Prayer Front_June/July 2010  Dear Prayer Warrior,  Last week we began our “Soup Kitchen Ministry” in Jabarai and approximately 180 residents came to enjoy the soup and a time of fellowship. We distributed official requests to managers of supermarkets, vegetable/fruit markets, other businesses, and neighbors to obtain vegetables, beef, chicken, and funds to help with our “Soup Kitchen Ministry” efforts. The Lord blessed by causing these business men and women and neighbors to have favor on our ministry. We were able to procure all the necessary ingredients for our first “soup night” plus a little extra. We are planning to serve soup each Wednesday night as we continue to share the love of Jesus in meaningful and practical ways. Please pray that our Brazilian partners will continue donating food and funds for this vital ministry.     A few of weeks ago we were given 120 kilos of beans and 80 liters of milk to use for our Jabarai ministry. One Sunday afternoon, a few friends and I delivered the beans and milk to some families who always lack a sufficient monthly food supply. Blessed to be a blessing!   While ministering for the past several years in Jabarai I have discovered there are adult & young adult residents who cannot read or write. I have spoken to several about their situation and most are embarrassed on a regular basis due to their illiteracy. For example, if they need to fill out any type of paperwork, then, they must rely on someone else. Some attend church and wish they could read God’s Word. Can you image not being able to read the Word of God, and you so desire? We are hoping to eliminate this problem for as many residents as possible and prayerfully our first “Literacy Ministry” class will begin on Tuesday night August 3rd. We have purchased the material and it is Biblically based. Each week, the students will learn letters of the Alphabet, a new word and Scripture verses will be used as the application to help facilitate learning.   Following are some of our immediate financial needs for Jabarai: · First floor of the preschool: $140,000.00 (current exchange rate 1.80); my home church in Texas has pledged $40,000, PTL! · Preschool project electrical drawings for the planning department: $2,800.00 · Preschool project drawings for the fire department: $2,200.00 · Sound equipment: $2,225.00 (we have $1,000), balance needed $1,225.00  The needs in Brazil are enormous. Please consider giving a generous gift this month to enable us to continue our ministry, at this time, specifically to the people of Jabarai. Your prayers are vital to this work, and your financial love gifts are an active investment in lives that will be changed for all eternity. Your investment helps us provide opportunities for people to hear and respond to the life changing message of the cross of Jesus Christ. I thank God for you and your partnership with MOI in His Harvest (John 4:35).  Serving Until He Returns,

Prayer Front/31 May 2010  Dear Prayer Warrior,  The Lord blesses me often with the opportunity to preach and teach God’s principles which are contained in His Word, and His Word is alive and with magnificent power. “The Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12, NLT).   Back in April, I had the opportunity to preach on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night of Easter weekend at Primera Igreja Batista no Bairro Modelo (PIBM). We had some wonderful times of prayer, worship, fellowship, and great food. I stayed the weekend with a family and was once again reminded of how well Brazilians take care of their guest.  In 2007, we built a chapel for one of PIBM’s congregations in Bairro Porto Belo. The congregation has grown spiritually, numerically and they minister to approximately three hundred children each month. The members have maintained the chapel well and they have installed ceramic floor tile.   Some members from PIBM and Porto Belo have been volunteers in our mission projects. PIBM has committed to partner with us in our Jabarai preschool project with their prayers, volunteers, and finances.     Join us in continuing to pray for the residents of Jabarai and our preschool project. I hope you will never under estimate the power of prayer. I have included some facts about Jabarai, so you can pray specifically about our ministry there.    · Approximately 6000 residents; 600—800 children (0—5 years old). · 80% unemployment. · At least 100 families do not have an ample food supply for the month. · Many children and adolescents do not attend school. · Drug use is prevalent among children, adolescents, adults and they are victims of prostitution. · Only one preschool exists in Jabarai and sadly the children are not taught about the love of Jesus. Approximately 250 children attend the preschool and the school is to maximum capacity. Mothers of preschool children that do not attend the school literally camp out in the street in front of the school in hopes of getting their child enrolled in school.  The needs in Brazil are enormous. Please consider giving a generous gift this month to enable us to continue our ministry, at this time, specifically to the people of Jabarai. Your prayers are vital to this work, and your financial love gifts are an active investment in lives that will be changed for all eternity. Your investment helps us provide opportunities for people to hear and respond to the life changing message of the cross of Jesus Christ. I thank God for you and your partnership with MOI in His Harvest (John 4:35).  Serving Until He Returns,

