From their youth spent in Sullivan, Indiana through the years, jobs and

friends in Kentucky and Tennessee, they are now missionaries to the people

of Brazil because of God working through a series of people and events.

As a teenager, God called Bret to ministry in 1975 but "I hung up on Him,"

Bret says in hindsight, "Because I didn't understand the broad scope of

ministry." At Hardin Baptist Church in Kentucky, where Bret & Susie were

serving, he was approached more than once to join a mission team to Brazil.

He again set it aside, and it wasn't until a few years later when a Godly

man and fellow member of his church, First Baptist Smyrna in Tennessee, said

these words to him: "You need to go to Brazil on a mission trip." 

He said, "Yes," and in November of 2004 he went on his first mission trip to

AMO (Apascentai Minhas Ovelhas) in Jarinu, Sao Paulo. Bret's face lights up

when he explains.  AMO is Portuguese for "Feed My Sheep." He remembers: "On

my first visit to Brazil something special happened in my heart and part of

me never left." Over the past three and a half years he has made eleven

additional trips to Brazil to work with missionaries Pete & Jodi Brennan at

AMO. He says: "The Brennan's are a picture of true discipleship and Pete is

a mentor that I truly enjoy serving with."  

He readily acknowledges it's all about the people, and being obedient to the

prompting of God has led him to a people who are truly hungry for the

message and hope we have in Christ. The joy experienced in loving them is a

mere by-product.

Susie Cox's' deep faith has been demonstrated two-fold: faith in her Lord

and Savior, and confidence in her close relationship with her husband. In

what can only be described as a huge step of faith, she is moving away from

a life of comfort, friends, family and the receptionist job at her church

that she dearly loves into something that will certainly offer challenges

from her current life style. Susie did not accompany her husband on his

first  few missionary trips, which began in 2004. Her first trip came about

in a unique way. 

The Cox's lived in Nashville, Tennessee and Bret was doing well working for

a large developer, Duke Realty Corporation. On his second trip to Brazil in

April of 2005, he says, "God laid on my heart to bring Susie there to share

my joy and experience." Their 20th anniversary was August 16, 2005" When he

returned home he said "rather than the cruise I was planning, will you go

with me to Brazil to celebrate our 20th?" She reluctantly agreed and he

promised that if he was wrong, when they returned, he would take her

anywhere she desired. After 3 days there, knowing that he was scheduled to

return in November, she said: "Do you think I can come back with you in

November?" Susie has been 7 more times since that first trip. 

When asked what the greatest challenges they face, they will both readily

agree: First is the language barrier and second is the distance from friends

and family. Although they both have no "biological" children, they will

quickly tell you that children hold a special place in their  hearts and

Susie will miss all the children she interacts with daily at her

receptionist position. There will certainly be adjustments as the culture is

more laid-back.

The Cox's find comfort knowing they will not be alone as they have the

promise of the Lord who says "I will never leave you or forsake you." They

will seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit to guide their every step. They

also have the support of their church FBC Smyrna, Hardin Baptist,

Graysville Methodist and many friends and family. 

They will be working with Pete and Jodi Brennan, the founding missionaries

at AMO. Bret speaks often of the vision God placed on Pete Brennan's heart

to love the poor. Pete and Jodi have been at AMO for nine years,

establishing  relationships and meeting the spiritual, physical, and

emotions needs for the people in the cities of Jarinu, Sao Paulo, and

Campinas. Bret and Susie see working with the Brennans as one of the

highlights of their mission. One of Bret's greatest joys has been getting to

know Pete Brennan as he truly is a fully devoted follower of Christ.

Bret and Susie have been gifted with several skills and talents which they

say God will be utilizing in the favelas (portuguese for shanty towns). We

will be "making disciples" in a very practical way by immersing ourselves

into their culture, he says. "Learning Portuguese will be the primary

responsibility for the first year as we have a deep desire to minister

without the aid of an interpreter." They will be teaching vocations and

training leaders to go back into their environment and minister to their own

people. The focus, Bret says, is on multiplication, not addition - therefore

a special emphasis will be on training the leaders God is raising up.

"Our hope is that the fame and glory of God be made known and we would see

an evangelical movement where more and more people would bow their knee and

heart to Christ." 

The Cox's are very grateful in advance for the prayers and financial help

that friends everywhere will offer and have full confidence in His provision

and power through them.  

Bret says a life changing Bible verse for him has been:

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the

race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of

testifying to the gospel of God's grace". Acts 20:24