|
Twitter Feed
You can change the "look" of this site on your computer at this page.
|
|
|
Larry Zinck - April 16, 2010 |
|
|
|
God's HandThe longer I live the more I see how much we need the Lord and how much we need to depend on Him for everything. I see His hand at work in so many ways that go far beyond our comprehension. As William Cowper wrote: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform!”
The Friday and Saturday before Easter about 15 brothers from our congregation participated in the annual men’s retreat in São Paulo. As always, being with hundreds of fellow believers from all over the country was a time of edification and renewal. Antonio Carlos who began studying the Bible at the Outreach Center just a few weeks ago decided at the last minute to join us. When one of the speakers asked for volunteers to tell about an occasion when someone had lied to his wife, Antonio Carlos was one of the first to raise his hand. He said that his wife had been asking him where he had been going each evening after work. He told her that he had been going to AA meetings. (In fact he had gone to Alcoholics Anonymous in the past and they have a meeting room right next to our building.) But as time went on she became more suspicious and said: “You’ve never gone to AA that often, you’re going to that church aren’t you?”
While Antonio Carlos has been a religious person for most of his life, now as he nears retirement, he has developed a deep hunger for God’s word as it applies to his life. I sat by him at the retreat and following every speech he would lean over to me and say: “That one was just what I needed to hear.” I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord brings us people with open hearts. I’m going to tell you about a few others. And please pray that God will send many more!
Three souls were born again in March. Connie, Jonathan and I missed Humberto’s baptism on March 7th as it was the Sunday that the Niteroi church (where Nathan and Sara are working) had its first worship assembly. Humberto is the father of four children and earns his living making deliveries on his motorcycle. He had been studying the Bible at the Outreach Center every Saturday for the past several months. Humberto’s wife, Debora, came to worship services for the first time this past Sunday. Please pray she will have an open heart to God’s word.
Vera accepted Jesus as the Lord of her life the following Sunday. Almost every Sunday she brings two or three visitors with her to church. Vera seems ready to give in response to every need. Rose first came dropped by the church about two years ago when her sister-in-law wanted to study the Bible. Her sister-in-law eventually lost interest but Rose kept coming back. Since being baptized, Rose drops by the Outreach Center almost every afternoon after work when she picks up her twins from day care. Like Humberto, Vera and so many others, Rose seems to have an unquenchable thirst to learn more about following Jesus.
We heard on the news that the weather in Rio in March was the hottest it had been in fifty years. There were days at church when the sweltering heat was almost more than folks could bear. As you may have heard, last week the city was hit with torrential rains. So many streets were flooded that the city practically came to a standstill and our mayor asked everyone to stay at home. And worst of all were the mudslides that destroyed houses in some of the hillside slums. Over 200 lives were lost with many people still missing. This Sunday our congregation took up a special contribution to help buy supplies needed by 72 residents in Jacarepaguá who lost their homes.
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the growth of God’s kingdom in Rio. He has blessed us in countless ways and for that we are humbly grateful.
Your fellow servants in Christ,
Larry, Connie and Jonathan
P.S. One photo shows Rose with her two daughters (the twin boys were not present) and her sister-in-law.
Another is Vera who was taught and baptized by Aurélio.
And Humberto with Debora and their youngest son, Mateus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
facebook
twitter (@pvcclr)
google plus
rss
