School Outreach In Sao Vicente

Yesterday we spoke at the state school EE Jose Nigro, which is located in a very poor area in the city of Sao Vicente. The school is for students from 5th grade to high school, and also has some classes for adults studying at night. Many of the students come from broken homes. The students were very friendly and warm and well behaved, and we had a great visit at the school. Many of them, as well as the teachers and school leaders very much appreciated us coming to help them in their lives.

The Holy Spirit touched many hearts as we shared the Gospel, and more than 130 students, 7 teachers, and the school coordinator accepted Christ and committed their lives to Him. Afterwards we passed out the Livro Da Vida books to all, which have some devotions in them as well as many Biblical values and truths for living. The school leaders were very pleased with the results, and they recommended us to 3 more schools in Sao Vicente. They also were interested in seeing if we knew of a church in the area that could teach English classes to some of the students at the church, and we will be talking to some churches in the area about it. That would be a good way to do follow up with some of the students and get them to come to the church to start discipling them.

A Difficult School

This week we spoke in the state school EE Marlene Leite, located in the Jardim Quietude part of Praia Grande, which is a  poor area of the city. The school is for students in 5th grade through high school. The principal told us that they have many problems with the students, including drugs, fights, vandalism... We had a few more problems than normal during the week with some students acting out while we were speaking in the classes, but all in all we had a great week. Also, during the break time one day some students threw some fireworks in the school that sounded like a small bomb.

We worked with Igreja Batista Cidade Ocian, and their participation in the project was very good. It was a challenging week, but God did a mighty work in the hearts of many of the students & teachers. Many responded to the Gospel message, and 554 students and 13 teachers accepted Christ and committed their lives to Him. We also had several opportunities to talk to students about the church, and many are interested in a ministry at the church that teaches English as a free ministry. We praise God for what He did this week, and for the privilege of being able to participate in His mission to seek and save lost people. 

Sharing Jesus In Praia Grande

This week we spoke in the state school EE Abrahao Jacob, which is for students in 5th grade through high school. We worked with Igreja Batista Central, which is located near the school. It was the first time we worked with them in a school outreach project. The participation of the church was very good, and we had interpreters from the church and from several others to help us. 

Once again God worked in a powerful way, and many were prepared by the Holy Spirit to hear the Gospel message. We praise God that 621 students, 8 teachers, and the school coordinator accepted Christ and committed their lives to Him. We also had various opportunities to speak outside of the classes to students & teachers about the church, which is what we always hope and pray for. We are not permitted to speak about a specific church or denomination in the classes, but we can give a clear and direct presentation of the Gospel. One other interesting thing that happened at the school was that we met a Christian teacher who was healed from leprosy. She was very happy that we were sharing Jesus in her class.

Speaking To Parents At A School

Last month we scheduled our Quality Of Life project in a school in Praia Grande for October. The school is called EE Lions Clube Centro, and is located in a poor section of the city of Praia Grande called Jardim Quietude. The school also gave us a great opportunity yesterday to speak to the parents of the students in 3 different parents meetings (1 for the morning students, 1 for the afternoon students, and 1 for night students). The school is for students in 5th grade through high school. 

Yesterday we spoke in parents meetings at 10am, 4pm, and 8pm, and despite bad weather there was a good turnout for the meetings. This was a great opportunity for us to reach out to the parents, because part of our goal is to help Brazilian families and reach them for Christ. God exceeded our expectations yesterday, and He powerfully touched many hearts and lives. Incredibly, 178 parents and 11 teachers and the school coordinator accepted Christ and committed their lives to Him. The school leaders really liked the message, and they were very pleased with how the parents responded. We had several people ask us about a church nearby, and we were able to recommend one to them. My interpreter yesterday, Carla, is a member of Igreja Batista Cidade Ocian, which is close to the school, and she was able to talk to them about the church and invited them to visit. We will be working with the church when we go back to speak to the students in October.

Mt. Carmel 2nd To Last Day

We had another very long and tiring and complicated and victorious day all rolled into one on Thursday. Because of scheduling changes in the schools this week, we had to speak in all 3 periods of the day in some of the schools - morning, afternoon, and night. This is the first time we have ever had to do that, but it is all worth it to reach precious people for Jesus. 

In the morning Nancy and I and Missy & Butch from Mt. Carmel went to EM Lions Clube school in Sao Vicente to finish up speaking in the 4 remaining morning classes. We worked with Primeira Igreja Batista Sao Vicente (1st Baptist Church Sao Vicente) in the school. Then we met everyone back at the hotel and then had lunch. After lunch we split up into 2 groups and Nancy and Butch & Missy went back to EM Lions Clube school to speak in the afternoon classes there. I and the remaining 4 from Mt. Carmel went to the school EE Maria Dulce, where we worked with Capela Calvario church, led by Pastor Celso and Pastor Chris. 

We had more time to interact with the students this time, and it was alot of fun to talk to them and take pictures with them. After we finished at EE Maria Dulce school, our team was mobbed by many students and they all wanted to talk to the Americans and ask many questions, and take pictures with us. We had a great time with them.

Then after that all of us together came back to speak at night in EE Maria Dulce school. They have classes for high school students at night. Everyone got to speak in 1 night class for the last time on their trip to Brazil. Afterwards we got to spend more time with a group of the students, and we also had the opportunity to speak to some of the students about the church Capela Calvario.

This week we saw God mightily at work, and we are in awe of our great and mighty God. He went ahead of us before we ever spoke in any class to share Jesus, and He prepared and opened many hearts to hear the Good News of Jesus. We worked hard to arrange the events at the schools and visits in homes, but God is the one who opened these doors and opportunities. He also gave us more "divine appointments" in the streets, in stores, restaurants, and other places. As we stepped out in faith and obedience to share Jesus with others, the Holy Spirit convicted many and we saw various students in some classes get very emotional during the message. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicted them of their sin and separation from God, and He is the One who convinced them of their need for Jesus. We cannot do that, only the Holy Spirit can.

All in all God touched and saved 2127 people this week, including 43 teachers, 2 school coordinators, and 1 principal. The vast majority of the students were not young children, but they were mostly teenagers and even some adults studying at night. God is mightily at work in the world. We need to find out where He is at work and then do whatever it takes to go and join Him. We can say with certainty that He is mightily at work here in this part of Brazil. All glory and honor and praise and thanks go to our great and glorious God.