Monday, May 28, 2007
Colloquium Conference - Goiânia - 30 May - 2 June
Tomorrow, God willing, we will go to the second Colloquium conference. Traveling with us is Taybar, Patty's husband, (photo here) who is one of the pastors of the National Baptist Church in Blumenau. We leave by plane in the morning, returning the following Monday.
The event this year has two speakers: Hans Bayer and Jerram Barrs, a German and a Brit, both on the staff at Covenant Seminary, St Louis. Dr. Bayer will be opening up the discipleship teaching in Mark while Jerram Barrs will be dealing with Christianity and Culture. For more information (in Portuguese only, I am afraid!) please see the conference website.
Our involvemnt with Colloquium is an important part of our lives, and in this case, especially, a chance to be fed and to have fellowship with many who are on a similar road, without the load of ministry which normally takes us to conferences. The exception will be the Sunday: Andrew may well end up speaking somewhere in the morning, and is booked to preach at Filadelfia National Baptist Church in the evening meeting. (He spoke there on a Wednesday last year: see photos.)
We are looking forward to getting to know Taybar better, but ask for prayer for Patty, who will be home alone for a week.
Tomorrow, God willing, we will go to the second Colloquium conference. Traveling with us is Taybar, Patty's husband, (photo here) who is one of the pastors of the National Baptist Church in Blumenau. We leave by plane in the morning, returning the following Monday.
The event this year has two speakers: Hans Bayer and Jerram Barrs, a German and a Brit, both on the staff at Covenant Seminary, St Louis. Dr. Bayer will be opening up the discipleship teaching in Mark while Jerram Barrs will be dealing with Christianity and Culture. For more information (in Portuguese only, I am afraid!) please see the conference website.
Our involvemnt with Colloquium is an important part of our lives, and in this case, especially, a chance to be fed and to have fellowship with many who are on a similar road, without the load of ministry which normally takes us to conferences. The exception will be the Sunday: Andrew may well end up speaking somewhere in the morning, and is booked to preach at Filadelfia National Baptist Church in the evening meeting. (He spoke there on a Wednesday last year: see photos.)
We are looking forward to getting to know Taybar better, but ask for prayer for Patty, who will be home alone for a week.
Labels: Colloquium, Hans Bayer, Jerram Barrs
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The Peregrinos
The last weeks have been amazingly busy and exciting in the church. We have several people asking for baptism, and more asking for membership. In fact the total coming into membership in these few months may well exceed the membership at the start of the year. But even better than this has been the constant stream of clear signs of God’s working in the lives of many who are coming along. The Word keeps speaking, people keep growing. The pastoral burden is very great – with the issues that the preaching and teaching raise, personal problems and the “processing” of new arrivals asking to be involved. But the encouragement outweighs the burden. Thank you for your prayers for us.
The last weeks have been amazingly busy and exciting in the church. We have several people asking for baptism, and more asking for membership. In fact the total coming into membership in these few months may well exceed the membership at the start of the year. But even better than this has been the constant stream of clear signs of God’s working in the lives of many who are coming along. The Word keeps speaking, people keep growing. The pastoral burden is very great – with the issues that the preaching and teaching raise, personal problems and the “processing” of new arrivals asking to be involved. But the encouragement outweighs the burden. Thank you for your prayers for us.
Snowy Egret
It isn't often possible to get this close, but this egret was very patient, while fishing by the pond in the park. The lethal nature of the weaponry - bill and claws - is impressive close up.
Lodgers
Oone change over the last few months has been that we have had some long-term guests with us. This has changed the dynamic of our home, and in good ways. We are thankful to God for the chance to help, and be helped by, our lodgers.
Nicole
Nicole arrived for a job interview, and then came back having been successful. Sister of an old friend, we have enjoyed getting to know her, and, trying to help her through a tumultuous time in her life. At times she is the absentee lodger, but then at times we are the absentee landlords, given that we all have long work trips to make. But when we are all here, we get on well.
Eric
For the last three weeks Eric has been living with us, in the "slot" that used to be Andrew's study, while he, Bernardo and André finalised the paperwork for a shared flat. Today he moved out. We will miss him.
