Northeast Evangelist

Since January 2006 I’ve kept a personal blog, entitled “Igneous Quill.”  The purpose of having a blog, at the time, was to help me work out my scattered thoughts in the wake of a disasterous ministry in the American southwest.

This blog, “Northeast Evangelist,” was brought into being later to provide a channel for interested people and congregations to keep better tabs on the work in Uberlândia, Brazil, as well as our work with Brazilian immigrants in the United States.

Frankly, I’ve never liked the WordPress blogging platform, and much prefer blogger.  I have a terrible time keeping Northeast Evangelist updated, and there are serious limits to what I can do with this blog.

So, I am adjusting my personal blog to be a catch-all blog for doctrinal reflection as well as mission information.  From this point forward, please look to Igneous Quill for news and updates on the work of Ancient Faith Ministries.  And please feel free to join the discussion in the comments on each post.

God bless!
http://igneousquill.blogspot.com/

This past week we received our first contributions for the Brazil Mission Trip! One was from the First Christian Church of Murfreesboro, Arkansas, and the other from the Christian Church of Jacksonville, Arkansas. The Murfreesboro church was one of our primary supporters when we were in Brazil, and Jacksonville was the church that ordained me. We know we can count on the prayers of both churches for the work in Brazil and among Brazilian immigrants in the U.S., and thank both of them for everything!

Just click the picture for a larger image!

Just an hour or so ago I discovered that I have 16 accumulated vacation days I can use.  So, I’ve requested the entire second week of July off for the mission trip.  This still leaves more time available, but in order to get days off I have to schedule well in advance.  If any churches are interested in supporting and would be able to pay for my trip to visit, let me know and I’ll request the time off.  Again, I need to schedule well in advance.

 Thank you for your prayers and support.

When we moved to the States, it was in order to better prepare ourselves for lifetime mission service in Brazil.  We intended to pay off debts, get more training and raise full support.

This coming October will mark 4 years away from Brazil.  Cris and the kids paid a visit there last year, but I haven’t been back in all this time.  And, it doesn’t seem like we’ve made progress toward our goals.

The experience in New Mexico was a major setback, leaving me emotionally spent and spiritually in tatters.  Matters were complicated by my Dad’s sudden passing, our fast move to New Jersey, our struggles to resettle and make ends meet and my depression in the midst of all this.

Now we are in a position to get back on track.  We live in an area densely populated by Brazilian immigrants, and we are forming contacts with the immigrant community in Florida.  There may also be a chance of helping a Brazilian church organize in Massachussetts.

We need to raise funds.  We have debts to pay (mostly from my Harding education “way back when”) and if I had mission support I’d be able to get a lower-paying job in the Brazilian community.  I’d also have more flexibility to get away and help in the work of evangelism elsewhere, as well as be able to visit churches, attend conferences and perhaps get the needed training.

More will be forthcoming on this.  Right now our focus is on the $5000 we need for the Brazil Mission Trip this year.

A newsletter will be in the mail soon, Lord willing, explaining our desire to make a trip to Brazil in July of this year to help with VBS, an evangelistic campaign and a retreat in Uberlandia.  Please keep us and this project in your prayers!

Last weekend the Brazilian church in Newark, NJ was privileged to host a conflict resolution seminar taught by Dr. Michael Landon (no, not any relation to the late actor of the same name). Dr. Landon and his wife were missionaries in Brazil for a few years,  so he was able to conduct the seminar entirely in Portuguese without a translator.  Invitations were put out to the community, but only members participated.  I’d like very much to see this church receiving more “outside” speakers, as it helps us take a fresh look at things.

Please keep this church and the work with Brazilian immigrants in your prayers.  It isn’t easier, and as I involve myself more and more it will only become more challenging.

Here’s a recent picture of Marcelo and Selma Lima with their chilren at the church building in Uberlandia, Brazil.

We are now raising money for a mission trip to Brazil in July, 2007.  Our intention is first to help conduct a VBS/Evangelistic Campaign in the Pacaembu neighborhood of Uberlandia.  Also, we need to gather information on what job skills we should be developing here that will translate into employment there.  More will be forthcoming on this soon, but for now, here’s the link to the ChipIn page for support raising.  $5000 will be needed for plane tickets, expenses and supplies.

We are thinking and praying about making a trip to Brazil in the summer.  Our purposes are twofold:

 First, to learn what job skills would be most in demand for us to learn in the United States to find employment in Brazil.

 Second, to conduct a VBS together with a Revival/Evangelistic Campaign.

 Prayers are welcome, and more information on this will be forthcoming, Lord willing.