Wonderful Time in Guaiba

What a joy it was to see all the folks in Guaiba last night. O good number came out even with their pastor gone.  We challenged the people in the Word and they responded very well.  We were surprised after the service  that they had prepared a huge meal for us. Several chickens, rice, salads. We sat around for quit a while afterwards reminiscing about old times and the blessings of what God is doing through Pastor Zenildo and Edineira.  We went away encouraged in the Lord. 

The Responsibility of God’s People

God continues to bless our national pastor in Guaiba with fruit. Souls are being saved every week. Pray that this body of believers can soon support their pastor full time. God has given these people a special coupple. Pastor Zenildo is away preaching at a youth camp for all our churches. I will be preaching there tonight (Wed) and will be challenging the congregation with the need to support their pastor financially as the Lord continues to bless them in 2008 and beyond. 

Jon’s Family

Here is a recent picture of Jon’s brothers and sisters.  The names from left to right are: Bill, Cherith, Tonya, and Leah. We did not get to see them this Christmas but it was great to get some pictures from them. They are all married with children and scattered across North America. 

Porto Alegre: A City Full of Violence

“For the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence” (Ezek 7:23) 

How sad it was to read in the paper today that Porto Alegre broke the record of a decade by being more violent in 2007 than two of the world’s biggest mega cities combined: Sao Paulo and New York.  This past year there were over 430 homicides – that is 29.86 people of each group of 100,000 people. Greater Porto Alegre has only 3.5 million people. Just to bring the New Year in there were 39 murders inflating already the record for 2008. They reported that 70% of the crimes were related to the consumption of alcohol. Others were drug related. 

The Gospel can turn violent monsters into victorious men. The need has never been greater for church planting in our capital city.  2/3 of the cities population lives on the North Side where we will live and begin to infiltrate with the gospel. Will you commit to pray more fervently for the lost in Porto Alegre and the planting of the Hope Baptist Church?  Let’s see if 2008 will bring hope to the city of violence!