Acts 12 (résumé): Peter's miraculous escape from prison

King Herod was persecuting the church and had James, the brother of John, "put to death with the sword". Then he arrested Peter and put him under extremely heavy guard in prison with the intention of bringing him to public trial after the Passover. However in the night an angel of the Lord came and woke Peter in the middle of 2 guards, and freed him of the chains on his wrists. He told Peter to dress and then follow him, and he whisked him past guards and through gates and out into the street. Only when the angel left him did he realize that he hadn't been dreaming and that he was really outside the jail! So Peter went to Mary the mother of John's house and the servant who answered the door was so overjoyed to see Peter that she ran inside to tell everyone and left him standing! Eventually he was let in and he was able to tell them what God had done for him. Then next morning Herod executed the guards. Then Herod made a public speech wearing his royal robes and the people hailed him as a god! Herod lapped it up so "an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died". But the word of God increased and spread. 

Acts 11 (résumé): Peter explains his actions

Word soon reached the apostles and brothers in Jerusalem about gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit in the house of Cornelius and this generated criticism from the circumcised believers. So Peter set about explaining about his vision and how he had been sought out my representatives of Cornelius who had also had a vision. So, said Peter, "who was I to think that I could oppose God?" Peter's explanation satisfied the circumcised and they praised God that the Gospel was now open to the gentiles. And so the gospel spread to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch initially to Jews but then also to Greeks and "a great number believed and turned to the Lord". So the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to check things out and he was happy to see the move was of God, and many more there came to Christ under his ministry. Barnabas then sought out Saul at Tarsus and they came to Antioch and ministered there for a year, and "the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch". Then Agabus prophesied through the Spirit that there would be a famine in the Roman world and so the Christians helped the brethren living in Judea and they sent gifts to help through Barnabas and Saul.

South Patos Meeting

On the southern side of the town of Patos is where we have our Pastor Frank Dyer School and where we are working and praying to establish a second church in this town with a population of 108,000 people. Last night we had a meeting to evaluate the progress of the work amongst children, teenagers, women and men in the borough of Jatobá, and to plan ahead for the rest of the year. We hold weekly services on Wednesdays, monthly services on Saturdays, plus meetings for children, teens, women and men. Please pray for this venture of faith. 🙏

Speed Bumps

One of the things that impacts you on a visit to Brazil are the speed bumps or sleeping policemen. There is a real epidemic of speed bumps which are not bumps at all but speed mountains! They are everywhere! Whereas in Switzerland I didn't see one and in the UK they're few and far between and very gentle, here their clear aim is to break your car as often as possible! Say a prayer for us the next time you go over a speed bump!

Yesterday I saw a flock of Black-headed Vultures eating a dead animal on the road which was probably a fox, and I also saw a Crested Caracara which is a type of Hawk. 

Liz went to the Ladies Prayer Meeting last night whilst I worked on the preparations for the Pastors and Leaders Family Conference at Green Pastures from the 18th to 20th September. Please pray.

During the month of August this blog was read 1,621,642 times and the top 5 countries for readership were the USA, Germany, Brazil, India and Pakistan in that order. Thanks and greetings to one and all!

Acts 10 (résumé): Cornelius

At Caesarea there was a devout and God-fearing Roman centurion called Cornelius who had a vision of an angel. The angel said to him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had been remembered before God. He then told him to send for Simon Peter at Joppa. Coincidentally Peter then had a vision too of a large sheet full of creatures which he was told to kill and eat. Surely not, said Peter, fearful of eating impure creatures, but he was told not to call things God had made clean impure, and this happened 3 times. At that time the centurion's men arrived and Peter was told not to hesitate to go with them. So Peter and some brothers from Joppa went to Caesarea and Peter told Cornelius that not previously would he have had fellowship with a gentile, but his vision of the sheet had changed that. Then Cornelius told Peter about his vision which had led him to call him from Joppa. He then told Peter to feel free to speak to all those gathered at the centurion's house. Peter then preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ telling of his ministry, death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the word and the Jewish Christians were amazed that gentiles had received the Spirit! They heard them speaking in tongues and praising God, so they baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ, and Peter stayed with them a few days.

Missions Sunday

Last night I led the special Missions Sunday service in Patos with Pastor Rafael preaching on Hebrews 12:1-3. For us the nearest Sunday to September 2nd is Missions Sunday because it was on this date in 1938 that the Mundys first arrived in Brazil. So EAB/ACEV is celebrating 88 years of work for the glory of God. The church was full and the service was blessed of God with a message challenging everyone for the mission to carry on for the glory of God!

Curral Velho 36

Last night we got home very tired but rejoicing having preached at the 36th anniversary service of our church at Curral Velho (Old Cow Pen) which is led by Missionary Tica and her husband Ramos. Curral Velho is a small town with a population of 2,292 which is 149 km west of Patos taking a drive of 2 and a half to 3 hours to reach. It was a lovely service.

Just before we arrived at the church a local lad was drowned in their lake and a man burst into the church with the news! A minute's silence was held at the beginning of the service.

On the previous day the Curral Velho church baptized 4! 3 were young teenagers plus 1 young Mum! Praise the Lord!