“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Thank you for praying for the young people who went to camp the last Saturday through Tuesday in February. God worked mightily in their lives, and several are continuing to allow the Holy Spirit to make them more Christ-like. Alex, age 18, and his sister Andreza, age 15, started coming to church with their godly grandmother Mariza shortly after the church started in September 2015. They were both saved on Sunday night, November 1, 2015, and were baptized together on Sunday, March 6, 2016. At first, their parents were not for them going to camp, but because of their excitement and sincere interest, the parents said they could not tell them “No.” Both returned with an increased desire to serve our Saviour! A couple of weeks afterwards, Alex got a man’s haircut, Andreza always wears a dress and rarely misses a service, and both have started going soul winning. For the past two Sunday evening services, Sandra, their mom, who accepted Jesus in September of last year, has brought her children and mother-in-law to church. Recently on Alex’s first time out, we spoke with two families. At the second home, Bruna, age 20, trusted Jesus.
The first Friday through Sunday in March was our church’s 2nd Annual Missions Conference, with Pastor Fernando Martins preaching and one missionary family preparing to serve our Saviour in Israel. On Saturday afternoon during the conference, the missionary couple and I went to the home of a 17-year-old young man named Jonata to meet his family. He was already saved when he started coming to church in January, but no one else in his family was saved. The missionary couple spent a good while talking with Jonata’s older brother Edimilson, while I got to know his parents, Luis and Mary Luicia. At the end of our time, his parents prayed to receive our Saviour’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven. Four weeks ago, Jonata started riding his bike once a week for discipleship and soul winning. After the first lesson, we talked with some people we’ve been praying for who live by the church. That day after talking with João and Honorina, who have been married over 61 years, they prayed to trust Jesus. After the second study, we visited a nursing home, where Jonata’s father manages everything (grounds, laundry, kitchen, etc.) but the care for the residents. While there, his father took the time to show us the spacious facility and introduce us to the people who work with him. After the third week’s study, we briefly visited with six families that live by the church, many of whom we’ve established a friendship with.
Since the start of the church, we have been renting the same building. We are continuing to see God grow His church as hungry individuals and families come looking for spiritual food from the unchanging Word of God. One recent Sunday evening, we were blessed with 60 people present. Before our second anniversary in September, we are preparing to be in a larger facility where we can welcome a larger crowd and expand our ministries.
As you can tell by reading our letters, there are many more who need to be saved, attend church, be baptized, discipled, trained to be soul winners, and involved in the work of our Saviour through future ministries, such as walk routes, van routes, a Nursing Home Ministry, a drug- and habit-addiction ministry, a Prison Ministry, etc. Would you pray with us that our God will continue to have liberty to use all of us at Igreja Batista Nova Vida in Taubaté to brighten the corner where we are? Here are the words to the first verse and chorus of the famous hymn “Brighten the Corner,” written by Ina Mae Duley Ogdon (1872-1964).
Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do;
Do not wait to shed your light afar.
To the many duties ever near you now be true;
Brighten the corner where you are.
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar.
Brighten the corner where you are!
For the PEOPLE of Brazil,
Dave and Dawn and Children
