Day of Training


Today was a special and different day.
In the morning a group 20 men who are supporting leaders of two churches (São Lourenço and Curado) met for an early traditional breakfast in a city 1 hour away. During the meal and in the midst of a lot of fellowship, we had two short lessons about doing church: the necessary sacrifices to make ministry grow and the spiritual motivation we must pursue in order to keep going. It was a wonderful moment of unity and learning.


This afternoon another group of men from São Lourenço met to watch a video on qualities of efficient leadership. Again, it was the same formula: fellowship, laughers, and learning. 


We believe it's the time we need to prepare solidly the men who will keep our churches growing and expanding---men from our own congregations!    Check out some pictures:


http://picasaweb.google.com.br/Bio.Zugzwang/DiaDeTreinamento#


Please, in your prayers tonight add this vision of leadership preparation.  .


Pray also for the cities I mentioned in my last blog, which were devastated by the "monsoon type" floods. Now many of those cities are under the risk of epidemic diseases. 


Shalom
Bio N

Last week torrential rains and flash floods destroyed many cities in the south of our state Pernambuco, and Alagoas, a state below us. The churches here are mobilizing to help the population there. Literally entire small towns were wiped out.  Several bridges connecting to these cities were also taken by the sudden flood. Talked to a lady tonight from one of the cities and she's suggested the possibility of human mistake: perhaps a dam's door was opened more than is should! People received warning to upcoming waters in within 3 hours, and it came.


Please pray that our efforts will reach out to those in despair.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10372362.stm



http://fotografia.folha.com.br/galerias/101-chuva-em-alagoas#foto-2206


Shalom always,


- Bio Nascimento

The excitement in the air is heavy! In within one hour Brazil will be playing against North Korea, a country without tradition in soccer. It's our first game in 2010 World Cup. There is no reason to believe that we will loose. Even still the excitement and the anxiety is so great. People are driving home fast. Buses are crowded. Fireworks in everyplace. Many are wearing shirts with our national colors (yellow and blue). Patriotism is so high like no other time! Soon everything will stop and everyone will be in front of a TV set. Early this morning it struck me the thought--when Jesus returns, will our excitement will be so great and will we be festive? OR, will it be a day as if Brazil lost to North Korea?   Noooo!


http://fotografia.folha.com.br/galerias/13-torcedores-brasileiros#foto-290

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It's not quite correct to compare different virtues. Either/Or is a typical and dangerous fallacy. But let's try it still. What is more important for Christians, knowledge or relationship? Church exists to foster health relationships. Jesus died to reestablish relationship between the Father and the world. The Bible explains how connection was lost in this relationship. The Spirit dwells in us to guarantee this relationship.  


Nevertheless, I get the impression that knowledge is more important than relationships in our midst. We value knowledgeable people, well read people. Here's not an apology to ignorance, which is a sour expensive price we pay sometimes. "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."   Let's insist again: what would be more important, be an old scholar with all the right answers but lonely, or a guy who only graduated from high school but has a large family, a beloved spouse, and a long list of dear friends? Right knowledge is better than comforting friendship? I'm glad we don't have to choose one in spite of the other. 
We can have both.


I guess God is about relationship. Knowledge is just a data in the way.


"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."


"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."


"Love never ends. [...] as for knowledge, it will pass away."


- Bio Nascimento