Grace and peace to all:
Vacation is over, the girls are back to school, and ministry is in full gear.
Below you will see some highlights in our life/ministry and several prayer requests:
l My ministry in this first semester of 2011 will have a greater focus towards public teaching. I will be teaching every day of the week except Fridays at different places and on various themes: Minor Prophets, the Book of Daniel, Riches in God's Eyes, Proverbs, English through the book of 1John, etc. Teaching at the Escola da Bíblia (Book of Daniel) is one highest peak of my week. Please, pray that I may have discipline to prepare myself for each class, and wisdom and strength to give my best.
l Djalma and Edilson were baptized on the same day and added to the family of Christ nearly at the same minute, like Esau and Jacob. Their baptisms were different of others though. First, they are grownup head of family men, who will bring along with them wives and children to church. Second, the whole process of reaching them out, opening the Scriptures, baptisms, and discipleship are being conducted by members of the church. There is no involvement at all of any leader! This is a great sign for us.
Pray that these men may grow in the imitation of Christ and that the church may grow in her independence and maturation.
l We have a ministry in our church called Hope Project. Through it we send 12 poor children from our congregation to a private school, where they have a chance to a decent education. At this part of the country, the public school system is very inefficient. This is an individual ministry where members from our American sponsoring congregation sponsor one child for US$ 600/year or only US$ 50/month. If you’re interested in joining this visionary ministry, please, feel free to contact us. I can arrange a Skype conversation to explain you father details. PLEASE, pray that the previous sponsors will continue on their commitment for 2011 school year and that others will step up into this ministry.
l In January we had a high moment for churches of Christ in Northeast of Brazil—The 25th Christian Congress. This year's theme was “Being Like Jesus”. Sermons from the Beatitudes were very appropriate for the current context of our churches. The event was held on a very beautiful green area of Recife, yet the best part was the fellowship in seeing brothers and sisters we long hadn't seen. Pray for our churches in this part of the world.
We hope and pray that Jesus Christ is growing in you as your only Lord.
Best regards in Him,
Bio and Dayse
Hannah, Yasmin, and Dara Nascimento
