Soledade

Pastor Wostenes leads our largest church in the borough of Catolé in Campina Grande. He is also in the process of giving 7 months of his time overseeing our Soledade church which was very low and disheartened. Now that 4 months of this renewal process are over the church is going much better, is in a better spirit, and has higher numbers going to all the services. Pastor Wostenes was at Soledade at the weekend and reports lovely services and training sessions. Please continue to pray for our Soledade church which will need a new pastor in the coming months.

On Tuesday night 10 men met together in the weekly Men's Fellowship meeting. Lieutenant-Coronel Esaú Lucena led the service and Journalist Ray Santana brought a meditation from God's Word. 

I have started reading a new book by N. T. Wright called 'Surprised by Hope'. I am already really enjoying the book. It's a "can't put it down" book!

I forgot to mention that at the weekend we held another jumble sale to raise funds for our revamp of the Care Centre. It was held on the side of the church and raised 160 pounds. The revamp is progressing well.     

Services

The services went well on Sunday. The main service of the week at night saw a good number present. We had one elderly sister who arrived early and fainted. We called an ambulance, but it was not necessary for her to go to hospital. We learnt later that it was all from stress with her son who was involved in a shooting a little earlier when men tried to kill him. Her son is involved in gang warfare and is always armed. (I have deliberately not used names here)

The service itself went off beautifully with excellent praise and worship. I led the service. In the worship band were Ricardinho on bass guitar, Rogaciano on guitar, Tiago on lead-guitar and Biba on drums. Vocals were with Sacha, Mariana and Segundo. A special moment in the service was when granddaughter Alice brought a 5-minute meditation from Psalm 51. The sermon was preached by assistant pastor Rafael on Isaiah 43.

Liz spent two hours counselling our Patos school headteacher Gerlânia yesterday. Liz feels it went well and that she was able to help her. I spent the day preparing a sermon on Mark 5.  

Abundant Rain

This week it has rained every night of the week at Green Pastures! On Monday it rained 16 mm, on Tuesday we had another 16 mm, on Wednesday it rained 18 mm, on Thursday it rained 40 mm and on Friday we had the biggest rain of the year with 90 mm. This caused the dam in the river to overflow and plenty of water accumulated in the lake. The ground is saturated so any rain that falls now will add to the accumulation in the lake which is at 50% of its capacity. It rained again last night 25 mm. This is turning out to be a good rainy season with a total rainfall of 31.5 inches (757 mm) to date. We consider 40 inches an excellent rainy season. We praise God for this wonderful rain in this semi-arid region. Thank you for praying.

On Thursday rain diminished the numbers in the Patos church by about half for the Bible study, but the service went well. On Friday it was our eldest daughter Deborah's birthday.

Last night's service at Green Pastures and at our Patos School were both cancelled owing to the rain. It is a wonderful problem to have!

I have been sorting out some administrative matters for Pastor Maésio up in the mountains at Teixeira with the help of Pastor Hamilton from Campina Grande. 

Alice

Our 14-year-old granddaughter Alice has switched schools this week as she starts her first year of senior high school. Alice, who looks 18, now goes to the Roman Catholic school called Cristo Rei (Christ is King). She was unhappy with the teaching at her former school. Alice will be speaking this Sunday in the 5-minute "youth spot" in the main service. We value your prayers for all our grandchildren.

Last night our 20-year-old grandson Arthur travelled to São Paulo. He was the first person from our family to have flown on the new daily flights from Patos to Recife. From there he got the connecting flight on to São Paulo and was in São Paulo from Patos in less time than it would have taken him to travel by road from Patos to Recife.

Yesterday a lovely service was held at the village of Travessia in the County of Manaira. The service was held in their new church which we built last year.

Also yesterday we inaugurated the latest well at Macambira dos Lúcios Community in Tavares County and held the thanksgiving service with the preaching of the Gospel. A good crowd gathered from the community. The dedication prayer of the well was done around the well and the service was held in the community centre run by the local leaders. It was a joyful and blessed time together praising God for this well.

Passing on experience

Liz and I are at at the phase in our ministries where we are focused, above all else, in passing on our experience to our leaders spread all around our churches. It is great to see a good number of young pastors amongst our leaders. Last night Liz was with the workers in children's work passing on things from her vast experience. She used to teach a class of 120 children 60 years ago! I have been an EAB/ACEV pastor for 50 years. I was assistant pastor to Frank Dyer for 15 years. It is good to see what seems will be a solution for the leadership of our Soledade church. A young couple from our 2nd church in Campina Grande are coming to the fore. We value your prayers for this important aspect of our ministries. 

Last night in Patos the Men's Fellowship held it's weekly fellowship group and there were 9 present. Tonight it is the turn of the Women's Fellowship.

I have been holding good discussions with pastor Oséias (Itaporanga). I have also had blessed talks with pastor João George (Imaculada). What a lovely man of God he is. So dedicated. 

Incredible violence

On Saturday afternoon a terrible thing happened with a Christian family in Patos from the Regular Baptist Church. A 13-year-old boy shot and killed his mother and younger brother and shot and seriously wounded his father. The father is a policeman. Please pray for the man in hospital in Campina Grande. The boy said he did the shootings because his parents wouldn't let him play videogame enough!

I led the service at Green Pastures on Saturday and it was excellent. The Patos youth sang beautifully as did two local farming folk Manoel and Nega. Alice brought a short word which was very good, and Pastor Rafael preached. In last night's service in Patos I again led and Sacha preached very well indeed. The children and youth groups also did nice singing items.

I have been chasing up people missing from church and it's good to see a positive response. Despite a heavy half hour's rain last night just before the service we had a pretty full church.

Water in the Lake

Wednesday night's rain of nearly two inches was enough to put water into the Green Pastures lake. I have just got back from a walk there and seen the welcome sight. The lake is about 20% full. Whilst there I also saw a pair of Burrowing Owls and many giant centipedes that are always on the move in the rainy season.

My sister Joy is home from hospital and my sister-in-law Eunice is also recovering from her accident. Please continue to pray for them both.

Thursday night's mid-week Bible study went well with about 45 present. We studied 1 John 2:12-14. The children's ministry has started a children's meeting parallel to the Bible study so that parents can relax listening to the study whilst the children hear the word of God at their level.

Next Thursday we will be travelling to the County of Tavares for the official inauguration and thanksgiving service for the new well at Macambira dos Lúcios village. In the service Liz will do the Bible reading and prayer and I will preach the Gospel.