Saturday, September 25, 2004
Some of you have been wanting to know (a) what happened at the Peregrinos' meeting on Saturday; and (b) how the week at Maranata went. Having returned on Saturday 18th with what one calls 'flu for want of expert medical knowledge – sore throat, stuffy head, blocked ears, temperature, loss of appetite, inability to breathe properly, therefore inability to sleep – you get the idea, we haven't felt like blogging. We’re not totally better, but guilt is beginning to bite. The call of the Blog can no longer be ignored!
Peregrinos
While we were in Britain the Peregrinos had started to meet on Sunday afternoons at 5.00, seeing themselves as a local church, rather than a support group while we all look for churches. We were glad that this step was taken in such a way as to maintain a certain separation between us and our wider ministry and the moment of formation of the new church.
On Saturday 11 September, our first weekend back here, we had a long lunch with the whole group. Culture shock was operating as normal at that stage – we experienced considerable frustration as the conversation rolled on through the afternoon without getting to the point so far as we were concerned. Brits get down to issues so fast – a trait which we find difficult to cope with each time we get back to the UK. This time it worked the other way, but when the issue of Church finally came up the quality and depth of the discussion rewarded the wait. The outcome was that the whole group confirmed the decision to think of ourselves as a local church, this time including our involvement and ministry within the body. It was agreed that we should continue to meet on Sundays for prayer, praise, hearing the Word of God, communion and mutual encouragement, and on a weeknight for discussions of principles and practice of church life as we seek to work out who we are and where we are going. Please pray especially for these weeknight meetings, to reach biblically based conclusions.
So on Sunday 12 September, 14 adults (including 4 visitors) and children met at Beto and Zete's house, Andrew began a series on Genesis, producing a work sheet for the children to fill in during the study, Beto printed some songs, and we participated in the Lord's Supper together. Afterward, there was time for snacks and talk – both light and serious.
The pattern was repeated on the following Sunday, only at Marquito’s house, in the room his (Spiritist) mother uses to give Portuguese lessons. She contracted Marquito for a list of house-jobs in exchange for the use of her classroom – if we use it again we will all need to muck in! It was the perfect size to accommodate all the newcomers. On this occasion we were joined by Juliano and Priscila Heyse, Apollo and Rebeca, and Valdir and Miriam Noll, Samuel and Milena, and Rafael Liebich, the son of a colleague at IBE who Andrew first met on the internet. (Also visiting was Caroline, a distant relative of Andrew's.) Some of you may remember some of these names as belonging to the Cacupé group where we started in 2000. They want to support this new venture, having prayed and yearned for a biblical ministry of the Word in Florianópolis for many years. Rafael is a gifted musician, who may be able to help us in that area if he stays – once we have worked out as a group some principles regarding what we do musically.
The number of children in a small group (6 under 10, plus two early teens) makes for a particular challenge in terms of inclusion, illustration and explanation, but we seem to have got off to a good start. It helps that all are obedient, well-taught and interested.
Maranata
Our first full week back was taken up with the annual intensive week on exposition at the Maranata Bible Institute, Paraná. It was probably a mistake to go so soon, and we found ourselves running just to be ready, only travelling on the Monday night, arriving at 06.00 at Apucarana bus station, and being driven to the seminary in darkish fog with a full teaching day ahead on the Tuesday. By Wednesday Andrew was regretting the decision to come so soon after coming back, with tiredness and the sensation of swimming through treacle just to speak in Portuguese. But by Friday the course just seemed too short, the language was flowing and the feedback from the students was most encouraging. The quality of their 5 minute “sermonettes” was again higher and more coherent than most of the preaching we hear in our city. A small but very able group, most were from São Paulo state, but two from Acre. If you look on a map you can see that that is a world of difference!
Contact with the students was particularly good this year. As well as a constant stream of questions in class time, and conversations with Andrew on the ‘temple steps’ i.e. outside the chapel, there was opportunity for both of us to meet with students for a lanche ('high tea') before the evening class at 19.00, or jantar (dinner) afterwards - and sometimes both!! Nor did the eating stop there: every lunchtime was spent with a different couple on the teaching staff, and on Friday a 'junta panela' (bring and share) churrasco (barbecue) with all. Despite rather full stomachs, we were particularly pleased that time with the students had been programmed in for us, and found it encouraging to hear comments from this year's and last year's group, on the value of the week in orientating them towards an expositive preaching ministry. Please pray that they would really be able to follow through on that commitment as they go into placements or longer term ministries with churches. Pray for grace to preach Christ as Judge and Saviour. Not all will get the encouragement they need, and some will face opposition.
