The Church is Now Here!

Campina Grande is the second largest city in Paraiba, and the church is getting ready to take Christ there. The church is praying, Brazilian congregations are raising money to send two national families there in addition to a missionary family also preparing to move there this year. But even before they arrive, God is working, as told by Joe McKinney below:

I usually travel through Campina Grande on my way to anywhere in Paraiba so when I discovered that Izaias, an old friend whom I had not seen in over 15 years, had been transferred there (he is an agent with the Federal Police), I decided to stop and try to find him. When I got there, I called him and his wife answered, whom I had never met. She told me how to get to the house. Izaias took off from work and came to meet me at home. We had lunch and spent the day catching up and talking about life, God, the Scriptures until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I spent the night at their house and the next day went on my way.

Three weeks later, Izaias called me out of the blue and said there were three people who had decided for Christ and wanted to be baptized and would I come do it? Of course I went and after a Bible study with the family, baptized Izaias and his two daughters, Patricia and Vanessa. I went on my way rejoicing.

The church in João Pessoa is right now preparing three families to move to Campina Grande to begin the church there, hopefully in June or July. Izaias, right after the baptisms, told me "The church is now in Campina Grande."

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The Planting, the Watering, and the Increase

Emesson started coming to Bible Club over a year ago, when Neil Schultz and Cait Beckloff, our AIM team, were teaching it. For several months, they planted the seed in his and his sister's hearts. Unfortunately Neil and Cait's time in João Pessoa ended. In 2014 Bible Club received a boon when Erick and Jenny Paddy, former AIMers, returned to the field and picked up teaching the Bible Study for English speakers. They watered the sprouting seed in Emesson's life until God's Word became more important for him than just practicing his English. Last Wednesday night, God gave the increase, adding Emesson to the Family of Christ. Sometimes things don't happen when we think they should, but God is in control; His time is best, and we must thank Him for playing a small part in His plan.

"What About Baptism?"

Edda and I went to a nearby city to study the Bible with a family, Genilda (who is already a Christian), Ana, Mariana, Luiza, and Jefferson. While we were reading God's Word, Ana's husband, Silva, came in and sat down, and then blurted out: "What about baptism?" It took me by surprise because he has barely studied with us, but, most certainly, is already thinking about spiritual matters. Our Bible study then took a lot of detours, answering this question or that. Silva said he still has a lot of questions, and we pray that the Lord will use us to answer them, bringing him to understand the Good News!

Samuel McKinney's New Life in Christ

It has been only three days since Samuel gave his life to Christ, but it is so exciting to see my young son exercising his faith, like getting upset when his history teacher at school taught that miracles in the book of Exodus can be explained by natural phenomena: low and high tides in the crossing of the sea, natural disasters for the plagues, etc. The day after his baptism, Samuel went on a trip with his school and received a new nickname: the boy who reads the Bible. He read 1 Samuel, chapters 1 through 6, out loud for the whole bus to hear. His eagerness to take the Lord's Supper for the first time was refreshing. May our Father bless all our families with life changing faith.

McKinney Report

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