Prayer Front/January-February 2010   Dear Prayer Warrior,  A few weeks back I spent 4 ½ days in bed with a severe intestinal tract infection; even though I was uncomfortable, experienced discomfort and at times almost unbearable pain I did manage to take advantage of the down time. Through prayer, meditation, and reflection I was reminded of the hope we have in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ; the eternal hope that is found in His Holy Word. Since I became a Christian I have loved reading my Bible, and at times enjoyed holding it close to my chest, and would often feel a warm sensation deep within knowing I was reading and holding a tangible hope that is God’s Holy Word. God chose to use His Word to disclose Himself to the whole world. Amazing! In this Word, we find that God wishes for no one to perish, instead, He wishes for everyone to have eternal life which is to know Jesus Christ (John 17:3).  During my time of prayer, meditation, and reflection I remembered the moment my Lord called me to serve Him as a missionary, next, I recalled when He said Brazil would be my post. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have the responsibility to tell others about God’s amazing Love for them; He did not spare His only Son so He could provide an opportunity for the world to know Him. This, I must tell.  MOI will always choose to preach the Gospel, because it is the message of the Cross that opens the way to eternal life which leads to Heaven. John the disciple described Heaven: “And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes. And there shall no longer be any death; and there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). One day there will be a perfect world free from sin, tragedy, and suffering that will be under the reign of Christ—forever more.  Until that perfect world arrives, we must continue moving forward regardless of the difficult times in which we are living. I have talked with my pastors, other pastors, laypeople and all testify to the economic woes of these days. It seems giving is down across the spectrum causing budget cuts which sadly can lead to some needs not being met or at least postponed.  The needs in Brazil are enormous. Please consider giving a generous gift this month to enable us to continue our ministry, at this time, specifically to the people of Jabarai. Your prayers are vital to this work, and your financial love gifts are an active investment in lives that will be changed for all eternity. Your investment helps us provide opportunities for people to hear and respond to the life changing message of the cross of Jesus Christ. I thank God for you and your partnership with MOI in His harvest (John 4:35).    Following are some of our immediate financial needs for Jabarai: · First floor of the preschool: $140,000.00 (current exchange rate 1.80; the US dollar has decreased in value since our March prayer front which had the first floor cost at $110,000.00); my home church in Texas has pledged $40,000, PTL! · Preschool project electrical drawings for the planning department: $2,800.00 · Preschool project drawings for the fire department: $2,200.00 · Chairs and tables for new church start: $1,130.00 (we have $1,121.00), balance needed $9.00. · Sound equipment for new church start: $2,225.00 (we have $1,000), balance needed $1,225.00  Please consider giving a generous gift today!   Serving Until He Returns,

November/December 2009  Dear Prayer Warrior,  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season celebration and I pray you have a superb 2010. Join me as I look forward to all the ministry opportunities the Lord will provide MOI in the New Year of 2010.   During the week of November 2—7, Dr. Rusty Ricketson, a professor at Luther Rice Seminary & University in Lithonia, Georgia, served the Lord in Brazil as he taught students at our Baptist Seminary (CETEBES), preached at several local churches, and taught a group of more than forty pastors. It was an honor to have Dr. Ricketson serve the Lord once again in Brazil. Please join us in praying for more teaching opportunities at CETEBES.   