CALIFORNIA, Mo. - Missions are Evandro Kopper's passion, whether it be in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Memphis, Tennessee or Central Missouri.
Arriving in August, Kopper will serve St. Paul's Lutheran Church in California for 18 months.
Mid-Missouri, like each of his other mission fields, is different from any other.
This is the largest congregation he's ever served, but he brings his experience of reaching outside the church walls in nontraditional ways.
"As an outsider, I may see things others might not notice," he said.
Coming from his native Brazil, Kopper said he noticed right away California's residents have few material needs in the same way as many people in Brazil.
"I always like working in the United States; it's easier to do things," Kopper said. "Other place we had to accomplish (goals) without resources."
He estimates South American churches are about 50 years behind U.S. churches.
At St. Paul's, Kopper said he looks forward to working with the Rev. Pete Kurowski and working with youth in the community. He also has offered his translating ability to the police and fire services.
Kopper first came to the U.S. to study at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. But after six months, he was called to Memphis in 2002 to help plant a church to reach a growing Hispanic population.
"God works in strange ways," Kopper said. "I came to study, but that was an opportunity to serve. It was a good challenge for me to start a church from zero."
Kopper said he enjoyed serving the Cuban immigrants in particular because they were not allowed to attend church or gather in large groups in their native country. They built boats and faced torture to arrive in a place where they could worship, he said.
"They have a very nice testimony of how their spiritual life has changed," Kopper said.
Coincidentally, during this time of serving Spanish-speaking people was when Kopper improved his English.
Five years later, he said he was up for a new challenge and was called to help start a new English-speaking congregation in Munford, Tennessee.
Then, at age 40, he decided to return home as an anthropology professor at the Lutheran University of Brazil, where he ministered to students for three years. He holds a master's degree in the science of religion.
While there, he married his wife, Paula, who came with him to California with their infant daughter, Melina.
"I've been a pastor, missionary, church planter, chaplain and professor," Kopper said.
Kopper's strengths include being flexible and adventurous.
"Where God needs, I'll go."