Rick Bergen: Mirante Church

Easter Sunday morning

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:11:22 GMT

We had a big feast at our church Easter Sunday morning, to celebrate the ressurection! This has become a tradition for us at the Mirante church.

On another line of thought, here are a few remarks from A. W. Tozer.

When Something Right Can Go Wrong.

1. When in our determination to be bold we become brazen

2. When in our desire to be frank we become rude

3. When in our effort to be watchful we become suspicious

4. When we seek to be serious and become somber

5. When we mean to be conscientious and become overscrupulous

END

Good Friday Baptism

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:17:50 GMT

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

The Mirante Church had a baptism service Good Friday, in the morning. I am always amazed at how a group of believers can grow, in numbers and in maturity.

Cristovál

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:13:37 GMT

Anni and Via just got back from Cristovál. This is a Youth Retreat for our church's "youth of all ages." It was a roaring success, with a lot of preparation which really paid off. The camp construction now includes a meeting hall, mess hall, four large rooms for hanging hammocks for sleeping and some bathrooms. Added to this Clenildo and some of the local leaders built an "obstacle course" for the youth, a "jail", where you could send anyone for 25 cents, and they had to stay there for one hour, or until someone rescued them with a 25 cent release card. The four Igreja da Vinha churches in Altamira that participated each had their youth prepare special numbers to present in front of the larger group, which were rated by a panel of "judges." All of these activities centered around some really good ministry and worship times. Our daughters said their favorite parts of the three day retreat were the preaching/ministry times and showing their friends how to play a card game called Dutch Blitz.

The Porto de Moz churches also said they had a very special time during Cristovál, with good participation and a special sense of the presence of the Lord.

E ND.

Children's Day and Virgilho

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:14:46 GMT

In October here in Brazil they have a holiday called "Children's Day". At the Mirante Church we had the children invite their friends, and had an outreach, fun kind of a day. This is in step with our value of being "Good News" in our neighborhood.

Virgilho showed up at the house this morning, really excited about the church plant out in the frontier where he is homesteading. They now have 13 adults and 18 children who come to regular weekly services. They are considering opening a second church plant about 5 kms away, and studying together as leaders but multiplying their forces to include more of their neighbours. Please pray for him as he has come in for the quarterly TLC training week-ends, but he left his wife home with a fever to look after their children. Life out in the wilderness has its good sides and not so good sides.

End.

Thinking About Small Groups

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:55:32 GMT

Our church has a regular attendance of 160-200 people. We have 11 small groups. This number has been more or less static for about a year. We have a committed group of leaders. We think some of the keys to bursting through to the next level of growth are:

More prayer for each leader by name.
Training, that the relatively new Christian leaders can learn to "pastor" their groups.
Identifying more potential leaders.
Honoring our cell group leaders at church.

Some of the practical ways we are trying to live this out:

I handed out a prayer list with all our cell group leader, trainees and host families. Maybe we can all lift each other up daily.
Tuesday night we all gather for training. I doubt that anyone has a study bible. They are too expensive. We have the inexpensive "pulpit" bibles. So we are making study bibles. I printed out topics with strings of verses and page numbers in small print. These are taped inside our bible covers. Then we color the verses lightly with pencil crayon and write the topic, the previous verse page number and the next verse page number. In this way we are making little "chains". Like I tell our leaders, "If you do this, you will appear wise, and you will be wise." The cell leaders also can get extra papers to help auxillary "trainees" or others in their cell.
The church also has several discipleship groups and prayer meetings which help us grow in faith.
A couple weeks ago we had a retreat. We told the church people to tell their cell group leaders if they wanted to come, and to pay them the R$5 entrance fee. The cell leaders told Nira who organized the outing. We also had a baptism while we were there. Once again, they told their cell leaders, and the cell leaders baptized the ones in their cell.
More people would like to get baptized. I ask them to tell their cell group leaders, with whom we will work out the practical details like when and where.

Please pray for our small groups. It is not too far fetched that everybody could bring a friend one Sunday. Then we will have 400 people. It will be good to have a solid core of trained people who are eager to train new leaders.

And maybe we'll identify more ways to practically equip these new Christians to effectively make disciples of Jesus.

End.

Baptism

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:12:17 GMT

Yesterday 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.

Valentine's Supper

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:42:31 GMT

In 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.

