Friday, October 28, 2005
How Thursday went
The lunchtime event at the University went very well. Andrew spoke from John 20 – Doubting Thomas, on the basis for our faith – faith which is objectively grounded in a witnessed resurrection, and through we experience a new life in Christ. Receptivity seemed excellent: almost the whole group is new since Andrew last spoke there, so a good range of new contacts. One notable thing was the number of student attending small, informal, often nameless churches without a fixed meeting place. Just like ours. It was also interesting to meet Claudio and Jessica – a Brazilian/American couple, linked with Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, sent to plant a church in Floripa. Calvary Chapel is interesting, being committed to expository preaching, but Arminian soteriology.
The evening surfers’ event was interesting. Florianópolis is hosting, back to back, two major events on the international tour (http://www.surfersvillage.com/news.asp?Id_news=14745), and the local Surfers’ Mission, most of whose leading lights we know well, was determined to use the event for outreach. Kati, from the Peregrinos, was heavily involved, and invited the church for the Thursday night special event. We REALLY wanted to encourage her in this, so we went. The evening started with some surf films, some with Christian content. Then a time of praise. Then some testimonies. Then an evangelistic talk. Then a raffle of surfers gear. Interesting. Some things we would have done differently, but not the preaching. Nor the chance to encourage young people who are sincere and want to reach others who have a great deal, and very little.
The surfers’ mission, Florianópolis, is in great need of theologically and spiritually mature input. Through Kati, and the others we know who are in the process of leaving the IBVN church and are currently without a spiritual home, we seem to have got a little involved. Pray for wisdom!
The lunchtime event at the University went very well. Andrew spoke from John 20 – Doubting Thomas, on the basis for our faith – faith which is objectively grounded in a witnessed resurrection, and through we experience a new life in Christ. Receptivity seemed excellent: almost the whole group is new since Andrew last spoke there, so a good range of new contacts. One notable thing was the number of student attending small, informal, often nameless churches without a fixed meeting place. Just like ours. It was also interesting to meet Claudio and Jessica – a Brazilian/American couple, linked with Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, sent to plant a church in Floripa. Calvary Chapel is interesting, being committed to expository preaching, but Arminian soteriology.
The evening surfers’ event was interesting. Florianópolis is hosting, back to back, two major events on the international tour (http://www.surfersvillage.com/news.asp?Id_news=14745), and the local Surfers’ Mission, most of whose leading lights we know well, was determined to use the event for outreach. Kati, from the Peregrinos, was heavily involved, and invited the church for the Thursday night special event. We REALLY wanted to encourage her in this, so we went. The evening started with some surf films, some with Christian content. Then a time of praise. Then some testimonies. Then an evangelistic talk. Then a raffle of surfers gear. Interesting. Some things we would have done differently, but not the preaching. Nor the chance to encourage young people who are sincere and want to reach others who have a great deal, and very little.
The surfers’ mission, Florianópolis, is in great need of theologically and spiritually mature input. Through Kati, and the others we know who are in the process of leaving the IBVN church and are currently without a spiritual home, we seem to have got a little involved. Pray for wisdom!
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 10:31:00 pm 
