McKinney Report

by Diego dos Anjos   Diego is an AIM graduate, who served in Mexico, and is now back in João Pessoa, still serving Jesus while also studying to be a doctor. The following is an excerpt from his newsletter about his experience at youth camp. If you would like to receive Diego's bimonthly newsletter, write him at diego_dosanjos@hotmail.com  .   YOUTH RETREAT IN RECIFE           We took the youth group from the church in Joao Pessoa to the youth retreat in Recife in April. The retreat's theme was SHAPED BY GOD.           I personally enjoy these youth retreats that we have in Northeast Brazil a lot. The main reason is because I get to see and meet so many people there. It is encouraging to know that far away from my house there are Christians who are trying to make it through life the same way I do. We face similar giants and trials, and we all want...

We report about people converting to Christ and being baptized. Seeing the picture of a person in the water makes it look so easy. It doesn't tell the story of months, sometimes years, of prayers, Bible studies, counseling, patiently working through sinful, knotted-up lives, plus the stories of the majority that don't ever come to a faith that surrenders to Christ.   Ana Paula was baptized! If you want the full story, please read Lori Hagewood's newsletter below.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There aren't many who can scream at me all night long and still make me smile in the morning."                                             ...

by Renato Menezes   Renato is the second young person from João Pessoa to go through the Adventures in Missions program. His 18 months is Mexico is about to end, and undoubtedly he has grown tremendously in his faith during these past two years.     Here is his report on his personal Bible studies:       Praise God I started studying the Bible with one more person since last month, raising the number of weekly Bible studies to four.     Ema is one of the main people that work at the orphanage where we have a ministry (the children from there call her mother). She would visit the church before, but stopped because of work and other things, but in the last months, she not only started coming again, but brought her daughter too. Some Sundays ago I offered a Bible study, and she accepted happily (I was happy too). So then Ramiro and I began...

      Lucéia found the João Pessoa's church building's address on the web and, with her husband Jocildo and their two daughters, visited our Sunday meeting. They started participating in the church's activities and since then Beijamim Junior has had a weekly Bible study with them. Lucéia is a disciple, having been baptized for the remission of sins and expressing her desire to work alongside the congregation in God's purpose. Junior presented her yesterday to the congregation. We pray that Jocildo is close to a decision for Christ. He told me that things have been changing in his life and he is liking the change. 

by Ricardo Sobral Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! The LORD our God is powerful! To Him all honor and all glory! Our God is truly marvelous. We have completed what we started last year. In March of 2009, we challenged the brethren of all Brazil to raise R$ 40,000 (approximately $22,200). And in the past 12 months, brothers and sisters have responded positively.     We made it! Glory to God!!!! We have today R$ 40,170 committed for the sending of a church planting team to Campina Grande. Raniere Vieira and I went to São Paulo to participate in the ENOC and CRE events. We went there to complete what was proposed 12 months before to raise this money for 2010. We thank the brethren for completing the goal. We thank God for their willingness. Please, beloved, continue to pray for this work, that more will want to participate in reaching a city for Christ, for the campaign for 2011 has begun. Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord!

    Diego dos Anjos, before entering his medical school, decided to go through the Adventures in Missions program in Lubbock, Texas. After eight months of Bible training, he spent a year in Tlapan, Mexico, evangelizing and assisting in the mission work there. He was brought home early because of the H1N1 Flu scare. Since then Diego has initiated his journey to be a doctor and in the following tells about graduating from AIM. If you would like to receive Diego's bimonthly news reports on his continuing serving the Lord in João Pessoa, write him < diego_dosanjos@hotmail.com >   Diego dos Anjos:   Going to the States     In the beginning of February I got on a plane and took off to the United States of America. For more than a year I had been praying and asking God to give me this opportunity. The main reason was that on March 15th would be my AIM Graduation, and I wanted to be there so bad. ...

Cajazeiras     I went to Cajazeiras this past weekend to teach a class on God's plan of salvation.  The church is small in number and growing both spiritually and numerically.  The class started Friday night; it went on Saturday afternoon and night and ended with a class Sunday morning before the church meeting.  I also interviewed Café, Leila, 4 girls and 3 boys from the Right Step program, the main evangelistic thrust in the city. This program helps underprivileged families with their children in school, on the soccer field, in their homes, and most importantly in their personal lives.     Please pray for Café, Leila, and their four daughters. They are the only family working full-time with this program and are feeling the weight of visiting and caring for 93 boys, girls, and their families.  Please pray that God may send another couple to this city to help His Kingdom grow in and around Cajazeiras.     On...