Andrew Levi Sherrill
Missions Report: Dec. 2008
Puerto Montt, Chile
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Jan. 9, 2009

Pleasant Valley Church of Christ
10900 Rodney Parham Rd.
Little Rock, Arkansas

 
Hello everyone,
 
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! There isn’t anything better to remind us how blessed we are than time with family and friends. (And lots of good food.) The Christians were great to take care of me and I got more invitations for Christmas and New Year’s day than I could accept. I have to admit it was a little harder this year than last year to be so far from friends and family. I just remind myself that, Lord willing, I will be home next Christmas.
 
I am happy to include pictures of our newest brother as Rooney (named by his mother after the American actor) decided to accept Christ in the first part of December. He is a product of one of the group bible studies that we have been conducting on Saturday nights in the home of Daniel and Susan. This is a chance for the Christians to invite their friends and family to have a discussion about God and His place in our lives. This has show itself to be a great way of getting the Christians here into helping with the teaching because of the connection they already have with the contacts. We are about to add a third group that is set to start next week.
 
This weekend I will start a move to our new downtown location. For the last year we have been meeting out of my house. This move opens many new possibilities for us as we will be on the coast, one block from the city bus terminal. It was previously a small business with a small kitchen, two bath, 3 offices and a meeting room. This give us a good space that is accessible to the public. It also is much better for new comers as the house model here is looked at as a fly-by night club rather than a stable community of believers. I really wasn’t anticipating that and thought a house-church would work well in a Latin community, but it just isn’t that way. We will adjust and Lord willing, someday have a building.
 
Another benefit to me finally having an office is that it will allow me to offer family counseling to local families that otherwise couldn’t afford it. I have been doing some of this in my free time but a downtown office will make it much more available. I really enjoy that aspect of my job and am excited about the ability to use the other half of my training. It is interesting to me how a correct relationship with Christ can bring family problems into a better light.
 
I was working on a lesson for the church last week on the peace of God. There is something profound in Matt. 5:9. To be a child of God we must bring peace to those who come into our lives with turmoil and pain. There is so much hurt in this world and Christians should be know as people that help calm the storms of life. Let me encourage each of you to find your way to bring about peace where there is chaos.
 
James 3:17-18 (New International Version)
 
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
 

Peace to you all,
 
Andrew Levi Sherrill
 
 

Dec. attendance:
Date Puerto M.__
7         22
14       15
21       14
28       20
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Baptism photos: