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July 24 ChangesThe Xingu Mission is changing and growing. As the number and the size of the churches are growing, the missionaries are also shifting around to the places they feel will be a good investment of their lives. Some of the recent changes include:
On a more constant note, the Brazilian leaders continue to work with their churches. As a mission one of our goals is to plant a Brazilian church planting movement. Warmly, Rick. July 23 BaptismYesterday we baptised 12 new believers from the Mirante Church.
The small group leaders did the baptising.
Nira planned a retreat to a nearby ranch. This is a very big event for the people of our church. 130+ showed up. We rented two buses but they had to pay their own R$5 entrance fee. (We helped some.) Since there is lots of water at this ranch we planned a baptism.
We are working at strengthening the small group / cell group / home group vision in our church.
Yesterday was a good step forward.
Thank you for all your prayers,
Warmly,
Rick. July 06 BubblesWe went as a family with the Heselton Ministry Team. We don't often go as a family with teams because it adds six more people to the boat. However, Richie's boat, the Maranata 3, was able to handle the team of 17, plus our family, plus the Kubacki family, plus the Wilson family. The our children did really well. Annika is really stepping forward as a translator, especially during the ministry times after the services.
The day after we got home from the trip Deanna and I flew to Belem to translate for the team for their day in Belem, and then to spend the week-end together. Our children lived between our house and the Kubackis, who also have four children and live in the Mission Community which is kind of in our backyard.
We are very happy to all be home together again!
Thank you for your prayers for us and for our family.
Rick. Summer TeamsWe had two great teams in June. Missionaries, local pastors and church people are greatly encouraged by ministry teams. These people give up quite a bit of money and time and time, often holiday time, to come down here and sweat and struggle, live on a crowded boat, endure the bugs and various hardships in order to help reach the fronteir people. And we greatly appreciate their efforts! Our mission statement is "North Americans and Brazilians united together to plant a Brazilian church-planting movement." It has always been our thought that if we can all work together and all do our part the Great Commission can possibly be accomplished in our generation. At least we can make great headway on it.
This is really a time of God's favor in the Amazon. The team mentioned this a few times and we can see it too. There is such a hunger for the gospel.
One church was about 20 hours away from here by boat. The people there are so poor the church is lit with old light bulbs, turned upside down. Somehow these light bulbs are filled with diesel oil and a strip of cotton t-shirt is pushed in as a wick. They look kind of cool actually.
*** While I was there I one of the lay leaders asked me if I had heard his testimony.
"No."
"Do you remember praying for me years ago?"
"No."
"Well, about 8 years ago I lived in Altamira. While there I had a dream that I lived far from the city and two foreigners came into my house and prayed for me. Because of that dream I moved from Altamira to live out here. Three years after I moved out here you (Rick) and Richie came into my house to pray with me. You were the people I saw in my dream. You were here with a ministry team."
This has me thinking and wondering and praying about other villages and rivers where we have never been. Who is God preparing for us to speak to? Valentine's SupperIn June Elba organized our second annual Valentine's Special Couple's Evening. All our church couples were to invite one unsaved couple each, and pay their way. Most of these people do not have opportunities to do something like this. 55 couples came. Pr. Dennis Stranges from Ohio shared a good word and many asked for prayer. Then there was food and games. Most of these couple have never really had a time to be "youth". They kind of went directly from being kids to having kids. Consequently, they love youth group type games.
Now that Steve and Elba are on furlough for 3 months I am really trying to focus on our small group leaders, to equip and enable them to pray for and minister to the folks in our growing church. I have a lot to learn in this area and appreciate your prayers. |
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