Categoria: News

I’ll be leaving at midday today to go to Tavares County in the mountains where we will inaugurate another new well – this time for another ex-slave community at Arara. I will sleep the night at Princesa Isabel.


Tomorrow morning I have a trouble-shooting meeting at Princesa Isabel. Oh boy! I worked 40 years with Pastor Manoel Jorge without a hitch, but now he’s gone to glory… crumbs!


In the afternoon I will travel on a long journey to Ceará where on Sunday we will baptize 12 (I think) and I will preach at the communion service. I will be back in Patos on Monday.


On Tuesday we will have another new well inauguration in São Mamede County so it’s non-stop!


Another church situation is presenting problems too so I have to sort this out as well. Help! Please pray for us at this time.

I’ll be leaving at midday today to go to Tavares County in the mountains where we will inaugurate another new well – this time for another ex-slave community at Arara. I will sleep the night at Princesa Isabel.


Tomorrow morning I have a trouble-shooting meeting at Princesa Isabel. Oh boy! I worked 40 years with Pastor Manoel Jorge without a hitch, but now he’s gone to glory… crumbs!


In the afternoon I will travel on a long journey to Ceará where on Sunday we will baptize 12 (I think) and I will preach at the communion service. I will be back in Patos on Monday.


On Tuesday we will have another new well inauguration in São Mamede County so it’s non-stop!


Another church situation is presenting problems too so I have to sort this out as well. Help! Please pray for us at this time.

I have just received word from another university professor, other than the one already involved with research at Green Pastures, that she wants to go there with me this afternoon and view the land with a view to helping us plant lots (I mean LOTS) of trees there in the coming rainy season hopefully fairly early in 2015. This is an interesting development as this professor is responsible for the production of native tree seedlings at the university. Watch this space.


Liz and I watched some of Paul McCartney’s live concert in São Paulo last night on TV. It was brilliant and very moving at times. A great musician and what life for 71!


I have just taken the plunge in the QPR prediction league for this Saturday at home to Leicester as follows: 1 x 0 at half time + 2 x 1 at full time with goals from Austin and Barton. I was severely tempted to opt for a draw, but looking at Leicester’s season decided to take a chance with a win. Let’s hope I’m right as we sure need it!


I have already exchanged emails with Philip in India this morning and had discussions with someone regarding housing for the poor. I have also lined up some counselling for a deaf person with our deaf pastor.

I have just received word from another university professor, other than the one already involved with research at Green Pastures, that she wants to go there with me this afternoon and view the land with a view to helping us plant lots (I mean LOTS) of trees there in the coming rainy season hopefully fairly early in 2015. This is an interesting development as this professor is responsible for the production of native tree seedlings at the university. Watch this space.


Liz and I watched some of Paul McCartney’s live concert in São Paulo last night on TV. It was brilliant and very moving at times. A great musician and what life for 71!


I have just taken the plunge in the QPR prediction league for this Saturday at home to Leicester as follows: 1 x 0 at half time + 2 x 1 at full time with goals from Austin and Barton. I was severely tempted to opt for a draw, but looking at Leicester’s season decided to take a chance with a win. Let’s hope I’m right as we sure need it!


I have already exchanged emails with Philip in India this morning and had discussions with someone regarding housing for the poor. I have also lined up some counselling for a deaf person with our deaf pastor.

I was surprised last week when Tarcísio, who leads EAB’s Green Pastures church, asked me to start sending them recorded teaching on a memory stick, of about 15 minutes in length, for him to play to the church leading on to possible group discussion! Modern technology is out in the sticks alright and I have just recorded my first message for this which lasted just over 11 minutes. We shall see how this develops!


I also had a message from a young man in our Imaculada church who is very hungry for the things of God. He told me that he had got someone (I don’t know who) to record my Sunday sermon in Patos and that he had already heard it and been greatly blessed by it. So praise the Lord again!


Then there are a constant stream of people who send me questions via private messages on facebook. Sometimes these are Biblical questions about passages they don’t understand and sometimes they have problems in their lives or families and ask for advice. I never ever sort of suggested this but it is just happening so PTL! “By all means save some” comes to mind.


I guess it would be nice to be able to set something up on the internet for both preaching and teaching and communicating in general either via audio or video. I have no idea how I could actually start this, but we shall see. I value your prayers.