It isn't often possible to get this close, but this egret was very patient, while fishing by the pond in the park. The lethal nature of the weaponry - bill and claws - is impressive close up.
Lodgers
Oone change over the last few months has been that we have had some long-term guests with us. This has changed the dynamic of our home, and in good ways. We are thankful to God for the chance to help, and be helped by, our lodgers.
Nicole
Nicole arrived for a job interview, and then came back having been successful. Sister of an old friend, we have enjoyed getting to know her, and, trying to help her through a tumultuous time in her life. At times she is the absentee lodger, but then at times we are the absentee landlords, given that we all have long work trips to make. But when we are all here, we get on well.
Eric
For the last three weeks Eric has been living with us, in the "slot" that used to be Andrew's study, while he, Bernardo and André finalised the paperwork for a shared flat. Today he moved out. We will miss him.
Labels: Peregrinos
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Andrew's trip to Belem - 10-14 May 2007
My visit to the Marambaia Presbyterian Church was a delight - no surprise there, given the excellent few days we spent with the same congregation last July. This church, and its sisters in Belem, has a lovely combination of solid doctrine, seriousness regarding the kingdom, fervent, joyful praise and a sense of fun and relaxedness.
I spoke on Ephesians, viewing the book as an appeal not to return to the magic or spiritist practices of the past. This approach not only makes sense of so much in the book, in the way of odd vocabulary (mystery, celestial realms, principalities and powers etc.) and thus (incidentally) defending pauline authorship, but it is also a very resonant reading in our context in Brazil. The titles were: The Eternal Plan (chap 1), The Supernatural Transformation (chap 2:1-4) The Ideal Community (chaps 2 - 6) and The Spiritual Battle (chaps 4 - 6). The response was most encouraging.
The soldier was guarding the plane at Marabá, site of the world's largest iron mine. I am not sure why we needed quite such lethal looking weaponry.
The bridge at Marabá
Rain forest coming in to Belem
Belem
Arrival - the Ver-o-Peso market, ships of all sizes, and the runway.
Groups at the Marambaia Presbyterian Church
Pastor Joesley and Telma, Pedro, Ana-Paula and Ana-Carolina
Evening congregation
Group for expository ministry traning, on the Saturday
Stall working on Mothers' Day Gifts, in a Belem shopping centre.
In one of Belem's excellent markets...
A shrimp man - the hat was donned especially for the photo.
Brazil nuts...
with...
and without their cases. The cannon-ball-like fruit that contain the nuts are heavy and hard: the Belem botanical gardens has a wonderful sign near a massive Brazil Nut tree - Caution, Dangerous Fruit! In Brazil the Brazil Nut is the Castanha do Pará - named after the state where it is most common, whose capital is Belem.
At left, Uxi. Have forgotten the name of the fruit on the right.
Pupunha
In its natural state...
and cooked.. water and salt and a little butter. Nutty and delicious!
An older part of the market
Cacau - chocolate!
Cupuaçu - the king of tropical fruit. For me, cupuaçu is one of the world's greatest flavours. I had some every day in Belem - and brought back frozen pulp and two fruits, plus sweets and biscuits. However, we need to get some perspective on this "exotic" thing...
On Wednesday night I made up a cupuaçu milk-shake to have with my tea. Then salami from Lages, and bread, cheese and ham. Then what?? Must be bread and jam. I opened a jar of Tollerton Post Office Homemade Blackcurrant Jam. What an exotic, amazing taste! If I had been born up the Amazon, with Cupuaçu, Graviola, Uxi, Bacuri, Murici, Açaí, Araça and all the rest, strawberries, blackcurrants and apples would be fascinating. Exotic doesn't mean better, just different!
Wire mousetraps
Poultry and song bird shop
Flying home...
A child's paper kite stuck to the side of our airbus delayed our take-off from Marabá on the return trip to Florianópolis, via Brasília.
My visit to the Marambaia Presbyterian Church was a delight - no surprise there, given the excellent few days we spent with the same congregation last July. This church, and its sisters in Belem, has a lovely combination of solid doctrine, seriousness regarding the kingdom, fervent, joyful praise and a sense of fun and relaxedness.
