Mission Recife!Mission Recife!

QuestionQuestion

When bad things When bad things happen to us, what is happen to us, what is the first question that the first question that

we all ask? we all ask?

““Why? Why did this Why? Why did this happen to me?” happen to me?”

John 16:33John 16:33

““I have told you these I have told you these things, so that in Me you things, so that in Me you may have peace. may have peace. In this In this

world, you will have world, you will have trouble.trouble. But take heart! I But take heart! I

have overcome the have overcome the world!” world!”

Hope Hope For When For When Life Hurts Life Hurts

MostMost

Chris, Teresa, and SaraChris, Teresa, and SaraRecife, BrazilRecife, Brazil

Duda, Branca, Brenda, & Duda, Branca, Brenda, & BiancaBianca

The Question We The Question We Don’tDon’t Need to Ask: Need to Ask:

“Why?”“Why?”

The Question We The Question We DoDo Need to Ask: Need to Ask:

“How Are We Going To “How Are We Going To Respond to Our Trial?” Respond to Our Trial?”

Hebrews 6:18-19Hebrews 6:18-19

18 So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things

are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we

who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for

our souls.

John 16:33John 16:33

In this world, you In this world, you will have trouble.will have trouble. But take heart! I But take heart! I have overcome the have overcome the

world!”world!”

In modern language, Jesus In modern language, Jesus is saying…is saying…

““Yes, you will have Yes, you will have problems, but hang on, the problems, but hang on, the war is already won! I have war is already won! I have already overcome! satan is already overcome! satan is a defeated enemy….don’t a defeated enemy….don’t

give up!” give up!”

QuestionQuestion: : If the war is already won, if If the war is already won, if God is in control, why do we God is in control, why do we still have evil and suffering still have evil and suffering

in our world?”in our world?”

Men and Women still have Men and Women still have the freedom to choose the freedom to choose

““How Are We Going To How Are We Going To Respond to Our Trial?” Respond to Our Trial?”

How Did Duda and Branca Respond To How Did Duda and Branca Respond To Their Trial? Their Trial?

We’ll Tell You In Just A Moment!We’ll Tell You In Just A Moment!

First, let’s talk briefly about what God is First, let’s talk briefly about what God is doing in Recife!doing in Recife!

Recife, BrazilRecife, Brazil

1.1. Brazil is home to over Brazil is home to over 185 million people!185 million people!

2.2. Portuguese is the Portuguese is the languagelanguage

3.3. City of Recife is City of Recife is located in located in northeastern Brazilnortheastern Brazil

4.4. 5 million precious 5 million precious souls!souls!

June 4, 2007: June 4, 2007: Sara and Teresa at Miami AirportSara and Teresa at Miami Airport

Boa Vista CongregationBoa Vista Congregation36 Other Congregations Have Come From This 36 Other Congregations Have Come From This

One Church! Glory to God!One Church! Glory to God!

19 Churches of Christ in Recife19 Churches of Christ in Recife

Boa Vista

Map: 25 mi X 40 miles. 5 million people, just getting started there! Enough work for 3 lifetimes! If you or your family are interested in missions and looking for a receptive city, come join us in Recife. Talk to us afterwards.

Teresa!Teresa!

Nations UniversityNations University1. Offers free Bible degrees

over the internet (B.A./M.A./Doctorate)

2. Started in 1995 by Dr. Mac Lynn and his wife, Marty (ministry of the churches of Christ)

3. Our friend, Winston, has translated 9 courses into Portuguese!

4. Only 8 students in all of Brazil when Teresa began; glory to God, now there are 83 students!

Sara!Sara!

Preaching and TeachingPreaching and Teaching

Escola da Bíblia (School of the Bible)Escola da Bíblia (School of the Bible)

Evangelism Home GroupsEvangelism Home Groups

Baptisms!Baptisms!

Afogados CongregationAfogados Congregation

Our Missions PhilosophyOur Missions Philosophy

1. We believe in the importance of working ourselves out of a job: replacing ourselves!

2. Brazilian Christians make all decisions.

3. We also believe in starting churches that are dependent only on the Lord and not on man.

4. Therefore, we do not believe in using US funds to support local preachers or to build buildings. From our experiences and mistakes in Africa, we learned this creates dependency, jealousy, and enormous problems.