I was surprised last week when Tarcísio, who leads EAB’s Green Pastures church, asked me to start sending them recorded teaching on a memory stick, of about 15 minutes in length, for him to play to the church leading on to possible group discussion! Modern technology is out in the sticks alright and I have just recorded my first message for this which lasted just over 11 minutes. We shall see how this develops!


I also had a message from a young man in our Imaculada church who is very hungry for the things of God. He told me that he had got someone (I don’t know who) to record my Sunday sermon in Patos and that he had already heard it and been greatly blessed by it. So praise the Lord again!


Then there are a constant stream of people who send me questions via private messages on facebook. Sometimes these are Biblical questions about passages they don’t understand and sometimes they have problems in their lives or families and ask for advice. I never ever sort of suggested this but it is just happening so PTL! “By all means save some” comes to mind.


I guess it would be nice to be able to set something up on the internet for both preaching and teaching and communicating in general either via audio or video. I have no idea how I could actually start this, but we shall see. I value your prayers.

I was surprised last week when Tarcísio, who leads EAB’s Green Pastures church, asked me to start sending them recorded teaching on a memory stick, of about 15 minutes in length, for him to play to the church leading on to possible group discussion! Modern technology is out in the sticks alright and I have just recorded my first message for this which lasted just over 11 minutes. We shall see how this develops!


I also had a message from a young man in our Imaculada church who is very hungry for the things of God. He told me that he had got someone (I don’t know who) to record my Sunday sermon in Patos and that he had already heard it and been greatly blessed by it. So praise the Lord again!


Then there are a constant stream of people who send me questions via private messages on facebook. Sometimes these are Biblical questions about passages they don’t understand and sometimes they have problems in their lives or families and ask for advice. I never ever sort of suggested this but it is just happening so PTL! “By all means save some” comes to mind.


I guess it would be nice to be able to set something up on the internet for both preaching and teaching and communicating in general either via audio or video. I have no idea how I could actually start this, but we shall see. I value your prayers.

I continue in 2nd place in the QPR prediction league as I predicted a 0 x 0 scoreline at half-time on Saturday and won 5 points for that. Now comes Leicester at home which we all say is a “must win” – but will we? I’ll decide to go for a win or a draw in the next couple of days. http://qprtillidie-predictionleague.webnode.com/table/


I have worked all morning on a project report and completed that. PTL! I have a bit of a cold today which is a nuisance.

This morning has been a difficult one with no signs of any presents whatsoever from Father Christmas! What is this world coming to?


Then I heard his factory was on strike… and then I saw a note on facebook to say that the reindeer had come out on strike in sympathy! (Memories of Arthur Scargill’s days!)


Then I woke up… and realized it’s the 25th of November and not December! What a gigantic relief!

This morning has been a difficult one with no signs of any presents whatsoever from Father Christmas! What is this world coming to?


Then I heard his factory was on strike… and then I saw a note on facebook to say that the reindeer had come out on strike in sympathy! (Memories of Arthur Scargill’s days!)


Then I woke up… and realized it’s the 25th of November and not December! What a gigantic relief!

This list says it all about a pagan lost UK – a post-Christian nation which only faces the reality of death because it has to! May the Lord have mercy on the once “Great” Britain! http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30143250


I say this, not to be offensive to non-Christian friends who might read this, but to simply express my shock at the state of things in a land which still sings (I presume?) “Abide with me” at the FA Cup Final and that played “Nearer my God to thee” as the Titanic went down. It would seem to me that with the Titanic went down a lot more, and one just wonders where it’s all going to end?

This list says it all about a pagan lost UK – a post-Christian nation which only faces the reality of death because it has to! May the Lord have mercy on the once “Great” Britain! http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30143250


I say this, not to be offensive to non-Christian friends who might read this, but to simply express my shock at the state of things in a land which still sings (I presume?) “Abide with me” at the FA Cup Final and that played “Nearer my God to thee” as the Titanic went down. It would seem to me that with the Titanic went down a lot more, and one just wonders where it’s all going to end?

This list says it all about a pagan lost UK – a post-Christian nation which only faces the reality of death because it has to! May the Lord have mercy on the once “Great” Britain! http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30143250


I say this, not to be offensive to non-Christian friends who might read this, but to simply express my shock at the state of things in a land which still sings (I presume?) “Abide with me” at the FA Cup Final and that played “Nearer my God to thee” as the Titanic went down. It would seem to me that with the Titanic went down a lot more, and one just wonders where it’s all going to end?