I spoke on Ephesians, viewing the book as an appeal not to return to the magic or spiritist practices of the past. This approach not only makes sense of so much in the book, in the way of odd vocabulary (mystery, celestial realms, principalities and powers etc.) and thus (incidentally) defending pauline authorship, but it is also a very resonant reading in our context in Brazil. The titles were: The Eternal Plan (chap 1), The Supernatural Transformation (chap 2:1-4) The Ideal Community (chaps 2 - 6) and The Spiritual Battle (chaps 4 - 6). The response was most encouraging.
The soldier was guarding the plane at Marabá, site of the world's largest iron mine. I am not sure why we needed quite such lethal looking weaponry.
The bridge at Marabá
Rain forest coming in to Belem
Belem
Arrival - the Ver-o-Peso market, ships of all sizes, and the runway.
Groups at the Marambaia Presbyterian Church
Pastor Joesley and Telma, Pedro, Ana-Paula and Ana-Carolina
Evening congregation
Group for expository ministry traning, on the Saturday
Stall working on Mothers' Day Gifts, in a Belem shopping centre.
In one of Belem's excellent markets...
A shrimp man - the hat was donned especially for the photo.
Brazil nuts...
with...
and without their cases. The cannon-ball-like fruit that contain the nuts are heavy and hard: the Belem botanical gardens has a wonderful sign near a massive Brazil Nut tree - Caution, Dangerous Fruit! In Brazil the Brazil Nut is the Castanha do Pará - named after the state where it is most common, whose capital is Belem.
At left, Uxi. Have forgotten the name of the fruit on the right.
Pupunha
In its natural state...
and cooked.. water and salt and a little butter. Nutty and delicious!
An older part of the market
Cacau - chocolate!
Cupuaçu - the king of tropical fruit. For me, cupuaçu is one of the world's greatest flavours. I had some every day in Belem - and brought back frozen pulp and two fruits, plus sweets and biscuits. However, we need to get some perspective on this "exotic" thing...
On Wednesday night I made up a cupuaçu milk-shake to have with my tea. Then salami from Lages, and bread, cheese and ham. Then what?? Must be bread and jam. I opened a jar of Tollerton Post Office Homemade Blackcurrant Jam. What an exotic, amazing taste! If I had been born up the Amazon, with Cupuaçu, Graviola, Uxi, Bacuri, Murici, Açaí, Araça and all the rest, strawberries, blackcurrants and apples would be fascinating. Exotic doesn't mean better, just different!
Wire mousetraps
Poultry and song bird shop
Flying home...
A child's paper kite stuck to the side of our airbus delayed our take-off from Marabá on the return trip to Florianópolis, via Brasília.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
We always enjoy product names which have an odd ring to them. Dunga dog food, Flesh orangeade, Fly guaraná drink and Slight potato snacks have now been joined by Batmilk. All, of course, pale into insignificance beside the wonderfully named ladies' hairdressers we saw once in Manaus: Moustache.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Canto das Aranhas, Praia de Moçambique, Saturday 5 May 2007
On Saturday Andrew went with some young Peregrinos to this beach, where we have never been before, towards the North of the island. Breathtaking! It was the weekly surf school for poor local kids run by Surfers for Christ and Calvary Chapel, who are planting a church on the island.
ABU Floripa Thursday 3rd may 2007
The old MEUNI is now ABU - the IFES/UCCF-linked Brazilian association of Christian Unions - and has a number of new faces. This semester they are studying the Minor Prophets on Thursdays and Mark's gospel on Tuesdays, with Andrew's help in preparation.
On Saturday Andrew went with some young Peregrinos to this beach, where we have never been before, towards the North of the island. Breathtaking! It was the weekly surf school for poor local kids run by Surfers for Christ and Calvary Chapel, who are planting a church on the island.
ABU Floripa Thursday 3rd may 2007
The old MEUNI is now ABU - the IFES/UCCF-linked Brazilian association of Christian Unions - and has a number of new faces. This semester they are studying the Minor Prophets on Thursdays and Mark's gospel on Tuesdays, with Andrew's help in preparation.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
A Igreja dos Peregrinos
Things are moving on so fast that we feel we must give a rapid and general update on the church. Please read and pray for the following...
