Get to know Odir a bit more…

Odir’s Story

Odir was born in Brazil and he accepted Christ when he was 8 years old, after his sister presented to him the “Bridge to Eternal Life” tract.

Odir's first passion was writing. In 2007 he went to college in São Paulo to pursue a career in journalism where he made friends at a campus church. One day between classes, they invited him to preach, and having never preached before, Odir began studying his Bible with teaching in mind for the first time ever. He loved it and that experience planted a seed in his heart.

In 2012, Odir moved to Australia to participate in an English course program. All of the sudden he was in a different culture, dealing with a different language that he was still learning, with people that he did not know, and thousand of kilometers away from his family. But those 10 months in Australia served as a time to teach him the real meaning of dependence on God - and to learn English so he could meet Cynthia years later!

When Odir came back to his hometown in São Paulo, he decided to enroll in seminary in 2013. He felt God calling him to ministry and prayed for direction. Studying at the LOGOS Baptist Seminary in São Paulo, God continued to work in his life and tug at his heart with regards to full-time ministry. While studying theology at the seminary, Odir started preaching regularly at his church and soon he realized that his passion to preach far surpassed his passion to be a journalist.

In 2014, God led him to Cynthia and after one more year of dating and praying they got married in Brazil. After that, they traveled to the States so Odir could be appointed as an ABWE missionary. Odir and Cynthia served together in Brazil from 2015 to 2017 as prefield ABWE Missionaries “on the field”, then they returned to the States in 2017.

From September 2017 to September 2020 so many blessings happened while they were living in the States: their first son was born, Odir got his USA Citizenship, he grew learning alongside great mentors, they become fully funded, had their commissioning service and departed to their first (officially speaking) term as careers ABWE Missionaries in September 2020 to São Paulo, Brazil - where we are right now!

Favorite verse?
"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." Ezra 7:10

Favorite food?
Sushi and McDonalds (I know I need to get better on this!)

Which would you rather do: Sky-diving? Roller-coaster ride? or Back-packing through the jungle?
None of the above. In fact, I would rather go to a Starbucks with a good cup of coffee or play some video games with my son.