Meet Our Missionaries

Dennis Downing was born and grew up along the border of Mexico in South Texas where his brother Andy still lives and leads an active bus ministry in the Hispanic colonias of the Middle Rio Grande River Valley. Dennis has lived in Brazil since 1986, being supported by Oak Hills Church since 1990. Formerly married to Germana Gusmão Downing, he has two daughters: Paulina, an accomplished attorney now in her fourth year of medical school, and Victoria, a medical doctor currently studying for residency in surgery. Both live and work in Recife, Brazil. 

Ministry Work

God called Dennis to a decade-long ministry of church planting in Recife, a city of 1.5 million in northeastern Brazil. Lives are being transformed throughout the city, as Dennis and the missionary team have brought light to many who have “dwelt in darkness,”. Today, the Lord continues to bless his seventeen-year ministry among the homeless, chemically dependent, and poor in Brazil all for God’s glory. As Dennis faithfully leads and serves, he has seen the Lord bring encouragement and renewal to hundreds of Christian leaders through conferences across Brazil and Portugal. His ministry, “is a joy and an unceasing encouragement to my faith.” Dennis continues to reach tens of thousands of Portuguese speaking men and women with the Good News through partnerships with organizations such as International Leadership Institute. 

Prayer Requests

• Dennis asks for God to renew his humility and fill him with Jesus alone. 
• May he hear the leading of the Spirit as he works with the International Leadership Institute to train Christian leaders.  
• May God continue to bless Portuguese speakers around the world to find Jesus through the free daily devotionals on the internet.