Meetings in the University Chapel
Meeting at the Chapel on Sundays from 5.00 to 7.00 pm has been a great relief after a year of moving furniture around every Sunday to accommodate everyone. We have really been enjoying singing ‘properly’ again, with no worries about neighbours, and the very “live” chapel acoustic amplifying our voices. We use a simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar and a ‘shaker’. Things could be better: a maracatu practice occurs most Sundays at the same time in the acoustic shell the other side of the campus square. The main effect of this is the reverberation of the vast bass drum, which creates a sense of “worship in a war zone.” But we are getting used to it. The attention to the preaching has been really good. Pray that the Word preached will be effective for the glory of God.
Numerical growth
Meeting at the Chapel has given us plenty of room for expansion! We are now numbering more than 40 on most Sundays. And it has not only been Sunday: a great encouragement recently was seeing 17 at a Friday prayer meeting. This still takes place in our apartment. Although some members are being slow to catch on, we are really trying to emphasise the necessity of prayer as the centre of all preaching, evangelism and community life. Pray that we might know the Spirit inspiring us to pray more.
This numerical growth is being felt at the level of church membership. We now have a good group of people in the process of integration into the church - a group numbering almost as many as are currently members. Most are young, but among them some with great gifts and a degree of proven experience.
Growth in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ
We rejoice how personal conversations and formal bible studies have been used by the Holy Spirit to help people come into a first or clearer understanding of the gospel. It is very hard to describe the doctrinal vagueness of the faith of many converted people – the distinction between first understanding or clearer understanding can be very blurred. We are becoming used to the phrase, “I was converted today!” Recently, someone was describing how she had been baptized after becoming convicted that there is a God and she should live a better life, but without mentioning the name of Jesus once in her testimony! The past, present and eschatological significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection had never been explained to her at all. Another young woman had been taught that a public prayer of ‘decision’ (ref: Rom. 10: 9,10) is required to become a Christian, so if in our church we don’t require this, how can anyone become or be known to be a Christian? It took a long time to show her that it is what one actually believes about Jesus – i.e. the content of the public confession - that is essential and of the utmost importance. Others struggle with the obvious deceptions of so-called ‘miracle workers’ and false prophets, unable to break free emotionally from loyalty-ties to family or friends who are completely taken in and test nothing from a Biblical perspective. Pray for many more to understand the message of Christ.
In the words of one young man who has been a member for a year: “The preaching on Easter Sunday about the resurrected Jesus coming as judge (from Acts 17) was a big shock to me. I realize I need to understand the gospel better and read more.” So he is starting with How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth. Others have been borrowing, and appreciating, books from our growing lending library of Portuguese Christian books. The Soul of Science, showing how Christians had pioneered early science, recently proved illuminating to two chemistry students. A student historian watching a video on the Reformation commented that she had been taught in history that the Waldensians were a heretical sect. Fascinated by the Protestant perspective on them and Luther, she has borrowed Bettenson’s Documents of the Christian Church to delve further into church history.
The library has recently grown significantly with the arrival of eight boxes of excellent books from Belem. With the closure of the Evening Bible School there, Graham Nash sent us the books he himself had purchased to boost that library, and we are now inheriting them. André Costa has been doing a thorough job of cataloguing the two collections, so that they can be used together without confusion. We are not talking vast numbers of books - perhaps still less than 1000 - but the quality of the collection is high, with repeat copies of many key volumes.
Growth in spiritual depth
Numbers and intellectual progress are not the only focus. We rejoice in signs of spiritual seriousness, and yet still feel how flimsy everything is. Please pray for deep roots, for hearts as well as minds filled with the knowledge of the love of God in Christ.
The beginnings of an evangelistic rhythm
We are just starting to see regular attenders who are not Christians, and are starting to put in place occasional meetings in order to explain the gospel especially for such people. This is a VERY welcome development, and needs to go further. Please pray for a fervent spirit of prayer for this element of church life, and for people to be called, encouraged and trained up to take this work forward.
