banhocheiroso

Taybar

Yesterday morning we had a good decision-making meeting. Discussion was wide ranging and intense, the church being unanimous with respect to the desirability of having Taybar working with us, but with a great deal of nervousness about the "how." As a church we have a limited income, being mainly non-salaried students, and what we receive is not enough to support a pastor, especially with high rent values, and the likely need to also hire a place for the church to meet. We have, however built up a reasonable reserve over the last months, so are looking to invite Taybar and Patty for a fixed period, set by the cost of rental and size of income/reserve, with the situation being constantly reviewed as (we hope) our income rises.

The decision yesterday, therefore, was a faith-stretching one. Those of us who tend in a more "hard-realism" direction find the situation very stressful. But we are sure that this step is crucial. Not least, the involvement of a Brazilian (and a very culturally-aware Brazilian at that) in the leadership of the church will help to protect us from the accusation that our "oddness" (as a Bible-teaching, conservative-evangelical church) is down to the presence of British missionaries.

Thank you for praying for us and with us at this important time. Rejoice in a good decision, well taken. Please pray on for the many key questions that must now be resolved. In particular, the difference of a few hundred reais on the rent of a flat will be critical: we need a miracle on this one!