5. The churches we work with and start will be self-supporting.

God’s Plans for 2010 and 2011God’s Plans for 2010 and 20111. Continuing learning Portuguese and about Brazilian

culture

2. Continue working with the Afogados congregation

Evangelism Home Groups (currently 3; goal: 10 by 2011)

Leadership training (train 3 men/preach/teach)

Goal: 100 members by December 2011 in Afogados!

3. Continue working with home Bible study group in Ibura on Tuesday nights. Future church plant here!

Ibura: Future Church Plant! Ibura: Future Church Plant!

Our Friends Claudio and Cristina

Gorette’s House Bible Study!

When We Have Trials, When We Have Trials, How Are We Going To How Are We Going To

Respond?Respond?

2 Corinthians 4:16-182 Corinthians 4:16-1816Therefore we do not lose heart. Though

outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving

for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

For some of us, we have For some of us, we have taken our “momentary taken our “momentary

troubles” and made troubles” and made them “lifetime issues!” them “lifetime issues!”

Duda, Branca, Brenda, & Duda, Branca, Brenda, & BiancaBianca

““Hey God, we had Hey God, we had hundreds of people hundreds of people

praying. Why didn’t praying. Why didn’t you heal her?” you heal her?”

Why does God choose Why does God choose notnot to heal to heal sometimes? sometimes?

1. Does it mean God is not powerful enough to heal? No!

2. Does it mean that we did not have enough faith (as the false health/wealth gospel teaches?) No!

3. Prayer is not manipulating God to get what you want - but to trust Him and say, “I am leaving the outcome of this trial to you. Teach me all I can learn from this trial”

God God

DIDDID

Answer Answer

PrayerPrayer

Purpose of Trials? 1 Peter 1:7Purpose of Trials? 1 Peter 1:7

7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

If You Have Not Read This Book, If You Have Not Read This Book, Get It!Get It!

How Can God Use Our Trials? How Can God Use Our Trials? James 1:2-5James 1:2-5

 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Megaphone of Hope Megaphone of Hope

Duda, Branca, Brenda, & Us Duda, Branca, Brenda, & Us Nov 2009Nov 2009

Duda’s EmailDuda’s Email

“Yesterday, there was a party in heaven because of a baptism in Pau Amerelo! (a community in Recife) Jucélia is the mother of one of Bianca’s classmates. Soon after Bianca’s death, I (Duda) began studying the Bible with Jucélia and she began visiting the church of Christ in Paulista every Sunday.  She was also a part of my Bible study group in Pau Amarelo After worship yesterday, she decided she was ready to be baptized! May God be praised! Hallelujah!  I can imagine the joy of my daughter Bianca in heaven with this baptism! Bianca was used by God to save the soul of Jucélia!”

How Has God Brought How Has God Brought Good Out of the Trials In Good Out of the Trials In

Your Life?Your Life?

Why is it so important Why is it so important about how we respond about how we respond

to trials? to trials? What’s the big What’s the big

deal?!??!deal?!??!

It is in the midst of trials and It is in the midst of trials and suffering that the world looks at suffering that the world looks at

us to see if there is any hope.  us to see if there is any hope.  Is this Jesus real?Is this Jesus real? 

Whether we like it or not, we are Whether we like it or not, we are all broadcasting a message to the all broadcasting a message to the world in the midst of our trials. world in the midst of our trials.

What is your message? What is your message? Bitterness? Anger? Or…Hope?Bitterness? Anger? Or…Hope?

May I Remind You of Something?May I Remind You of Something? • This life is This life is notnot all there is. all there is.

• This is This is notnot our home. our home.

• If God does nothing more in my If God does nothing more in my life than forgive me and give me life than forgive me and give me eternal life, He has already done eternal life, He has already done way too much! I don’t deserve way too much! I don’t deserve heaven. I don’t deserve heaven. I don’t deserve forgiveness. forgiveness.

And I don’t deserve a life free And I don’t deserve a life free from suffering. After all, I am from suffering. After all, I am

following a crucified Saviorfollowing a crucified Savior

We Should Be The Happiest We Should Be The Happiest People in the World….People in the World….