I'm Going to Join Your Religion

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:29:52 GMT

Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon the missionary kids wanted to take the teenagers from the visiting team to the local swimming hole. While we were there this group of six "tough guys" approached me. They'd been drinking and one has somthing (a machete or a bottle of 51) under his shirt. A team member had taken their photo and they wanted a copy. After some talk I told them I would take their picture and give them a photo if they would come to our church that night to get it. They said they would all come.

Just after our main Sunday service started at 7 p.m. one of these guys walked in and sat beside me near the back. I gave him the photos I had printed for him and his friends, and a bible. During the worship part of the service he told me, "Pastor, I've decided I'm going to join your religion. I am tired of my life of sin."

I don't know how he knew I was a pastor or how the Lord had prepared him to this point. "Just wait until after the preaching and the pastor will call forward those who want to repent of their sins and get right with God. I"ll go forward with you."

"I walked here alone tonight. But I am scared to walk home alone." This surprised me. I didn't know these fellows knew fear. He lives about 1 mile away, through one neighborhood and in the next one.

"We have quite a group that lives near you, and you can walk home together."

The visiting pastor, Steve, preached on the prodical son and how the father welcomes us back. The whole service Elu (nickname Neginho) just wanted to give his heart to the Lord. "Can I go forward now?"

"Just wait a bit more. He'll call us."

In the photo below he is the fellow with the ball cap in the middle, with the eagle tatoo on his chest. He appreciates your prayers. My prayer is that he will bring many people into the kingdom.

Prayer for Altamira

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 23:11:12 GMT

We were told last week that the pastors of the Altamira were going to meet for a joint prayer Sunday morning at the city park two blocks from our house. We met from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. It is always interesting to participate in pastor's meeting when a wide variety of denominations participate. There are so many personalities within each denomination and then each movement kind of has their unique characteristics.

The week before some city interest group wanted to meet with all the pastors to inform us of the big Hydro dam proposal and get input and feedback. Probably 50 pastors and leaders were present from a wide range of denominations including Vineyard, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, God is Love, and various others.

The team of 21 from Sunbury OH just got in tonight from a river trip. While there are many churches in Altamira most consider this town their mission field. The neighbouring communities are crying out for us to come teach them about God. We are working at training leaders and through them planting churches.

Community Help

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 17:43:39 GMT

Daisy is the mission secretary. She moved to Altamira to work with Elba when they met at Bible School in Belo Horizonte. After five years here she is building her own house. Daisy is still single, and serves the Lord faithfully in many ways. She loves to cook on the missionary boat trips, and is a key figure in Sunday School at the Mirante Church. The church people really joined in Saturday to help her raise the walls on her church.

These photos are the nieghbors here joining together to help Daisy build her house, which is is our neighbourhood.

What do you like best about your relationship with God?

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:47:01 GMT

I am continually surprised at our Monday Night Men's Bible Study. Last night our text was Ephesians 1:1-14, which includes the following text: "Eph 1:4-5 "In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will...".

This text led to the question, "What do you like best about your relationship with God?" I would have thought the standard answer would be joy that we are God's children. They understood it a little differently. Here are some of the responses:

"I am the most thankful that I'm not addicted to heavy drinking any more."
"I am the most glad I am not addicted to drugs anymore. I used to spend all my money on that."
"What I like best is that I am not addicted to smoking anymore."
"One day my son asked me for money to buy bread. I told him I only had 5 dollars left, and I needed that to pay our electricity bill. He didn't say anything, but went over to the couch and thought about it. Then I met some friends and we gambled and I lost the 5 dollars. I never bought the bread or paid the electrical bill. I am most glad I am not addicted to gambling anymore."
"I have been coming to church for a month or so. I still smoke, but I've noticed I am much less nervous (stressed and angry) than I used to be. There is a real change in me. I used to get so angry at my wife and children but now I am much calmer."

Another question that came out of this famous text on predestination, is "How do we know if someone has been predestined?" The response was simple: "If we can see the changes in the person." And while we concluded we could tell who was predestined it was not up to us to try to discern who is not predestined. Most of us could have been judged by others as being "not predestined" only a short while ago.

