This Was Not A Reporting Visit But A Renewal Visit

     After two months in the States, we just arrived back in Brazil.  The McKinney families and my family want to thank everyone. Your hospitality in receiving us was great. We visited churches, gave mission reports, preached, and visited a lot of people. We hope we gave as much encouragement as you gave us.  Thank you all so much for your love, prayers and the joy you showed in hearing about the work in Paraíba, Brazil. Too many to name, you all were so nice, and I will say that we do feel renewed after being with you and seeing so many examples of dedication, love, and joy in sharing God's word with others.

    Please pray with us this year that God will let His Kingdom grow in maturity and numbers, and that He will send forth workers for the great harvest.

Faith and Perseverance

     For over a year, Dylan has told me he wants to be baptized.  He would wake up on some days and say, "I am going to be baptized today".  When we were near a pool he would threaten me, saying, "I am going to baptize myself" and when in a pool, he would yell out "Daddy" and then proceed to put the baptism hold on himself (one hand, holding his nose and the other hand holding the wrist of the other arm) and fall backwards.  For more than a year, Dylan asked for prayers to be baptized at the church prayer meeting.  One night, after praying, I told them that I would see them tomorrow, if we were still alive or if Jesus did not come back.  Dylan broke out into tears and bawling, "If Jesus comes back, I am going to hell." After that, I began to take him a little more seriously.  You see Dylan is now only 11 ½ years old, and he seems too young to have the faith needed to make a lifelong commitment. 

     After several months of studying the Bible with me and even his Granddaddy and praying, we finally concluded that if this were someone older with the knowledge and understanding that Dylan has, we would not hesitate in baptizing that person.  When he asked me, "Can I be baptized, Daddy?" I said, "Why are you asking me?"  He said, "To see if it is o.k."  I said, "What if I say it is not, who are you going to obey, me or God?"  He said, "I will obey God."  "So, why are you asking me if you can be baptized?"  He said, "I don't know. Daddy, I'm going to be baptized."  I said "O.K."  And so, his Granddaddy baptized him on February 1, 2015.

   

  Please pray:

·         Dylan will remain faithful until death;

·         That while alive, Dylan will be salt and light in this world.

Finances

On a side note, I taught the finance class in in September. There were a total of 11 that began the course and 9 finished. I just pray that 1 or 2 will put the lessons into practice so that the church in will catch on and invest more in God's Kingdom.

Please pray:

• that people will be more interested in investing in God's Kingdom and will therefore, manage their personal finances with more dedication;
• that the church in Brazil will begin to open its eyes to see the need for spending money on their spiritual family.

SEARA (Member Training)

I traveled to Patos at the end of August to teach the book of James, and I intermingled the class with the finance class, talking about contentment and using some of Dave Ramsey's practical personal finance administrative tools. It had been two years since the last time I taught the finance class in Patos and it seems that only one couple is putting some of the teachings into practice.

I went back to Patos on October 16th, traveling with Enio Latorre to visit and coordinate SEARA. This four year training program will end in August 2015. We will have a graduation and the students who went through the program will continue to teach and serve their respective congregations. They will also serve throughout the state as teachers.

Please pray:

• that these men and women who are gaining this knowledge will continue to practice the knowledge that they have of God's Word;
  
• that a new SEARA class will be welcomed by the church in Cajazeiras with many members dedicating time and energy to the study and practice of God's Word.
  

Grande Ceia (Great Supper)

The Grande Ceia (Great Supper) is a state-wide event for Paraíba. One hundred and twenty people attended this 18th Great Supper, almost every church in the state represented.

This year's theme was "Family, God's Project". The lesson I was gave was supposed to start at 7:30 p.m. but our group arrived at 8:30 p.m. after the long 8 hour trip. After taking our things to our rooms and eating, I spoke at 10 p.m. Most everybody stayed awake so that was good. My lesson was on "Honoring God in Your Marriage". The main point was for everyone to look in the mirror and realize that they themselves are the problem in their marriage. If we can focus on learning to love and serve and stop pointing fingers, demanding that others serve us, things would be a lot more peaceful and simpler.

Please pray:

• that husbands and wives can mature and begin serving one another and stop looking to be served.
  

Pastoreai

Pastoreai is a workshop for families and congregations who desire to establish an eldership. Not many congregations in Brazil have elderships, only 2 churches in the Northeast, that I know of, have elders.

Twenty-two people came, met, talked and discussed the role of elders: what they are, what they do, how they are not perfect, but how also they have the qualities needed to help each member grow in love and service. The previous workshop had 90 participants. The attendance was down this time because it coincided with the presidential election.

I gave a lesson on Abraham. There was a round table session for the speakers to answer questions, and there was good food and fellowship.

Please pray:

that the men of the congregations in will produce elders who exemplify Christ in everything they do;

that young men may desire to serve God in this capacity as well.

Baptism in Cajazeiras

     In the month of August, two people were baptized in Cajazeiras one of which was in connection with the Right Step Program (the soccer school run by the church). Natanael, is 15 years old and has been in the soccer program for two years. Aparecida is 36. She is not in the soccer program obviously.

     There was also a co-worker of Leila, Café's wife, who was baptized during the women's seminar in João Pessoa.

Please pray:

* that these new babes in Christ will grow in their love for God and for their neighbor,

* that they may dedicate more of their time to study God's Word and learn His will.