It Is Easy to Plan for Success When You Already Know the Ending

From Cubati I traveled to Patos for a meeting with evangelists from Emas, Patos, and Belem about their plans for establishing a congregation in Pombal. I am helping them learn how to better plan and execute those plans, as well as, instilling in them a vision to work together as one body and to look outside of their own city for the growth of the Kingdom.

There were other congregations present, but the focus was on these three. The steps established at this meeting to be accomplished until the next meeting were to pick three members from their congregations to train, then, begin visiting, teaching and testing them to see their growth. Tests are not written but practical: Bible studies given, visits made, etc. and then help these members grow in their needs. Once the training of these members begins then we can start thinking about moving on to the next step, reaching outside their city, starting new congregations, seeing God's victory firsthand, the perfect ending.

Please pray for Luciano, Givanildo, Santo, Marcelo and Silvan.
Please ask God to give them wisdom and patience to help other Christians grow in their faith and love for God and others.
Please pray that God will guide them to people who are seeking the Truth in His Word.

Comments

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

Search This Blog