Last Cell Group (Kinship, HomeGroup) for Awhile

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 10:34:42 GMT

Last night we celebrated a Cell Group multiplication. Cell groups are our churches way of meeting mid-week in homes, and are our primary weekly meetings alongside our Sunday celebration services. Yesterday our cell multiplied three ways, plus it was the last time Deanna and I will attend. Next Thursday Craig Heselton arrives from Columbus OH with a team, the next Thursday he arrives back in town from a river trip, and the next week we leave for Belem and then home on furlough.

The group celebrated by making va-ta-pa, a chicken and thick cream sauce that goes over white rice. It is very special, and a regional favorite.

Creaza, the lady at whose home we have met for the past year or so, made a surprise poster sign and hung it on their house that said, in essence, "Deanna, we love you. May your light always shine brightly and may God guide and protect you. This is our hope for you and your family. With love, Creuza." This was very unusual and an encouragement to Deanna.

The Dolans are Home Again

Thu, 12 May 2005 10:07:39 GMT

The Dolans are back in Altamira again with their healthy baby, Camily, after being gone almost a month. They flew to the capital of our state for an emergency birth. We praise the Lord that they are back and all is well.

Célio and Lucianna

Sat, 30 Apr 2005 21:51:31 GMT

A few weeks ago we had another TLC (Training Leaders of Communities) camp at our site near Porto de Moz. About 8 years ago money was donated and we bought 400 meters of river front, 500 meters deep, or 50 acres, of dense scrub brush. We planted some fruit trees, and since then Stu and Richie have been working on improving the site.

About 100 people came, mostly pastors and lay leaders. Among the group were several people from the Mirante Church, including Célio and Lucianna. About a year ago Célio and Lucanna moved way back into the jungle to homestead. Shortly after they arrived their kerosene lamp broke and spilled all over Lucianne, badly burnnig her. Deanna visitted her in the hospital several times. In the meantime, Célio moved back to town and opened a bar just down the road from us. It was always a hub of activity. Several of there family was coming to church so they started coming. After some months they gave their hearts to the Lord. We never said anything about the bar and he continued to make his living this way from his home. About three weeks later he had a vision one day of a man laying stabbed on his floor with blood pouring out of him. He felt the Lord tell him that this was going to happen if he kept the bar going. So he promptly told his wife and shut it down.

During the last six months Célio and Lucianna have really grown in the Lord. During a public testimony time at New Year's or Christmas he publicly asked forgiveness of his family, for beating his wife etc. And Lucianna did the same thing, especially for being so ignorant to Célio. Now they are both in Escola de Líderes, our Bible School program, and always helping at the church. And their home is still a hub, but now it is a Christian hub.

Leadership School

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 20:01:34 GMT

Escola de Líderes

We meet Tuesday nights, for 2 hours. Another group, of youth, meet Sunday morning for 2 hours. Teaching includes the Basic Christian doctrines, Family, Church Home Groups, etc. We also require public testimonies, active involve or even leading a home Cell Group, and participation in the various church ministries such as Sunday School, Ushers, etc. The Mirante Church just graduated our first class from the one year program.

There is two photos of an older black lady writing. Her name is Creuza. I don't think she could read or write before the course started. She is very proud of herself. She gets a lot of help from her daughter and some neighbours who have finished the course. She was involved in a lot of witchcraft and all kinds of garbage before she got saved about two years ago.

Deanna and I are teaching with Sydney, another fellow from our church. When we go on furlough we will pass the class over to Steve and Elba. They should graduate are the end of the year, or early next year.

Easter Sunrise Service

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 19:11:22 GMT

It's the second year in a row! It's a tradition!

Last year with our new church plant we met with about 70 people upstairs on the Guest House porch. This year I forget the numbers but I think it was close to 200 showed up for the 6 a.m. service.

We had some worship, a short devotional study and testimonies. Most of the people giving testimonies were not saved a year ago. There families were broken and there was lots of fighting and feuding. It is amazing how God changes hearts, and families can be restored.

In the case of the photo called "Testimonies 1 - João" he was actually living with another girl and had been gone from home for a year. His wife and 4 and 6 year old children were so glad when he gave his heart to the Lord and came back. They have been back together since about last May and João is now in our Leadership School called Escola de Líderes. Katia, his wife, just gratuated from our first class. It is a one year program. Please pray for them as this last week they have been going through some stuff. It feels a bit like, while João has tremendous potential, he is still on the fence.

In summary, please pray for João and Katia.