HOPEHOPE• Hope? Does not mean, “wishful thinking” Hope? Does not mean, “wishful thinking”

• Hope means “a confident expectation.” Hope means “a confident expectation.”

• We don’t wish we are going to heaven, We don’t wish we are going to heaven, we we know. know.

• Our confidence is Our confidence is notnot based on anything we based on anything we have done, but on the cross of Jesus Christ, have done, but on the cross of Jesus Christ, and the fact that He is faithful to all of His and the fact that He is faithful to all of His promises. AMEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?promises. AMEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Derek Redmond and his DadDerek Redmond and his Dad1992 Barcelona Olympics1992 Barcelona Olympics

If You See The Finish Line…If You See The Finish Line…(h(heaven)eaven)

• You can put up with just about anything in this life: the pain, the hardships, the suffering, and the trials. Why? They are temporary!

• Heaven is for overcomers!

Allow God to Use Allow God to Use Your Trial!Your Trial!

Francis of Assisi said it best…Francis of Assisi said it best…

““Preach the Gospel Preach the Gospel wherever you go… wherever you go… when necessary use when necessary use

words.” words.”

7 Things We Need to Remember When 7 Things We Need to Remember When Life Does Not Make SenseLife Does Not Make Sense

1. God deeply loves you and you are worth something (the cross tell us that)

2. God is still in control and Sovereign; this is His Universe, His earth; nothing is out of His control, amen?!?! Evil and suffering exists because men and women continue to choose evil over good

3. God can bring good out of the worst tragedy and suffering; He has promised He would do this and He does!!!!

4. God sees the “BIG PICTURE” of our lives, we do not; God is in the details of our lives and He is taking our lives and History somewhere: Judgment Day!

7 Things We Need to Remember When 7 Things We Need to Remember When Life Does Not Make Sense (cont’d)Life Does Not Make Sense (cont’d)

5. God does not cause our trials, He allows them. He can use God does not cause our trials, He allows them. He can use our trials (if we allow Him) to strengthen our faith, to give us a our trials (if we allow Him) to strengthen our faith, to give us a

spirit of perseverance, and to help others walking through spirit of perseverance, and to help others walking through the similar trials.the similar trials.6. 6. Suffering is not always because of our sin; look at Joseph’s Suffering is not always because of our sin; look at Joseph’s

life, he made the right choice but was put in prison for 13 life, he made the right choice but was put in prison for 13 years! But, look how God saved a nation and a people through years! But, look how God saved a nation and a people through him!him!

7. Here’s the most important thing to remember: God 7. Here’s the most important thing to remember: God understands our pain because He entered our world in the understands our pain because He entered our world in the person of Jesus Christ: the greatest injustice was the cross!person of Jesus Christ: the greatest injustice was the cross!

How Do We Respond to our How Do We Respond to our Trial?Trial?

We Allow God to use it as a We Allow God to use it as a megaphone of hope to a megaphone of hope to a

world that desperately needs world that desperately needs JesusJesus

When all you have left is When all you have left is God….then you realize God….then you realize

God is all you need God is all you need

This is why we are in Recife, Brazil…This is why we are in Recife, Brazil…bringing hope to precious peoplebringing hope to precious people

We are in Missions for life!We are in Missions for life!

Life is an Adventure!Life is an Adventure!

Jesus Christ Has Changed My Jesus Christ Has Changed My LifeLife

Invitation to you!!Invitation to you!!

Come on down!Come on down!

We need your We need your prayers!prayers!

Sign up to be a Sign up to be a prayer warrior!prayer warrior!

Thanks to our supporters!Thanks to our supporters!• Cloverdale COC (overseer) – Searcy, AR

• Granny White COC – Nashville, TN

• Harpeth Hills COC – Brentwood, TN

• Hendersonville COC – Hendersonville, TN

• Old Hickory COC – Old Hickory, TN

• Jefferson Ave COC – Cookeville, TN

Thank you for the Thank you for the opportunity to be with you!opportunity to be with you!

We love you!We love you!

Keep the faith, finish the Keep the faith, finish the race, we are almost home!race, we are almost home!