You are aware to some degree that Maranata is passing through a time of great difficulty. The situation is coming to a head, and this year we could really feel a heaviness in the atmosphere. The problem has become known in the locality, and, through gossip, in other areas of Brazil. Please pray on for that situation to be resolved in a way that glorifies God. Thank God that Andrew felt helped as he brought the early morning devotional talks each day of our visit – on each occasion seeking to bring a word of encouragement.
By the Thursday Cora was struggling with 'flu, and tempted to say she was not well enough to speak to the female students at their afternoon prayer meeting. However, she wanted to bring some encouragement and perspective on our experiences in and our attitude to, ministry, from what Jesus says, in Luke's account, to the 72 he sent out to minister. So with much nervousness, she kept the commitment. And then collapsed into bed until the following morning! Again, strength was given to fulfil a teaching commitment with Leda (the only girl in Andrew’s class) and another female student, on preparing interactive bible studies. After we had 'closed in prayer' she remembered a most important point: Application! So we discussed it – there was still time. But oh dear, what a reminder that we "have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us" (11 Cor. 4:7). Please pray for fruit from this ministry in the lives of these female students.
IBE – Ordination
The day of our return to Floripa, Saturday 18 September, we learned that one of the recent graduates from IBE, Silas, was about to be ordained and received as Pastor at Campeche Baptist Church. We know the student and we know the church well, so despite the night on the bus, it was decided that Andrew had to go. The event was something of an eye-opener – not least the fact that Brazilian Baptists are actually pretty high-church when it comes to ordination practice! But the service was good, a real encouragement, and if Silas ministers in the light of Pastor Jota’s sermon he will do a good work in that part of the island. (The second photo shows the moment of praying for Silas and his family as he is received as Pastor of the church.)
Next Sunday
Next Sunday – 26th – will be busy for Andrew: 11.00 study with the English Group at the PIB (Exodus); 17.00 preaching with the Peregrinos (Genesis); and 19.30 preaching at Carianos Baptist church, near the airport (Joshua 1). Please pray for continued restoration of health and good voice.
Peregrinos
While we were in Britain the Peregrinos had started to meet on Sunday afternoons at 5.00, seeing themselves as a local church, rather than a support group while we all look for churches. We were glad that this step was taken in such a way as to maintain a certain separation between us and our wider ministry and the moment of formation of the new church.
On Saturday 11 September, our first weekend back here, we had a long lunch with the whole group. Culture shock was operating as normal at that stage – we experienced considerable frustration as the conversation rolled on through the afternoon without getting to the point so far as we were concerned. Brits get down to issues so fast – a trait which we find difficult to cope with each time we get back to the UK. This time it worked the other way, but when the issue of Church finally came up the quality and depth of the discussion rewarded the wait. The outcome was that the whole group confirmed the decision to think of ourselves as a local church, this time including our involvement and ministry within the body. It was agreed that we should continue to meet on Sundays for prayer, praise, hearing the Word of God, communion and mutual encouragement, and on a weeknight for discussions of principles and practice of church life as we seek to work out who we are and where we are going. Please pray especially for these weeknight meetings, to reach biblically based conclusions.
So on Sunday 12 September, 14 adults (including 4 visitors) and children met at Beto and Zete's house, Andrew began a series on Genesis, producing a work sheet for the children to fill in during the study, Beto printed some songs, and we participated in the Lord's Supper together. Afterward, there was time for snacks and talk – both light and serious.
The pattern was repeated on the following Sunday, only at Marquito’s house, in the room his (Spiritist) mother uses to give Portuguese lessons. She contracted Marquito for a list of house-jobs in exchange for the use of her classroom – if we use it again we will all need to muck in! It was the perfect size to accommodate all the newcomers. On this occasion we were joined by Juliano and Priscila Heyse, Apollo and Rebeca, and Valdir and Miriam Noll, Samuel and Milena, and Rafael Liebich, the son of a colleague at IBE who Andrew first met on the internet. (Also visiting was Caroline, a distant relative of Andrew's.) Some of you may remember some of these names as belonging to the Cacupé group where we started in 2000. They want to support this new venture, having prayed and yearned for a biblical ministry of the Word in Florianópolis for many years. Rafael is a gifted musician, who may be able to help us in that area if he stays – once we have worked out as a group some principles regarding what we do musically.