Leadership
The pressing need of the Peregrinos is for leadership and a stabilizing structure as we move towards the point next year when we will have a long period out of Brazil. We still experience some frustration in terms of willingness to see the need for leadership, and to really commit to the basic responsibilities of membership. We are certainly being sanctified in terms of patience, forbearance, humility and love and dependence on the Lord! On the other hand, there are signs of hope, and as the church grows, some are starting to carry the weight. Please pray that there might be some adequate leadership in place by the end of this year, well before we begin an extended time in the UK in 2008.
Please remember how young this church is. Not all are students, but even a good number of the non-students are only in their early twenties. Anyone over 25 is automatically a mature role model! This is exciting and scary. We need to be developing an in-depth leadership, with training and investment in the younger people built in.
Things are moving on so fast that we feel we must give a rapid and general update on the church. Please read and pray for the following...
Meetings in the University Chapel
Meeting at the Chapel on Sundays from 5.00 to 7.00 pm has been a great relief after a year of moving furniture around every Sunday to accommodate everyone. We have really been enjoying singing ‘properly’ again, with no worries about neighbours, and the very “live” chapel acoustic amplifying our voices. We use a simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar and a ‘shaker’. Things could be better: a maracatu practice occurs most Sundays at the same time in the acoustic shell the other side of the campus square. The main effect of this is the reverberation of the vast bass drum, which creates a sense of “worship in a war zone.” But we are getting used to it. The attention to the preaching has been really good. Pray that the Word preached will be effective for the glory of God.
Numerical growth
Meeting at the Chapel has given us plenty of room for expansion! We are now numbering more than 40 on most Sundays. And it has not only been Sunday: a great encouragement recently was seeing 17 at a Friday prayer meeting. This still takes place in our apartment. Although some members are being slow to catch on, we are really trying to emphasise the necessity of prayer as the centre of all preaching, evangelism and community life. Pray that we might know the Spirit inspiring us to pray more.
This numerical growth is being felt at the level of church membership. We now have a good group of people in the process of integration into the church - a group numbering almost as many as are currently members. Most are young, but among them some with great gifts and a degree of proven experience.
Growth in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ
We rejoice how personal conversations and formal bible studies have been used by the Holy Spirit to help people come into a first or clearer understanding of the gospel. It is very hard to describe the doctrinal vagueness of the faith of many converted people – the distinction between first understanding or clearer understanding can be very blurred. We are becoming used to the phrase, “I was converted today!” Recently, someone was describing how she had been baptized after becoming convicted that there is a God and she should live a better life, but without mentioning the name of Jesus once in her testimony! The past, present and eschatological significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection had never been explained to her at all. Another young woman had been taught that a public prayer of ‘decision’ (ref: Rom. 10: 9,10) is required to become a Christian, so if in our church we don’t require this, how can anyone become or be known to be a Christian? It took a long time to show her that it is what one actually believes about Jesus – i.e. the content of the public confession - that is essential and of the utmost importance. Others struggle with the obvious deceptions of so-called ‘miracle workers’ and false prophets, unable to break free emotionally from loyalty-ties to family or friends who are completely taken in and test nothing from a Biblical perspective. Pray for many more to understand the message of Christ.
In the words of one young man who has been a member for a year: “The preaching on Easter Sunday about the resurrected Jesus coming as judge (from Acts 17) was a big shock to me. I realize I need to understand the gospel better and read more.” So he is starting with How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth. Others have been borrowing, and appreciating, books from our growing lending library of Portuguese Christian books. The Soul of Science, showing how Christians had pioneered early science, recently proved illuminating to two chemistry students. A student historian watching a video on the Reformation commented that she had been taught in history that the Waldensians were a heretical sect. Fascinated by the Protestant perspective on them and Luther, she has borrowed Bettenson’s Documents of the Christian Church to delve further into church history.
The library has recently grown significantly with the arrival of eight boxes of excellent books from Belem. With the closure of the Evening Bible School there, Graham Nash sent us the books he himself had purchased to boost that library, and we are now inheriting them. André Costa has been doing a thorough job of cataloguing the two collections, so that they can be used together without confusion. We are not talking vast numbers of books - perhaps still less than 1000 - but the quality of the collection is high, with repeat copies of many key volumes.
