Our Missionaries
Our missionaries are normal people from all walks of life who have dedicated their lives to serving and following Jesus wherever He calls them. Want to meet them? Check out our Missionary Directory.
Richard and Yohanna de Oliveira
Missionaries to Brazil North Belem
Ministry Description
Our ministry is focused on the Word of Life Bible Institute in Hungary. This ministry is unique, as we have students from various parts of the world to dedicate themselves to the know, grow, and show the word of God, while they are still students, but also in the future, in any occupational context in which they will be involved. Since November 2020, Richard serves as an executive director and teacher and Yohanna serves as a teacher and women's discipleship.
About Richard
I am Brazilian and was born in a Catholic family. During my childhood, my parents got divorced. When I was 17 years old, I put my faith in Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord. In 1994 I started at Word of Life Bible College, in São Paulo, Brazil, where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Theology, majoring in Pastoral Ministry, in December 1998. While there, I met and married Yohanna in September 1999. From 1998 to 2004 I have served as pastor at my home church. In January 2005, we moved from Southeast Brazil to start ministering at Word of Life in Northern Brazil. In December 2006, I finished my master’s degree (MDiv) in Practical Theology at Faculdade Teológica Sul Americana, in Londrina, Brazil. And, in May 2016, I finished my Doctor of Ministry at Dallas Theological Seminary. In December 2019, my family and I left the ministry in Northern Brazil to serve with Word of Life Hungary.
About Yohanna
I am also Brazilian. I put my faith in the Lord Jesus at the age of twelve, in a Church, in Recife, Brazil. With my family's and church's blessings, I went to Word of Life Bible College in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in February of 1994. There I met Richard and got married in 1999. One year earlier, I graduated with a bachelor's in theology (major in Missions and Christian Education). From 2005 to 2019 our family worked at Word of Life Northern Brazil as missionaries. During those years we served in different areas (teaching, organizing women conferences, discipling, etc.). In May 2010, I finished my master’s degree at Columbia International University, Columbia, SC, USA, in the Master of Arts program (major in Intercultural Studies). We have two children, Ruth (2001) and Nathan (2003).
Life Verse
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20