It’s been a busy month as we continue forward at Victory Baptist Church. School is back in session and we’re excited for what the Lord continues to do.
August proved that life and ministry are always an adventure. While Jamie and I were out one afternoon, our car died. Long story short, we replaced the battery, starter (twice!), and the distributor. Good news—the car is running great now. One of the days that the car was down, I had the opportunity to preach at Jesse’s property out in the country. He had invited his neighbors and in-laws to come. We were able to preach to over 30 lost people on that particular Saturday afternoon. I preached on the Bread of Life from John 6. His neighbor Ruth, a 78-year-old Catholic lady, heard the Gospel for likely the first time in her life. Jesse told me later that Ruth’s husband talked to him for the first time in almost a year since Jesse started working on his house there. Please pray for her and her husband to understand and accept the Gospel and be saved. We were able to get some wonderful contacts from this time. Jesse has been helpful too in the services in Moreira César, his neighborhood, where we’re praying about starting a new work.
On the last Saturday of August, we had a service there in this neighborhood. It’s exciting to see several young children who have been faithful in coming for some time. Please pray for their parents to have an open heart. Arthur has been coming to these services for several months to these services. His mother always brings him and then goes back into her house. In July, I was able to witness to her and this past week she came but quickly went back inside. Please pray for her. This area is dominated by sin and addiction. It needs the freeing power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit!
But it’s not always victories. This past week, we learned that Damião’s sister-in-law Joyce, her 4 kids, and her brother Joeliton will be returning to northern Brazil later this week. We’ve been working with Joeliton for several months now, and praise the Lord, he was saved and baptized last year. I had just restarted discipleship with him 2 weeks ago. Joyce’s oldest daughter Jennifer has been coming for several months and we’ve had the opportunity to witness to her. During the youth conference, she gave a testimony of salvation but she has many questions still. Satan is out to confuse, discourage, and ultimately destroy. The devil is fighting hard and this family needs a good church. Please pray that we’d be able to help them find a good church in their city.
Please continue to pray for us as we labor to witness, disciple, and train other workers for the local church. It’s been an adjustment now not having Bro. Jonathan and Mrs. Karlene but the Lord has been good to us in giving people who have a heart and vision to get involved. We are working with the kids and need more help in this area. Developing others is our big goal and the growth that the Lord is giving is wonderful. Please pray for wisdom and direction as we seek to involve others in the greatest work there is—reaching souls and teaching saints!
The kids have completed a month of school and we’ve been well. During the service at Jesse’s house, Jamie got bit by a bug. We don’t know what it was but it caused a massive boil on her leg. Thankfully, we were able to get some medicine but please pray for her leg to heal quickly and that the infection would not spread further. We covet your prayers. We are reminded often how greatly spiritual warfare is and how incapable we are of doing anything apart from what the Holy Spirit can effect through His Word and your prayer! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We love you dearly in the Lord.