Thursday, October 11, 2007
Nick McQuaker's visit
Nick McQuaker, one of the pastors at our home church, Haywards Heath Evangelical Free Church, came to visit for 11 days or so. It has been a long time since he was here - so much has happened - and it was really good to receive him into a very different situation from the one he saw last time. God really blessed his visit, in terms of personal communion, and ministry to the gathered church, in one form or another.
The Peregrinos Church Retreat - and questions of future leadership
The church at the retreat - 7 people who were present for at least part of the time didn't make it for this photo.
Nick ministered on Exodus 3/4; 14 and 19:1-6. His expositions were exceptional - just what we needed to hear, individually and corporately. Andrew did the interpreting - a new experience, and one which, although very exhausting, was surprisingly satisfying.
Taybar and Patty were also with us. The church is considering Taybar as a possible pastor in harness with Andrew. He is currently working as an auxiliary pastor in Blumenau, being particularly involved with a centre for drug rehabilitation. He would like to be teaching and preaching more, and the church here likes his approach and thoughtful expositions. He ministered on Friday night on Ephesians - Paul's prayer at the end of the chapter. On Saturday morning, after Nick's first exposition, Taybar opened up Daniel 1 - very clear and penetrating applications to the culture and life of the congregation. On the Saturday night we had an interview with the couple, which went a long way to building understanding and clearing the ground for a decision on a possible call to Taybar. Please pray on for this matter!
Taybar and Patty
Much volleyball on Saturday afternoon.
Testing the waters - a good walk on Campeche beach
Nick McQuaker, one of the pastors at our home church, Haywards Heath Evangelical Free Church, came to visit for 11 days or so. It has been a long time since he was here - so much has happened - and it was really good to receive him into a very different situation from the one he saw last time. God really blessed his visit, in terms of personal communion, and ministry to the gathered church, in one form or another.
The Peregrinos Church Retreat - and questions of future leadership
The church at the retreat - 7 people who were present for at least part of the time didn't make it for this photo.
Nick ministered on Exodus 3/4; 14 and 19:1-6. His expositions were exceptional - just what we needed to hear, individually and corporately. Andrew did the interpreting - a new experience, and one which, although very exhausting, was surprisingly satisfying.
Taybar and Patty were also with us. The church is considering Taybar as a possible pastor in harness with Andrew. He is currently working as an auxiliary pastor in Blumenau, being particularly involved with a centre for drug rehabilitation. He would like to be teaching and preaching more, and the church here likes his approach and thoughtful expositions. He ministered on Friday night on Ephesians - Paul's prayer at the end of the chapter. On Saturday morning, after Nick's first exposition, Taybar opened up Daniel 1 - very clear and penetrating applications to the culture and life of the congregation. On the Saturday night we had an interview with the couple, which went a long way to building understanding and clearing the ground for a decision on a possible call to Taybar. Please pray on for this matter!
Taybar and Patty
Much volleyball on Saturday afternoon.
Testing the waters - a good walk on Campeche beach
Other photos of the retreat are available here
Yet more available here
Visit to Belo Horizonte
Nick's time in Brasil was divided between the days spent here in Florianópolis and a visit to BH, to be with and work with Rodrigo and Lívia. Andrew went too, doing the interpreting for a two-day workshop on Zechariah (immensely tiring - the most exhausting work I have ever done). Nick then preached on the Sunday at First Presbyterian, while Andrew preached four messages on Ephesians for the second anniversary of the Pampulha Presbyterian Church.
Nick with the group of pastors gathered for two days intensive training on preaching Zechariah.
Nick chatting with a number of Brazilian men of letters in a Belo Horizonte square. They didn't seem to be able to get a word in edgeways!
Sunday morning - 8.30 breakfast with Pampulha Presbyterian Church
Young people from First Presbyterian present as a group on Saturday night.
More photos of the visit to BH here
More workers for Floripa?
As well as the news concerning Taybar and Patty above, we need to share the following. Graham and Tina Nash have encountered difficulties in their thinking about whether and how to join us in Floripa, mainly due to the educational needs of their girls. Please pray that they will come to a godly decision for their family, and glorify God whether in Brazil or in England.
Another possibility in the long term (2-3 years) has come up. Mary Brown, a history student from UCL, has spent six weeks with the Peregrinos. She has been in the country before, and can already get by in Portuguese. She came to Maranata Bible Institute (Paraná) with us, attended Andrew’s classes at IBE, Cora’s Bible studies on OT prophets, Bible Studies on Mark at the University and the “Micro-Regional” meeting of the ABUB in Blumenau. She is seriously thinking and praying about supporting student work in South Brazil as a Staff Worker after graduating, and we hope and pray that this may come about. The University scene in southern Brazil so needs godly, theologically balanced workers! So please pray about this. She is on the right in the picture.
A more immediate possibility of help comes in the shape of Malcolm and Dana Philips, (on left of picture) both from the USA. They are coming to work in Floripa, where their desire is to work principally with students. Some Peregrinos have been helping Malcolm and Dana with language study, and they have been spending time with us, (talking theology and cooking), attending our church meetings on Fridays and Sundays, and “hanging out” with our students. They have also hosted the meetings of the church (the university chapel being closed for repair) during their time here. They are both theologically trained, with particular interest in apologetics, evangelism and (in Malcolm's case) the biblical languages. After completing their short stay (6 weeks or so) they have returned to the US for their final training and orientation programme with the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptists, by whom they have been accepted to serve as missionaries. Please pray for them as they pursue the goal of returning to work here from early January 2008.
Another possibility in the long term (2-3 years) has come up. Mary Brown, a history student from UCL, has spent six weeks with the Peregrinos. She has been in the country before, and can already get by in Portuguese. She came to Maranata Bible Institute (Paraná) with us, attended Andrew’s classes at IBE, Cora’s Bible studies on OT prophets, Bible Studies on Mark at the University and the “Micro-Regional” meeting of the ABUB in Blumenau. She is seriously thinking and praying about supporting student work in South Brazil as a Staff Worker after graduating, and we hope and pray that this may come about. The University scene in southern Brazil so needs godly, theologically balanced workers! So please pray about this. She is on the right in the picture.
A more immediate possibility of help comes in the shape of Malcolm and Dana Philips, (on left of picture) both from the USA. They are coming to work in Floripa, where their desire is to work principally with students. Some Peregrinos have been helping Malcolm and Dana with language study, and they have been spending time with us, (talking theology and cooking), attending our church meetings on Fridays and Sundays, and “hanging out” with our students. They have also hosted the meetings of the church (the university chapel being closed for repair) during their time here. They are both theologically trained, with particular interest in apologetics, evangelism and (in Malcolm's case) the biblical languages. After completing their short stay (6 weeks or so) they have returned to the US for their final training and orientation programme with the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptists, by whom they have been accepted to serve as missionaries. Please pray for them as they pursue the goal of returning to work here from early January 2008.
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 2:18:00 pm 
