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Our weekend was VERY different here at Faith Baptist Church in Sorocaba . Saturday was the long awaited banquet for our Faithful Teens group. Dawn began her kitchen work early with Joelma and Cristina helping out. The teens came in their "Sunday" best and the evening was lovely and a lot of fun. The most faithful of the Faithful Teens was Amanda who memorized 100 verses did a lot of tract handing out and shared the Gospel with many. She was nearly perfect in attendance at church activities. For all of her hard work she won an all expenses paid trip to Hopi-Hari , an amusement park near São Paulo. She will be taking her sister Tais who also memorized 100 verses and invited a lot of kids to Bible Club. In second place, earning a half expenses paid trip was Amanda and Tais’ sister Graziele . She too worked very hard, memorizing the 100 verses and handing our many tracts and inviting multitudes to Bible Club. The trip to Hopi-Hari will be a lot of fun and the girls deserve t...

Being the only missionary in a town of over 600.000 has its advantages and disadvantages. Well disadvantages might be a strong word but when a trip to São Paulo is involved it aint what I used to think that it was. I used to love to go into the BIG city but I've become acustomed to "smaller" town living. The call to duty this time was picking up Ben and Dani Jacobs and with coworkers Shawn and Donna Alexander in the States we were called to action.  This time we needed to take two vans because there were going to be a lot of boxes. It was a great test of my Christian walk. I drove one van and Dawn drove me crazy.... the other van.  Dawn is a very good and cautious driver. She goes the speed limit even when there isn't one. She is a sweetheart and I love her. I just don't like having to lead her into São Paulo. God is always good and we made in and back saftely at 2:45 AM Saturday morning with the Jacobs family.  On another note We were able to make c...

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephsians 2:19-22) Sunday just after Sunday school our church went the 100 meters from where we meet now to our future church building site. There were around forty of us who spread out to cover the four sides of our property. There we bowed our heads and prayed for God to consecrate this tiny piece of land for His honor and glory. It was a historic moment. It was a moment that we had been praying for for over two years. We had asked God’s direction, protection and provision. We had asked for clear and concrete proof as to where He wanted our building. Three ...

Uthai. Now there is a name for you. What mother looked into the eyes of her newborn little bundle of love and with a cooing voice said, “Your name will be Uthai.” Pronounced in Portuguese it would ooo-tie. Using a Mid-west U.S. accent it might come out You-thigh. Whatever the pronunciation it is not among the top-ten most popular boy names. If you have read the Bible through you have read about Uthai. Unless of course you "speed-read" the genealogies. You won’t find Uthai’s story in Flannel-graph, Bible coloring books nor in bed-time devotionals for kids. His name won’t come up in marriage counseling applications, wedding counseling presentations nor in Father’s Day messages but his is an important name. Or rather Uthai accomplishment was landmark. Now, you might be just dying to know who Uthai is and have already gone to you smartphone Bible to do a quick search. If so fine. If not listen to what my quick search discovered about the meaning of his name. In Strong’s Concor...

Heman a singer (1 Chronicles 6.32) Reading through 1 Chronicles I came across this interesting name and sacred music came to mind. What genera did Heman imitate? What kind of “set-up” time did Heman’s ancient group need. How did they do what they did without electricity? How did they worship God without amplifiers, soundboards, mixers and mics? Our worship music has evolved into an ugly alien these days. Its barely distinguishable from barroom music. There is a “Top Ten” countdown for gospel (little g) just as there is for Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop and Rap. And like the latter the gospel music performers receive little trophies for their labors and millions in their bank accounts. Of course I’m sure that each of them tithes to their local band of believers. Pun intended on the word “band”. Millions upon millions are invested and made in the gospel music industry. Didn’t that last phrase sound cold? It is cold. The gospel music industry is a sham. It is the Devil’s lie. It gratifies the f...

carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered (Ezra 7.15) Through the years I have often envisioned myself in a giant MONOPOLY game. I am terrible at MONOPOLY. Most know that MONOPOLY (I think that it needs to be spelled with all caps) is usually a dreadfully long game. Many times I have avoided embarrassment simply because I didn’t want to spend hours playing. Or rather hours waiting for everyone else to finish. I am usually the first one eliminated. It is a proven fact. I can’t seem  to win. MONOPOLY is a game of strategy and luck. This mix can be fun when you are a good strategist and when the luck is going your way. But when the die does you bad you’re out in a flash. I’ve tried to start small with Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues and grow. I’ve tried to start big with Park Place and Broadway and crush every opponent. I’ve tried the old barter system, buy a little of everything. I’ve tried to own all of the Utilities and Railroads but usu...

This last week at Faith Baptist Church was historic. For two years our church has been praying and saving to buy land. If you've visited our church you know that a venture like this was really an impossible dream.  God likes impossible dreams. On Thursday we signed the purchase agreement. We own two lots on Rua Laura Maria de Barros, Jardim dos Eucaliptos in Sorocaba.  What this means is that for the next two years we will be paying R$1.000 per month to pay off our loan. Pray with us for this phase.  We plan to begin to build soon. That to will be a miracle. Stay tuned.  Saturday we had rain for the first time in four months. We got five inches in one day. This made our Bible club turnout slim. We had forty-five kids. Though the turnout was low we shared the Gospel with each child.  Sunday we got another five inches of rain. Our people showed their committment to Christ by their presence in Sunday school and the evening service.  Saturday was ...