I am drinking at this moment my first mug of Moringa Tree leaf tea because I have read that it is good for lowering blood glucose levels. I figure like this that Moringa leaves are fine for eating so to make tea from the dried leaves (which we dried at Green Pastures) should do me no harm! If this blog ends abruptly as from today you will know I was wrong! I will now start observing my glucose levels and see if this tea does have any positive effect. I am therefore, as from now, a sort of Moringa ‘guinea pig’! (I made this mug of tea by the way!)


News from the the Mandacaru church building project is good. They are getting on very well. News from Ceará is also good where I will be going to baptize 12 at the weekend. PTL! We also held our first little communion service at Ipueira in Rio Grande do Norte State on Saturday where the church plant has its first members. PTL again!

My sermon from the Epistle to the Romans last night went amazingly well, considering how tired I was. The service as a whole went great.


Liz has already gone to the church renovation project with some supplies. The heat is on with less than 3 weeks to go to the inauguration and still no electricity company link up! Please pray.


Philip continues in India with his work and is not finding it easy to cope with the 9 hour jet lag. Please pray for him.

This week I have trips for ministry at Tavares and Ceará ahead so value prayers for all this too.

My sermon from the Epistle to the Romans last night went amazingly well, considering how tired I was. The service as a whole went great.


Liz has already gone to the church renovation project with some supplies. The heat is on with less than 3 weeks to go to the inauguration and still no electricity company link up! Please pray.


Philip continues in India with his work and is not finding it easy to cope with the 9 hour jet lag. Please pray for him.

This week I have trips for ministry at Tavares and Ceará ahead so value prayers for all this too.

My sermon from the Epistle to the Romans last night went amazingly well, considering how tired I was. The service as a whole went great.


Liz has already gone to the church renovation project with some supplies. The heat is on with less than 3 weeks to go to the inauguration and still no electricity company link up! Please pray.


Philip continues in India with his work and is not finding it easy to cope with the 9 hour jet lag. Please pray for him.

This week I have trips for ministry at Tavares and Ceará ahead so value prayers for all this too.

I am just off to lead the service in the Patos church and preach on the first 3 chapters of Romans in one go! Pretty ambitious! What an epistle it is! 


We got back at 9.45am from Campina Grande and I immediately started working on tonight’s sermon which I completed at 3pm. Liz and I worked on it on the journey as she read the first chapters of Romans to me and we discussed it all. Fabulous stuff.


The graduation went well in Campina Grande – just a bit long (two and a half hours!) and tiring. Nevertheless it was great to see 8 graduating including 3 from EAB/ACEV churches – including Rafael who leads our Teixeira church. A lovely lad.

I am just off to lead the service in the Patos church and preach on the first 3 chapters of Romans in one go! Pretty ambitious! What an epistle it is! 


We got back at 9.45am from Campina Grande and I immediately started working on tonight’s sermon which I completed at 3pm. Liz and I worked on it on the journey as she read the first chapters of Romans to me and we discussed it all. Fabulous stuff.


The graduation went well in Campina Grande – just a bit long (two and a half hours!) and tiring. Nevertheless it was great to see 8 graduating including 3 from EAB/ACEV churches – including Rafael who leads our Teixeira church. A lovely lad.

Liz and I will leave shortly for the EAB/ACEV Bible College graduation service in Campina Grande where 8 will be graduating. I prepared my message this morning. I still have to prepare my message for Patos tomorrow. Help!


QPR have just lost 1 x 0 at Newcastle which was about what I expected, though I officially forecast 0 x 0 at half-time (correctly) but I gave it as a draw at the end too, which was unfortunately wrong. Oh dear. It’s not looking good for Rangers!

Liz and I will leave shortly for the EAB/ACEV Bible College graduation service in Campina Grande where 8 will be graduating. I prepared my message this morning. I still have to prepare my message for Patos tomorrow. Help!


QPR have just lost 1 x 0 at Newcastle which was about what I expected, though I officially forecast 0 x 0 at half-time (correctly) but I gave it as a draw at the end too, which was unfortunately wrong. Oh dear. It’s not looking good for Rangers!

The Bible study went well in the Patos church this evening. We covered Luke 8:1-3 which took us into some good discussion on the role of women in God’s work. We then went on to Mark 3:20-21 which makes you reflect on prejudice against the Gospel and Christians. It was a blessed evening.


