Within the dense expanse of the Amazon rain forest, a somber presence hung over Cacuri village. This was no ordinary storm cloud foretelling rainfall; it was the ominous veil of strife and alcohol abuse.

“Here in Cacuri, we faced a lot of violence,” Elisangela, the chieftess of the village remembers. “The men had fun with drinks, and we stayed at home scared.”

It was a devastating situation for the family. Elisangela felt utterly defenseless against her husband’s alcoholic rages. “I’d spend more than a week away from home at a time,” her husband Francisco says. “When I returned home, I’d beat my wife.”

Despite his role as village chief, Francisco found himself powerless to calm the turmoil brewing within his community, as conflicts with neighboring villages only added to their troubles.

One tragic incident during a festive gathering in Vila Dedé resulted in a decade-long feud between the two villages, leaving them entrenched in enmity. But amidst the despair, hope arrived in the form of missionaries, who brought the message of redemption to Vila Dedé.

In a gesture of reconciliation, the newfound believers in Vila Dedé extended a hand of friendship to Cacuri, offering to build them a place of worship before their own church. With support from ICM, the dream of a church in Cacuri became a reality, symbolizing the birth of a sister congregation.

Moved by the transformative power of faith, Francisco and Elisangela embraced Christianity, leaving behind their troubled past to embrace a new life centered on God’s word. Grateful for the missionaries’ impact, Elisangela praises their arrival as a divine intervention.

Today, both villages stand adorned with beautiful churches, a testament to the healing power of God’s love. Francisco’s transformation mirrors the newfound peace that permeates Cacuri, where alcohol-fueled aggression has given way to harmony. It’s a story of miraculous unity, where broken relationships are restored through faith. ICM has facilitated the construction of nearly 200 churches across Brazil, paving the way for peace and reconciliation in communities like Cacuri and Vila Dedé