The number of children in a small group (6 under 10, plus two early teens) makes for a particular challenge in terms of inclusion, illustration and explanation, but we seem to have got off to a good start. It helps that all are obedient, well-taught and interested.
Maranata
Our first full week back was taken up with the annual intensive week on exposition at the Maranata Bible Institute, Paraná. It was probably a mistake to go so soon, and we found ourselves running just to be ready, only travelling on the Monday night, arriving at 06.00 at Apucarana bus station, and being driven to the seminary in darkish fog with a full teaching day ahead on the Tuesday. By Wednesday Andrew was regretting the decision to come so soon after coming back, with tiredness and the sensation of swimming through treacle just to speak in Portuguese. But by Friday the course just seemed too short, the language was flowing and the feedback from the students was most encouraging. The quality of their 5 minute “sermonettes” was again higher and more coherent than most of the preaching we hear in our city. A small but very able group, most were from São Paulo state, but two from Acre. If you look on a map you can see that that is a world of difference!
Contact with the students was particularly good this year. As well as a constant stream of questions in class time, and conversations with Andrew on the ‘temple steps’ i.e. outside the chapel, there was opportunity for both of us to meet with students for a lanche ('high tea') before the evening class at 19.00, or jantar (dinner) afterwards - and sometimes both!! Nor did the eating stop there: every lunchtime was spent with a different couple on the teaching staff, and on Friday a 'junta panela' (bring and share) churrasco (barbecue) with all. Despite rather full stomachs, we were particularly pleased that time with the students had been programmed in for us, and found it encouraging to hear comments from this year's and last year's group, on the value of the week in orientating them towards an expositive preaching ministry. Please pray that they would really be able to follow through on that commitment as they go into placements or longer term ministries with churches. Pray for grace to preach Christ as Judge and Saviour. Not all will get the encouragement they need, and some will face opposition.
You are aware to some degree that Maranata is passing through a time of great difficulty. The situation is coming to a head, and this year we could really feel a heaviness in the atmosphere. The problem has become known in the locality, and, through gossip, in other areas of Brazil. Please pray on for that situation to be resolved in a way that glorifies God. Thank God that Andrew felt helped as he brought the early morning devotional talks each day of our visit – on each occasion seeking to bring a word of encouragement.
By the Thursday Cora was struggling with 'flu, and tempted to say she was not well enough to speak to the female students at their afternoon prayer meeting. However, she wanted to bring some encouragement and perspective on our experiences in and our attitude to, ministry, from what Jesus says, in Luke's account, to the 72 he sent out to minister. So with much nervousness, she kept the commitment. And then collapsed into bed until the following morning! Again, strength was given to fulfil a teaching commitment with Leda (the only girl in Andrew’s class) and another female student, on preparing interactive bible studies. After we had 'closed in prayer' she remembered a most important point: Application! So we discussed it – there was still time. But oh dear, what a reminder that we "have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us" (11 Cor. 4:7). Please pray for fruit from this ministry in the lives of these female students.
IBE – Ordination
The day of our return to Floripa, Saturday 18 September, we learned that one of the recent graduates from IBE, Silas, was about to be ordained and received as Pastor at Campeche Baptist Church. We know the student and we know the church well, so despite the night on the bus, it was decided that Andrew had to go. The event was something of an eye-opener – not least the fact that Brazilian Baptists are actually pretty high-church when it comes to ordination practice! But the service was good, a real encouragement, and if Silas ministers in the light of Pastor Jota’s sermon he will do a good work in that part of the island. (The second photo shows the moment of praying for Silas and his family as he is received as Pastor of the church.)
Next Sunday
Next Sunday – 26th – will be busy for Andrew: 11.00 study with the English Group at the PIB (Exodus); 17.00 preaching with the Peregrinos (Genesis); and 19.30 preaching at Carianos Baptist church, near the airport (Joshua 1). Please pray for continued restoration of health and good voice.
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 11:04:00 am 
