August Newsletter

Here is a link to our newsletter for August 2011. Check out what God is doing here in our part of Brazil:

August Newsletter

Thanks to all who are praying for us, and for the people we are ministering to and trying to reach for Jesus. Your prayers are very valuable to us, and we appreciate them very much.

Looking For Churches

We have been serving in Santos and surrounding coastal area now for a year and a half, and we have been blessed to have the opportunity and privilege to work with about 25 churches in the area in various ways. In our Qualidade De Vida project in schools, the churches are very important, since they have the responsibility and role of doing the important follow up work with the schools and the new believers. We have spoken in approx. 30 schools in this area, and we have had mixed results with the participation of the churches. 

Some of the churches have been excellent to work with, and they are excited to reach out to lost people and share Jesus with them. Their participation in our school outreach project has been great, and typically when this happens they will do a good job of doing the follow up work. This is the type of church that we are looking for. Churches that seek to do what is important to the Lord ... seeking to reach people who are without Christ and then working to make true disciples ; ie: care for them, baptize them, teach them all that the Lord has taught and commanded,...

Unfortunately not all churches have been this way. Of all of the churches we have worked with so far in this area, only about 1/2 have had good participation in our school outreaches, and have shown a real desire and passion to reach lost people for Jesus and to make disciples. Typically a church that does not send many people to help in our school outreach project will not make any effort to do any follow up work afterwards. Sadly, several churches and pastors have pledged their support and help, but did not send anyone to help and participate. Hundreds accepted Christ during those events, but sadly there was no one to represent the church at the school and no one to do the follow up work.

Please pray with us that God will awaken more churches here (and all over the world), and that He will give them His passion for lost people and His vision to reach them. Please also pray that God will guide us to these churches, to partner with them to reach many for Christ.

Exploring Beaches

Thursday was a beautiful and warm day (29 deg. C = 84 deg. F ; not bad for winter), so we decided to go explore some beaches. We drove about 1 1/2 hours south/west to a city called Peruibe, and we visited the main beach in Peruibe and another about 15 minutes past there called Guaraú. We like Guaraú beach because it is more remote, and is surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery. Here are some pictures.

 

 

Back To Work

After our great 3 week trip to the US, we are starting to organize future outreach events with churches and schools. We have some great opportunities to share Jesus in the upcoming months, and we are excited about the opportunities the Lord has opened up for us. Here are some of the upcoming projects and events:

* we have 3 outreach projects in schools in August (1 in Curuaca, 1 in Guaruja, and 1 in Santos)
* I will be preaching in 3 churches in the next couple of months
* we have 2 outreach projects in schools in September (in Cubatao)
* In October 6 people from 2nd Baptist Church in Cedartown GA will be coming to help us reach people for Jesus; we will be speaking in 5 schools that week, plus working with 3 churches to share Jesus. It is going to be a great week.
* we have another school outreach project in November

It is going to be a great 2nd half of the year, and we are looking forward to seeing what God is going to do.

Great Trip

We are flying back to Brazil tonight, and after a stop in Rio de Janeiro first we will get back home in Santos tomorrow around 6 pm. We have had a great trip and we have really enjoyed seeing our sons John and Dan in Atlanta, along with many others in our families and many other friend that we have not seen in quite awhile. We are looking forward to getting back home to Santos, and to beginning to speak in schools and churches again in August.

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

This past Monday we visited the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta with 2 of our sons John and Dan, and Nancy's sister and brother in law from New Orleans. We have been in 5 or 6 different aquariums, but the Georgia Aquarium is by far the best we have ever been to. It is billed as the world's largest aquarium, and it is a must see if you are near Atlanta. It was one of the highlights during our 5 day visit to Atlanta.