This month we did an experiment as a church with sabbath principles. January is Brazil’s summer and so a lot of people vacation. We decided to put a pause on ministries and focus more on studying the Word and meditating on the gospel. The book Gospel Primer has been very influential on our family as far as applying the gospel to every area of our lives. We translated the 31 texts that he has and I posted that each day in our church group as well as on social media. Instead of our praise band on Sundays, different individuals led music. Instead of kid’s service, the kids stayed in the auditorium. Other ministries did less as well. This Sunday we return to normal. This past Sunday there was a good group and good spirit. Pray that keeps up!
Sarah’s parents Bob and Ginny Hall visited us for two weeks. We had a great time. Her dad, also known as Coach Hall because of over 40 years of coaching different sports, but mainly baseball, did a men’s event in both churches on “Dare to be a Daniel.” He grilled chicken and served their famous white sauce along with a traditional barbecue meal. The guys liked it, tried to get the secret white sauce recipe, and paid attention as he told the story of Daniel and gave a challenge towards trusting the Lord in all areas of your life.
Usually around the New Year, we look forward to what we would like to accomplish in the following year. This year in Arcoverde we want a more established leadership and a congregation that thrives around the gospel. In a little over a month, we will have an assistant Pastor arriving whom we will partner with to also plant a church. We are excited about this opportunity!
In Tupanatinga we would like to get more and more people involved. In a couple of weeks, we will have another baptism and several desire to be baptized. We have mostly new Christians in our congregation and are still figuring out some basics! Praise the Lord. We have started studying the Old Testament stories and will be in that series for a while with the goal of laying a base for beliefs.
Sarah has done a great job on our midweek studies with the ladies. In Tupanatinga she is teaching on emotions and a good group of ladies are showing up! The same rings true for Arcoverde and their study of a Jen Wilkin book about the Ten Commandments. The men have studied Nehemiah. The next couple of days we are reviewing our studies of Nehemiah and Daniel and trying to apply it to our lives. Pray for men with integrity who are proactive in changing their communities!
We have been so blessed. Pray that God would use us for His glory!
All for HIS glory,
David, Sarah and our soon-to-be English school apprentice (Evie will start helping out at the English school one day a week), and our bouncy cat lover Anna Claire
