Maria Tereza Greathouse

Maria Tereza Greathouse

Teca (Maria Tereza) Greathouse is a United Methodist missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries serving in the Fourth Region of the Methodist Church in Brazil along with her husband, Gordon, since 1978.

Born and educated in Brazil, Teca is a teacher who was deeply involved in rural education in the Amazon region prior to her marriage. Utilizing radio and on-site visits, she helped build hundreds of schools in isolated regions and train teachers from local communities. She continues to use these teaching skills in service as a missionary.

Following their first assignment directing the Conference Camp in Nova Almeida, Espirito Santo, the Greathouses spent 14 years founding, developing and directing Sao Gabriel Community Center in one of the largest poorest neighborhoods outside Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third largest city. Their program works to promote self-esteem through self-help projects in which poor people from the slum areas gain skills to become more economically independent.

Today, the Sao Gabriel Community Center operates a wide variety of programs that have gained widespread interest. Its woodworking shop, weaving center and community laundry provide training and employment for the poor. In addition, the center offers professionalizing courses for teenagers and adults that better prepare them for the job market. After-school programs with sports and tutoring help underprivileged children advance through school. Working mothers are able to leave their children at a day-care center or kindergarten.

Since 1996, Teca has served as the Brazilian coordinator of the Latin America Network of Programs Supporting Children sponsored by the Latin America Council of Churches. She is also working with the national coordinator of educational programs of the Brazilian Methodist Church especially in the area of editing training materials and leading workshops.

Missionary code: 07696Z
Last update:

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See also
Gordon Greathouse
Other missionaries working in | Brazil | South America |
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