Tomorrow I have a meeting at Green Pastures with the university folk and then in the afternoon travel to Imaculada to inaugurate a well with a thanksgiving service with the community. I always enjoy these joyful occasions very much. I value your prayers for the journey up the mountain.

The Bible study went well in the Patos church this evening. We covered Luke 8:1-3 which took us into some good discussion on the role of women in God’s work. We then went on to Mark 3:20-21 which makes you reflect on prejudice against the Gospel and Christians. It was a blessed evening.


Tomorrow I have a meeting at Green Pastures with the university folk and then in the afternoon travel to Imaculada to inaugurate a well with a thanksgiving service with the community. I always enjoy these joyful occasions very much. I value your prayers for the journey up the mountain.

I had a great meeting yesterday afternoon with a Federal University forestry engineer professor in which I agreed for new research to be carried out there starting tomorrow! The plan is for it to initially follow 3 phases:


1. A team of 5 students under his supervision will do research over a period of months defining which species of native trees are where, their state of health, quantity etc. in the eastern section of Green Pastures in the sprawling area on each side of the lake. This will be done by a scientifically approved method chosing 20m x 20m example chunks of the woodland from which to arrive at the overall totals.


2. At some point next year, following this, a detailed individual count and definition of tree species will be carried out in the Reserve around the stream/dam area. This is an area of intense reforestation and preservation.


3. At some point next year work will also be done with all the neighbouring farms, small holdings and farm workers so as to understand their perception of the importance of the Green Pastures Nature Reserve and to seek to educate them concerning the environment so as to seek their cooperation as neighbours in our work. For we can’t stop birds flying for a visit to neighbouring farms and need the neighbours’ backing, as far as is possible, in this venture.


I am now preparing the Bible Study for tonight in the Patos church.

I had a great meeting yesterday afternoon with a Federal University forestry engineer professor in which I agreed for new research to be carried out there starting tomorrow! The plan is for it to initially follow 3 phases:


1. A team of 5 students under his supervision will do research over a period of months defining which species of native trees are where, their state of health, quantity etc. in the eastern section of Green Pastures in the sprawling area on each side of the lake. This will be done by a scientifically approved method chosing 20m x 20m example chunks of the woodland from which to arrive at the overall totals.


2. At some point next year, following this, a detailed individual count and definition of tree species will be carried out in the Reserve around the stream/dam area. This is an area of intense reforestation and preservation.


3. At some point next year work will also be done with all the neighbouring farms, small holdings and farm workers so as to understand their perception of the importance of the Green Pastures Nature Reserve and to seek to educate them concerning the environment so as to seek their cooperation as neighbours in our work. For we can’t stop birds flying for a visit to neighbouring farms and need the neighbours’ backing, as far as is possible, in this venture.


I am now preparing the Bible Study for tonight in the Patos church.

I spent the whole morning at Green Pastures filming with a TV crew for a programme they say is to be broadcast in about 2 months time. Watch this space. They seemed to be fascinated with the place and with the way it has developed as a Nature Reserve. They saw photos on the wall there of what it was like 35 years ago! They asked me for the originals of my films of Raccoons and Wild Puma Cats and for my authorization to broadcast them as part of the programme! Of course I agreed. This could almost put me in line for an Oscar!


At the end I gave them lots of EAB/ACEV literature and online links + my book ‘Notting Hill to Brazil’. I told them lots about our projects and they were very interested. I hope the programme comes out alright as it is going to be available online so everyone will be able to see it anywhere.

I spent the whole morning at Green Pastures filming with a TV crew for a programme they say is to be broadcast in about 2 months time. Watch this space. They seemed to be fascinated with the place and with the way it has developed as a Nature Reserve. They saw photos on the wall there of what it was like 35 years ago! They asked me for the originals of my films of Raccoons and Wild Puma Cats and for my authorization to broadcast them as part of the programme! Of course I agreed. This could almost put me in line for an Oscar!


At the end I gave them lots of EAB/ACEV literature and online links + my book ‘Notting Hill to Brazil’. I told them lots about our projects and they were very interested. I hope the programme comes out alright as it is going to be available online so everyone will be able to see it anywhere.

