School Board Decision

We received a call this afternoon from the director of the school with the news that after much discussion and debate the board voted not to allow us to use the school building as a place to begin the church.  He said that he really tried to get it for us but that it is a way to protect the school from other activities.  Continue to pray for the Lord’s provision for a place to rent.  “No good thing will He withhold to them who walk uprightly” 

Pictures of the School

No news yet! Keep praying!  Here are some photos we took on Sunday. 

Building Update: Wait a little more

 As you know well, God answers prayer with three responses, Yes, No, and Wait.  This time He responded with “Wait”.  Patty went in this afternoon to the school and the director pulled her into his office saying that the board meeting went from 7-10pm. He didn’t even get through all the items he wanted to discuss and didn’t present the possibility of us using the facilities to the board.  He did discuss Patty with the board and they were very happy to have her at the school.  He promised to do it again at the next meeting.  We don’t know exactly when that will be but we trust in the Lord and will wait on His perfect timing.   Psalm 73:28 says, “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all they works”.  Today we printed out six pages of verses that talk about trusting in God.  What a joy it is to trust, not in “chariots or horses” but in the Name of the Lord (Psalm 20:7).   

Thank you for praying, you will be the first to know of any developments. 

Hopeing Big: Meeting Place Update!

We have some exciting news to share. Patty has been volunteer teaching at the Pan-American School http://www.panamerican.com.br  on the cities north side.  Today the director called her in to discuss how the school could pay her since we are not allowed to receive money under our Brazilian Visas.  To make a long story short Patty mentioned the fact that we were looking for a building to rent to begin the Hope Baptist Church and that they could allow us to use the facilities.  We actually had been praying for a specific opportunity to bring this up.  Patty felt at peace and popped the question. Well the director immediately responded that he would bring it up in the board meeting on Monday (October 22).  We are still in shock but praising the Lord!  Patty teaches again on Tuesday so hopefully we will know by then.  The school has five stories, gymnasium, cafeteria, in a very good location, brand new, and of course fully equipped to plant a church. Thank you for your prayers!

Moving Closer to the North Side

When we first considered planting a church on the North Side we thought our apartment would be close enough to begin impacting the area for Christ. After traveling back and forth we believe that we can be better salt and light by living closer to those we are trying to reach (Matt. 5:13-14). Currently we live on the south side of town where our colleagues are already ministering in established local churches. Our neighbors should go to their local church and not ours.  After putting this before the Lord we put our apartment on the market.  We have had many interested, but it has not sold.   We have already found another apartment in a prime location to do what Jesus said, “Be salt and light!”  We were given until today to make an offer on it but our apartment has not sold. While we risk it being sold to someone else we are content to know that if the Lord wants us to have this other apartment ours will sell before it can be sold. 

Hopeful and Waiting on God

God is never too early or too late to provide.  He knows we are VERY anxious to find a place to start the Hope Baptist Church.  On Sunday night we went to the storefront location where we would love to begin.  After finding a place to park we stopped and worshiped God, asking Him again to work and provide.  We prayed as well for those God desires to save on the north side of the city.  We read together in Romans 15, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you might abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”(13)  What is it that God wants us to have joy and peace in believing?  Verses 8-9 are clear, ”Now this I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Jews) for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.  And that the Gentiles(the nations -Brazilians) might glorify God for his mercy”  Pray with us that God will glorify His great name in Porto Alegre by calling out people for His name and because of His great mercy.  Isaiah 40:1-2 tells us, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably….and cry unto her…that her iniquity is pardoned”  Our joy is in the fact that God wants these people to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He wants to see a church planted here because of His eternal promise of Jesus to the Nations.  In this we have joy and peace, for this we abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Continue to pray for Hope Baptist Church.

Tuesday Nights

What a joy it is to teach in the Seminary every Tuesday night.  This semester I only have one class, “General Epistles”, from 9:30-11:15pm.   We are having a great time in the Word.  The guys in the class are a great encouragement.  Pray for our students, this week we have Pastor Matt Collier with Camps Abroad (http://www.campsabroad.org ) teaching a block course on teen ministry.  He is doing a great job!

Ordination of Pastor Zenildo

What a joy it was Saturday to take part in the ordination of Pastor Zenildo.  Many of you already know that he is the pastor of the church in Guiaba where we worked our first term.  He did a great job defending his doctrinal positions.  He has proven himself in the pastoral ministry long before his ordination day.  On Sunday there was a special ordination service where he brought his entire flock by bus to take part.  I had the joy of preaching.