Brazil Update #4- From Sean!

I got an email update from Sean and he wanted me to pass it on to you all... they have been at a retreat all weekend.

Well....when most people think about a retreat they picture nice
cabins, good food, AC, log fires, swimming pools. All the stuff you
would find at Hume Lake. Well, we were not even close to Hume. The
only way to describe it would be Survivor. We were on a big sandy
beach on the river with the hot hot sun beating down on us. WHen you
first walk into the water you have to drag your feet so that the sting
rays know you are coming and will swim away because if you don't and
you step on one they will sting you good. The sand was nice until the
afternoon when it became super hot. All we had to sit on was the
ground itself (which is actually what my name means in
Portegues...ground) or on a chair that we stole from someone else.
The food was great each day and we enjoyed rice and beans at each
meal. We were fed so much that Robert and I tried to sneak out of
meals but the Brazilian women would not have that!

The speaking went very well and we both did a good job. There were 6
baptisms and many more decisions following one of Roberts messages
about being a missionary to your home town. God really worked on the
people's hearts. We could tell that we were being prayed for at home.

There really is so much to tell, but it is so hot I can't focus on
anything. We are doing great and we each have one more lesson to
give. Looking forward to coming home and sharing all that God has
done.

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Brazil Update #3

Sean was able to call last night. They got to Araguana without any further problems and attended a great Wednesday night church service. Tomorrow, they will head out of town to a retreat with the church. Again, please be praying that God's word will be spoken through Sean and Robert and that lives will be changed toward Christ.

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Brazil Update #2

Sean and Robert are still in Sao Paolo. They fly out tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. for Araguana. Pray for continued traveling mercies and a safe flight to their destination! Once they make it to Araguana, they will be preaching and teaching at a retreat, starting on Friday. Pray that the power of God's Word will be translated through the interpreters and that Sean & Robert would speak what God wants the people to hear.

It sounds like the boys have been able to rest some, which is great, becuase once they reach Araguana, they will hit the ground running!

Thanks for your prayers and support!

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Brazil Trip Update #1

Greetings, friends!

I wanted to let you all know that we have a team in Brazil right now. The team is Sean Wilson and Robert Ford. They left early yesterday (Sunday) morning and will be returning in several weeks.

They had a pretty crazy flight schedule with 5 connecting flights. They flew from Fresno to LA, then from LA to Miami, then Miami to Sao Paolo, Brazil. Unfortunately, due to delayed flights, they missed one of their connecting flights that was to take them to Brasilia and then on to Araguana. So, Sean and Robert are stuck in Sao Paolo until Wednesday.

Please pray for there to be no other travel delays or problems along the way. Pray for their health and that they will be a blessing to everyone they come into contact with.

Thanks everyone! I'll update you as I hear from them!

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Ramadan Prayer- Day 1

Our attitudes

Unbelief, Belief and Love

Scriptures to meditate and proclaim in prayer: Mt. 19:26,

Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 12:1-2

It is often said that Muslims are hard to reach with the Gospel. For religious, cultural and spiritual reasons this is often

true. However it is not impossible. The Bible tells us that nothing

is impossible for God (Mt. 19:26). Do I agree with God that

nothing is too hard for Him?

Faith is important but do I also love Muslims? What is my

most profound reaction when I meet them, when I see them

on television? How would I react if a man in Islamic clothing

came to my church? How would I react if a new believer from

a Muslim background wanted to marry into my family? Would

I be willing to give a thousand dollars so someone could proclaim

the Gospel among Muslims? Would I be willing to sit and

eat with a Muslim in a crowded restaurant? Have I been involved

in criticizing them without knowing them? Am I fearful

of Muslims? Is my main attitude toward them one of mistrust?

Am I able to do as Jesus says, “You shall love your neighbour as

yourself”? Is this my desire, is this my goal?

Be honest with God. Pray as He directs you. (Use the scriptures

cited above.) If it seems appropriate, pray for yourself and / or

other believers around the world who may also be struggling

with their attitudes, ideas and actions toward Muslims.

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Muslim Populations

Africa 400 million

Middle East 250 million

Asia 800 million

Europe 25+ million

Americas 5+ million

Total 1.48 billion

The numbers above give the approximate

numbers of Muslims in various regions of

the world. In the last 50 years probably

no more than one or two million Muslims

have come to saving faith in the Messiah.

Some people might give a somewhat

higher figure. Whatever the real number,

it is relatively small, and a breakthrough

is needed.

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Why Pray For Muslims?

Believers in the Messiah, Jesus, have many beliefs and

values in common with Muslims, not only concerning

faith-related issues but also moral values. People from

both faith communities agree that our world has become

a dangerous place. Believers in Jesus and Muslims can

both be in agreement concerning the following text in

2 Timothy 3:2-5:

“... Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,

boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,

without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,

headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers

of God.”

Believers in the Messiah and Muslims share similar

common values for daily living: faithfulness (to

God and in relationships), honesty, compassion, honour,

humility, chastity, self-sacrifice, mercy and love.

Muslims and Christians believe that there is one

God, but are we worshipping the same God in word

and deed? One might also ask: In a time when many

people think that all roads and all religions lead to the

one true God, why should one pray for Muslims to come

to salvation? Does it make any difference? Are they not

already accepted by God?

Certainly Muslims are loved by God. Without doing

anything they are loved by Him. God counts Muslim

children and adults as precious. He loves every aspect of

their languages, food, attitudes and daily life which are

truly good and right. However, this does not mean that

Muslims have entered into eternal life or have had their

sins forgiven.

Muslims are not inspired by the hope of a new world

in which Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah, reigns

as King. Most Muslims have actually been trained not

to believe that Jesus died and rose again. In general they

know little of His forgiveness. They believe that Jesus was

a prophet sent from God but they generally never think of

Him as God’s appointed King who reigns over the nations

(Mt 28:18-20). It is precisely “believing the Gospel of the

Kingdom” which is a problem. Like all people everywhere

and in all cultures, Muslims are called to turn from evil

and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom. Most Muslims

around the world have not even had an opportunity

to hear the Good News of Jesus’ death for sins

and His resurrection, which liberates us from the

power of sin, death and demonic bondage.

For various reasons which will be discussed

later in this booklet, Muslims do not believe that

Jesus is the Son of God. Believers in the Messiah

are always rejoicing that “God has sent His only

begotten Son into the world, that we might live

through Him. In this is love, not that we loved

God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be

the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-

10).

Jesus has come so that we can have life and

have it in abundance ( John 10:10). Therefore let

us pray for Muslims so they can enter into that

life in the Messiah’s eternal kingdom.

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