By By Adrienne McKenzie
Pamela Kitchens knows first-hand how powerful prayer can be – she sees miracles happen everyday while performing mission work in Brazil.
Kitchens, founder and President of Missions of Integrity, was the guest speaker at the Atmore Rotary Club's weekly luncheon at the Atmore Community Hospital Tuesday.
Kitchens, originally from Warrenton, Ga., began her relationship with Christ when she was 35 years old. Within two weeks of being saved, Kitchens felt a call of worship into the ministry and within six weeks she surrendered to the call.
"When I received Christ, I felt led to go back to school and have been going ever since I was 36 years old," she said.
Kitchens received her bachelor's degree in history from Augusta State University in 1999. She then received her masters in Christian education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2002 and is currently working on her doctorate through Luther Rice Seminary.
During these years of learning, Kitchens has dedicated her life to sharing God through community outreach programs such as Missions of Integrity, which she helped found seven years ago. She has led more than 700 volunteers from eight states in evangelism and has helped construct chapels, children's homes, pre-schools, community centers, bakeries and rehabilitation centers in Brazil and Honduras.
Kitchens said she has a passion for Brazilians and their well-being.
"If you can't love Brazilians, you probably can't love anybody," she said.
Missions of Integrity partners with Brazilian churches, teaching the Brazilian pastors how to meet the needs of the community. More than 8,500 professions of faith have been reached through Missions of Integrity.
Kitchens spoke with Rotarians about a mission trip to Brazil scheduled for June. The volunteers will minister face-to-face to 3,400 to 3,500 people during this one-week trip. Volunteers will not only be expected to spread the word of Christ, but to love the children – teaching them how to brush their teeth and fitting them with reading glasses, and also constructing a church for the community to continue worshiping in.
Kitchens said she has had several inquiries from Atmore residents interested in helping spread the ministry during the upcoming trip to Brazil. The congregation at Unity Baptist Church has shown the most interest and according to Kitchens, seven members have verbally committed to going on the mission trip.
For more information on Missions of Integrity, please visit www.missionsofintegrity.org or call 817-306-8012.