Growth in spiritual depth
Numbers and intellectual progress are not the only focus. We rejoice in signs of spiritual seriousness, and yet still feel how flimsy everything is. Please pray for deep roots, for hearts as well as minds filled with the knowledge of the love of God in Christ.
The beginnings of an evangelistic rhythm
We are just starting to see regular attenders who are not Christians, and are starting to put in place occasional meetings in order to explain the gospel especially for such people. This is a VERY welcome development, and needs to go further. Please pray for a fervent spirit of prayer for this element of church life, and for people to be called, encouraged and trained up to take this work forward.
Leadership
The pressing need of the Peregrinos is for leadership and a stabilizing structure as we move towards the point next year when we will have a long period out of Brazil. We still experience some frustration in terms of willingness to see the need for leadership, and to really commit to the basic responsibilities of membership. We are certainly being sanctified in terms of patience, forbearance, humility and love and dependence on the Lord! On the other hand, there are signs of hope, and as the church grows, some are starting to carry the weight. Please pray that there might be some adequate leadership in place by the end of this year, well before we begin an extended time in the UK in 2008.
Please remember how young this church is. Not all are students, but even a good number of the non-students are only in their early twenties. Anyone over 25 is automatically a mature role model! This is exciting and scary. We need to be developing an in-depth leadership, with training and investment in the younger people built in.
Visit to the Maranata Bible Institute, 23-27 April
After a period of terrific battles involving a very unpleasant court case, Maranata is emerging into a sunny period. This visit was my happiest and best for some time, and was the first of a new pattern: two visits per year, one in each semester, each time with third year students. This group is a good one - a wide range of church backgrounds, but with very cohesive friendship between them, and a good level of intelligent interraction in the classroom. A great week.
Maranata people
The third year group - sadly missing João Victor - doctor's appointment.
Classroom photo of entire group.
I had never noticed the cactus by the washing line before, although it certainly didn't grow up overnight.
Interesting being at Maranata in late April - different butterflies and spiders in the Autumn.
After a period of terrific battles involving a very unpleasant court case, Maranata is emerging into a sunny period. This visit was my happiest and best for some time, and was the first of a new pattern: two visits per year, one in each semester, each time with third year students. This group is a good one - a wide range of church backgrounds, but with very cohesive friendship between them, and a good level of intelligent interraction in the classroom. A great week.
Maranata people
The third year group - sadly missing João Victor - doctor's appointment.
Classroom photo of entire group.
I had never noticed the cactus by the washing line before, although it certainly didn't grow up overnight.
Interesting being at Maranata in late April - different butterflies and spiders in the Autumn.
Labels: Instituto Bíblico Maranata
A few snippets of life...
Solomon on his birthday with Kari. She is an old friend of ours, but newly arrived at the Peregrinos.
Popping into the park with Kari for her to chat with Cora, Andrew looked after Caio, who decided that the small plastic chair was best used on the climbing frame. Talk about Lord Muck!
Alfredo Wagner - about 90 minutes drive inland.
Santa Catarina countryside
Bug in the park
City scapes with self-portraits
Just occasionally we offer a taxi-service - this time for Eric, who managed to get a very cheap offer with Gol to São Paulo for a visit home. It was his first flight, so I tried to make a decent record.
Monkeys in the park
Birds and Bees
Patty with Cora for a pancake fry - celebrating Timóteo's birthday.
Solomon on his birthday with Kari. She is an old friend of ours, but newly arrived at the Peregrinos.
Popping into the park with Kari for her to chat with Cora, Andrew looked after Caio, who decided that the small plastic chair was best used on the climbing frame. Talk about Lord Muck!
Alfredo Wagner - about 90 minutes drive inland.
Santa Catarina countryside
Bug in the park
City scapes with self-portraits
Just occasionally we offer a taxi-service - this time for Eric, who managed to get a very cheap offer with Gol to São Paulo for a visit home. It was his first flight, so I tried to make a decent record.
Monkeys in the park
Birds and Bees
Patty with Cora for a pancake fry - celebrating Timóteo's birthday.
