HARVEST BRAZIL: May 2007

26 May 2007

We Miss You Already!

Missionary Associates Thresher and Hammond Families

Picture of Keri at Applebees-the menu promo says it all "Perfect Finish"

Patrick, Angi and Keri at the skate park

Patrick enjoys dinner at our house

Patrick pondering the future

Blake and Patrick overlooking the valley where we live

Blake teaching Tommy about archery

Blake, Tommy and Nicky eating chocolate covered strawberries on a skewer

Keri, Blake, Tommy and Nicky at Starbucks in Sao Paulo

Pat Raps and Angi Yaps

Angi at Applebees

We drove 2 1/2 hours to the nearest Starbucks and Applebees to celebrate Blakes birthday..thank you for turning 16 Blockie!

Here some pictures of the Thresher famiy. They returned home to Oklahoma yesterday after spending more than a year on the field. We are confident the Lord will continue to open doors for them as the walk in Divine favor. Thank you Patrick, Angi, Blake and Keri for your investment...job well done! Here are some random photos from our year spent with the Threshers in Brazil.

22 May 2007

Courage to Dream

DREAMING REQUIRES COURAGE. For on the heels of every dream is the demon of doubt. No sooner have we latched on to a preferred future than our minds are suddenly filled with all the reasons it won't work. We find ourselves wondering if we are really up to the task. And if we are courageous (or foolish) enough to share the dream with others, they are generally quick to confirm our suspicions.

IN SPITE of all that, we must forge ahead and dream. Otherwise we will simply spend our lives facilitating the dreams of others. If you allow fear to overshadow your dreams, you will never try anything new or create anything new. Worst of all, if fear causes you to retreat from your dreams, you will never give the world anything new.

Andy Stanley- The Next Generation Leader

17 May 2007

Pope was here

The Pope was here last week. He visited the Basilica in the city of Aparecida. He blessed 150 thousand people on Sunday. This occured at the basilica that is about 25 km from our city. Many of you have visited this basilica while visiting Pindamonhangaba. They were expecting 300.000 and about half of that number was in attendance. It shows how the influence has shifted in our region.

DISPLAYING ABSTRACT - Pope Benedict XVI hopes to stanch steady loss of followers with visit to Brazil, but some wonder whether he can speak to their needs; only two-thirds of Brazilians now consider themselves Catholics; number has been in steady decline since 1980 when 90 percent described themselves as Catholic; much of that ground has been lost to surge in Pentecostalism; losing Latin America would be substantial loss and trend is worrying to church officials; challenge from Pentacostalism is likely to be one of most important challenges of Benedict's papacy

This excerpt was from the New York Times

This is from the Brazilian News Media site Brazzil Magazine:

And he didn't spare other Christian denominations calling them sects: "Among the problems that strain your pastoral solicitude is, without a doubt, the matter of Catholics who abandon the Church... "The baptized are not sufficiently evangelized," he said, and therefore are unable to resist "the sects' aggressive proselytism" in a reference to the growth of evangelical churches in Brazil.

Interesting.

16 May 2007

Praise Report

Thank you to those who have been praying for our friend Ananias. He was diagnosed with malaria for the fifth time in March while we were church planting down the Amazon. He is fully recovered and feeling great. Ananias leads exploratory trips down the river and assists in choosing the sites for new church plants. He is in charge of making sure the materials are shipped in time for the arrival of the teams coming to build. He is an integral part of this church planting ministry. Please continue to pray for his protection and strength.

More Amazon Photos: New Life Christian Center-Turlock, Ca

14 May 2007

More Amazon Photos: New Life Christian Center-Turlock, Ca

12 May 2007

8 Church Plants in 1 Year!

New Life Christian Center have returned home after a two week stay here in Brazil. They planted two churches in the Amazon basin. They also spent a week in the Pinda area and visited Rio. Thank you Pastor Dave Larson and the entire team for a great two weeks. That brings the total to 8 church plants in 1 year!