Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Graham and Tina Nash
From 3rd to 7th Nov Graham and Tina Nash from Belem / UFM / Chessington were with us here in Floripa. The weather was for the most part dull and rainy, not lending itself to showing visitors the delights of the island, but we made up for that with some very good conversations. Graham preached to the Peregrinos on the Sunday (David and Abigail) and he and Tina also spent time with a number of the younger members on the Saturday night. (For a write-up and photos of our visit to Graham and Tina’s home in July, see here.)
The purpose of this visit was to talk about the possibility of working together in the future. Graham and Tina are coming to the end of their first term with UFM, and will spend, God willing, a year or so in the UK, from mid 2007 to mid 2008. On their return to Brazil, they intend to recommence in a different area, and are considering the possibility of coming to Florianópolis.
For some time we have been at our limit in terms of juggling the different aspects of ministry here. Between church, IBE and national ministry, it is all too easy to do nothing well. The solution for the church must be the recognition of other leaders, and especially the provision of someone else alongside Andrew as a regular preacher and teacher. But even with such a person in place, development of the training ministry would still be precarious. Any consistent course for Bible Teachers needs a very consistent presence: we are loath to jettison the rhythm of travelling ministry, but know that such ministry disturbs the flow of teaching, even in the IBE. A desire to have a more clearly Biblically oriented course for preachers and teachers makes more man-power and urgent need.
Graham has been leading and teaching at the Evening Bible School of MICEB in Belem. He and Tina are from Chessington Evangelical Church – which very kindly supports us too! So far as we can see, we are highly compatible and complementary, without being clones! We are therefore considering the possibility of Graham and Tina moving down south, with the goal of establishing a course specifically aimed at equipping Bible teachers. Nothing is presumed about how such a course would be structured or hosted, but it we believe that it is a vision worth consideration.
For Graham and Tina the move would involve a significant cultural shift, as well as very different weather! The largest challenge for them is probably the question of their three girls’ schooling: Chloe, Shona and Anna have been at AVA, an English language school in Belem. (Chloe has recently started NorthStar for GCSEs, the Internet school our own children used.) There is no English school in Floripa – the nearest being in Curitiba, 4 hours away. And NorthStar does not yet offer A-levels. This issue is a key matter for the family, and we would all value your prayers for them as they think this over.
God willing, all five will visit at Easter for a bit of holiday, for the girls to see Florianópolis, and for the family to look at some practical issues in more detail. Please pray for all involved in this important matter.
From 3rd to 7th Nov Graham and Tina Nash from Belem / UFM / Chessington were with us here in Floripa. The weather was for the most part dull and rainy, not lending itself to showing visitors the delights of the island, but we made up for that with some very good conversations. Graham preached to the Peregrinos on the Sunday (David and Abigail) and he and Tina also spent time with a number of the younger members on the Saturday night. (For a write-up and photos of our visit to Graham and Tina’s home in July, see here.)
The purpose of this visit was to talk about the possibility of working together in the future. Graham and Tina are coming to the end of their first term with UFM, and will spend, God willing, a year or so in the UK, from mid 2007 to mid 2008. On their return to Brazil, they intend to recommence in a different area, and are considering the possibility of coming to Florianópolis.
For some time we have been at our limit in terms of juggling the different aspects of ministry here. Between church, IBE and national ministry, it is all too easy to do nothing well. The solution for the church must be the recognition of other leaders, and especially the provision of someone else alongside Andrew as a regular preacher and teacher. But even with such a person in place, development of the training ministry would still be precarious. Any consistent course for Bible Teachers needs a very consistent presence: we are loath to jettison the rhythm of travelling ministry, but know that such ministry disturbs the flow of teaching, even in the IBE. A desire to have a more clearly Biblically oriented course for preachers and teachers makes more man-power and urgent need.
Graham has been leading and teaching at the Evening Bible School of MICEB in Belem. He and Tina are from Chessington Evangelical Church – which very kindly supports us too! So far as we can see, we are highly compatible and complementary, without being clones! We are therefore considering the possibility of Graham and Tina moving down south, with the goal of establishing a course specifically aimed at equipping Bible teachers. Nothing is presumed about how such a course would be structured or hosted, but it we believe that it is a vision worth consideration.
For Graham and Tina the move would involve a significant cultural shift, as well as very different weather! The largest challenge for them is probably the question of their three girls’ schooling: Chloe, Shona and Anna have been at AVA, an English language school in Belem. (Chloe has recently started NorthStar for GCSEs, the Internet school our own children used.) There is no English school in Floripa – the nearest being in Curitiba, 4 hours away. And NorthStar does not yet offer A-levels. This issue is a key matter for the family, and we would all value your prayers for them as they think this over.
God willing, all five will visit at Easter for a bit of holiday, for the girls to see Florianópolis, and for the family to look at some practical issues in more detail. Please pray for all involved in this important matter.
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 8:19:00 am 
