Skip to main content

Financial Peace

By
            One of the important aspects of any mission and its future continuance is the financial side of those who give.  If Christians are having financial problems, that is, overburdened in debt, then hardly anything will be left for supporting mission efforts.  The question of whether it should be this way or not is rendered irrelevant since this is the practice in most people's lives. 

            You may think that I am writing about my own support, or that of other missionaries and mission works, but I am actually writing about the local work here in Brazil.  Brazil is booming economically.  People have more financial buying power than they have ever had before by the increase in salaries, easy credit, some lower interest rates (although lower, they are still around 280% a year on major credit cards, yes, that is not a mistype).  Most everyone is buying new cars, new TV's, new everything, and going into major debt.  This is also happening with a lot of Christians.  The similarities of this new economic "freedom" remind me of the U.S. in the 90's. 
            If the church is to become mature and support its own workers and mission efforts then the Christians need to control their buying habits, live on less than they make, and save for emergencies by being content with what God has given them.  I have been teaching the João Pessoa church, material from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. I asked for his permission to teach and distribute some of his material.  He happily agreed, and I began translating and teaching.  I have even had the privilege of cutting up Terezinha's credit cards. 
            I traveled to Patos this past weekend where I also taught this same Financial Peace material over a 16 hour intensive class.  I was already hearing the comments about saving to invest in God's Kingdom and stop wasting money on our own desires.  I also preached, using the parable of the Unfaithful Steward in Luke 16:1-13.  It was great to spend time with these Christians and to be encouraged by their desire to seek God's will in everything they do.
The mentality of those taking the course has changed, and with time the signs will show.   Please pray for Terezinha, the church in Patos, and all of those who have gone through this course so that God's Word may spread with more speed and through good examples.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For the Kids, Part III

By
    In the USA, there are two special days during the year that children love: birthday and Christmas. Brazil adds one more: Children's Day. On this day, children receive a present and since it coincides with Our Lady of Appeared Conception, Brazil's patron saint, it is also a national holiday.     Each week we get kids from the Castelo Branco neighborhood together at the square in front of Dona Terezinha's house to talk about Jesus. For Children's Day, we invited the parents to watch the kids perform a play of the "Prodigal Son," then each kid receives his or her fill of cotton candy, cake, and a sack full of goodies. The parents who came received a Today's Portuguese New Testament and an invitation to the weekly Bible study at Terezinha's.     Lori Hagewood has organized this activity for three year with the help from Terezinha, Joseph, and Michel (from the China Taiwan restaurant). Michael, Ashton, and Tif...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pedro's New Family

By
           Good Christian parents are invaluable in bringing about children’s faith, but in the absence of such, the younger generation must take up Christ’s banner and follow for themselves. Pedro and João have been coming to our church meetings for a long time. Their parents, though, haven’t even visited, showing no interest whatsoever, except for an internet search to make sure their kids weren’t getting into anything crazy.            This past Sunday Pedro gave his life to Christ and was baptized into a new family. I admire young people who break with family tradition for the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let our Lord be praised through the dedication and sacrifices that young people make.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Planting, the Watering, and the Increase

By
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. 
Post a Comment
Read more