We continue to recruit volunteers for our Brazil short-term mission projects. Currently we have two projects scheduled: June 18—28, July 16—26, 2010. We have a volunteer team committed to our July 16—26 project and there are still a few available volunteer positions. Following are some of our project’s objectives: 1st floor preschool construction, door-to-door evangelism, children’s ministry, medical attention, reading glass distribution, hair cuts, sports’ ministry, etc. I pray that you can join us for one of these projects. Please pray for God to provide all the necessary resources to make this project a success and do not forget to tell others about our ministry.   All future mission endeavors are dedicated to our Jabarai mission project. As you know, this project requires a large amount of resources, so it is necessary to continue working toward the completion of this life changing project before we commit resources to other areas of ministry.  Following are some of our immediate financial needs for Jabarai and please pray about how God would have you give toward some of these financial needs: · First floor of the preschool: $140,000.00 (current exchange rate 1.80; the US dollar has decreased in value since our March prayer front which had the first floor cost at $110,000.00); my home church in Texas has pledged $40,000, PTL! · Preschool project electrical drawings for the planning department: $2,800.00 · Preschool project drawings for the fire department: $2,200.00 · Chairs and tables for new church start: $1,130.00 (we have $1,121.00), balance needed $9.00. · Sound equipment for new church start: $2,225.00 (we have $1,000), balance needed $1,225.00 I am thankful for you, and your desire to partner with our ministry as we serve the sweet people of Brazil. You are a vital part of all that God is doing through MOI. Your prayers and financial love gifts help sustain this ministry. Thereupon your continued partnership MOI can remain steadfast to the ministry in which we are called. Know this, lives are being changed in positive ways through MOI, and the consistency of your giving makes the advancement of God’s Kingdom possible.       Serving Until He Returns,

Prayer Front September/October 2009   Dear Prayer Warrior, In Brazil, the month of October is dedicated to our children and there are many festive activities provided in their honor. October 12 is the day that is actually named Dia da Criança (Day of the Child). On this day, MOI partnered with Sergio (Jabarai’s city councilman), the neighborhood association and we provided a wonderful festival for our Jabarai children and their parents. We had in excess of 1500 children and 700 adults. Various stores and individuals donated small toys, bicycles, food baskets, and monetary gifts which provided us the opportunity to bless all the children. We distributed more than 1500 small toys, such as soccer balls, dolls, puzzles, etc.; and during our raffle we gave away fifteen bicycles and four food baskets; and throughout the afternoon we handed out 2500 hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy which were enjoyed by all. As always, and certainly the most important aspect of our ministry was the children & adults heard the Word of God.     This is the time of year when we contact as many people as possible in hopes of recruiting volunteers for the following year’s Brazil short-term mission projects. Currently we have two projects scheduled: June 18—28, July 16—26, 2010. Following are some of our project’s objectives: 1st floor preschool construction, door-to-door evangelism, children’s ministry, medical attention, reading glass distribution, hair cuts, sports’ ministry, etc. I pray that you can join us for one of these projects. Please pray for God to provide all the necessary resources to make this project a success and do not forget to tell others about our ministry.  Dr. Rusty Ricketson, a professor at Luther Rice Seminary & University in Lithonia, Georgia, will make another journey to Brazil to once again teach students at our Baptist Seminary (CETEBES) in Villa Velha, Espirito Santo. He will teach November 2—7 each morning from 8:00—11:20 in the discipline of Biblical/Practical Theology. Dr. Ricketson will also preach at several churches and we have other speaking engagements on the itinerary. I will be Dr. Ricketson’s host for the week and I am looking forward to our time together. Please pray for all hearts to be open to the teaching and leading of the Holy Spirit as we seek to minister to as many people as possible during Dr. Ricketson’s stay with us.   I am thankful for you, and your desire to partner with our ministry as we serve the sweet people of Brazil. You are a vital part of all that God is doing through MOI. Your prayers and financial love gifts help sustain this ministry. Thereupon your continued partnership MOI can remain steadfast to the ministry in which we are called. Know this, lives are being changed in positive ways through MOI, and the consistency of your giving makes the advancement of God’s Kingdom possible.      Making a Kingdom Difference with You,