February 25, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

          How does one feel when a sixty year old man asks, "What do I do to be converted?" Ecstatic! That was the question that Nestor asked John one Sunday afternoon this month. A few minutes later, Nestor was born into the family of God! Praise the Lord! It's been about one year since Nestor and his wife, Claria, first started attending services. Claria received the Lord as personal Savior in September, and what a joy it was to lead her to Christ. When she heard her husband say that he received Christ as his Savior, she went hastily to him, hugged him tight, and proclaimed that now they both will be baptized together.
          Nestor is not the only one who made a profession of faith since our last letter. Luciara (20 years old) was led to the Lord last month by her friend Taisa, who attends our church services. The most recent professions of faith were just this past Sunday. Samuel and Leticia brought two friends with them to church. The preaching of the cross broke through to their hearts and at the end of the service, Alexandre and Fatima received Christ as their Savior. Praise the Lord that Samuel encouraged this couple to come to the services. It sure is a big blessing to see the lay people do their part in evangelism. Our next outdoor baptismal service is planned for the beginning of March, and we have at least 8 scheduled to be immersed that day.
          In our last letter we wrote about the devaluation of the dollar and its effects upon the ministry. We thank you all for your prayers. The Lord is supplying the extra need through increases in giving from churches and sacrificial giving of individuals. All we can say more is, "Wow. We serve a great God. Praise and thanks be to the Lord." Thank you churches and people for the love and concern for our ministry.
          A new need has arisen since our last letter. Rafael and his wife, big helpers in the work and Sunday School teachers, have gone off to finish their studies at Bible Seminary. As a result, our work load has been increased. Please be in prayer for Rafael, Flavia, and their two daughters as they enter into a new phase of their ministry in Christ. Please pray for us as we go through some readjustments in the ministry, and train new Sunday School teachers. Please pray also for the two new teachers we are already putting into Sunday School positions. Rosane and Ivone are enthusiastically teaching the younger classes. 
          We have been blessed with a new friendship here in Caxias do Sul. The company that Lon Jennings works for has moved him and his family from South Carolina to here on a two to three year business endeavor. Lon and Bridget have three kids about the ages of our girls, and believe this expatriate experience will be good for them all. They are participating at our church and have desire and plans to minister. Please pray for God's grace on them as they are struggling with learning the language and passing through new and sometimes frustrating experiences with the culture.

A summary of our prayer requests are as follows:

	Spiritual growth of the new converts
	Wisdom and God's grace in training workers
	Rafael and family in their seminary sti.1dies
	God's grace and strength for the Jennings family as they adjust to life here in Brazil