I spent the whole morning at Green Pastures filming with a TV crew for a programme they say is to be broadcast in about 2 months time. Watch this space. They seemed to be fascinated with the place and with the way it has developed as a Nature Reserve. They saw photos on the wall there of what it was like 35 years ago! They asked me for the originals of my films of Raccoons and Wild Puma Cats and for my authorization to broadcast them as part of the programme! Of course I agreed. This could almost put me in line for an Oscar!


At the end I gave them lots of EAB/ACEV literature and online links + my book ‘Notting Hill to Brazil’. I told them lots about our projects and they were very interested. I hope the programme comes out alright as it is going to be available online so everyone will be able to see it anywhere.

I have known about this for weeks, but said nothing because the last time a TV crew was supposed to have come it turned out to be still photography and an interview. OK this ended up as a big article in a nationwide magazine, but it is not the same as TV and people were asking me how they could see the programme from different parts of Brazil – and this never happened being outside of my control.


However I have now had confirmation direct from the TV crew whom I spoke to on the phone a short while ago confirming that this time they have come to film me and my environmental work and will be arriving at 6.30am tomorrow. Should be interesting. 

 I went to see the work in progress at our church here in Patos this afternoon and it is good to see the new lights now installed in the new ceiling. It’s looking good! We have fixed the date for the opening of the refurbished church for 13th/14th December with 2 visiting speakers – Gleydice (Campina Grande) on the Saturday and Ângelo (Soledade) on the Sunday. Please pray for this event and for the final work still to be done in the build-up for this.


I’ve received news of 2 coming to Christ at our branch church in Princesa Isabel and 1 coming to the Lord too at the Green Pastures church. PTL!

Yesterday I tried to take it as easy as possible as I was so tired after everything that happened and had to be done last week. I gently went through different administrative stuff in the morning and chased up a few people that missed church on Sunday.


In the afternoon I went to Green Pastures after a siesta and walked and photographed. It is always refreshing good exercise and so enjoyable. You can see my photos at https://www.facebook.com/john.p.medcraft/media_set?set=a.10152854835926240.1073741918.538751239&type=1&pnref=story

Yesterday I tried to take it as easy as possible as I was so tired after everything that happened and had to be done last week. I gently went through different administrative stuff in the morning and chased up a few people that missed church on Sunday.


In the afternoon I went to Green Pastures after a siesta and walked and photographed. It is always refreshing good exercise and so enjoyable. You can see my photos at https://www.facebook.com/john.p.medcraft/media_set?set=a.10152854835926240.1073741918.538751239&type=1&pnref=story

Oh boy! What a week we have just come through! In a nutshell it involved:


A young couple in the church having a baby which was born with a defective leg – so joy mixed with sadness.


A 7 year old boy from the church died having crashed through a glass door. The ensuing wake and funeral to conduct and now the follow up help and support for the bereaved family.


Speaking at the Inter-Varsity Conference in Pombal which was lovely but ending a message at 10.30 pm was a bit late!


Speaking at a Theatre in Campina Grande where EAB/ACEV’s praise and worship group recorded their second DVD in a mega production. This was on the same day as our 45th wedding anniversary!


We had a full house last night in the Patos church service which was great. 2 men made commitments to Christ, the P&W was really good and the sermon flowed wonderfully.


I am now utterly exhausted and aim to rest up today. Liz has already disappeared to church to check on the builders! Bless her heart! The re-opening of the EAB/ACEV Patos church has been fixed for December 13th/14th with special festive services on both the Saturday and the Sunday. This means we only have 3 more Sundays without being at home in our church!

This week I have a TV interview at Green Pastures on Wednesday – Bible Study in Patos on Thursday – a well inauguration at Imaculada on Friday – speak at the graduation service of our Campina Grande Bible College on Saturday – preach again in Patos on Sunday. We value your prayers and support.


Please pray for my 90 year old Mum who is not so well, my sister Jean tells me.

Liz and I travelled to Campina Grande yesterday afternoon and made the journey in two hours as there was no traffic. We went to take part in the recording in a theatre of the new and second DVD of EAB/ACEV’s praise and worship group there called “Tenda do Encontro”. I gave the opening message of the evening prior to the start of the music.


It was an interesting evening with various contrasting styles in music and dance. It started with pop/rock and as the night went on went through regional folk music, then what I would call Gleydice music, with Gleydice being the leader and singer of the group whose compositions have a distinctive style. There were also songs from other composers and there was also a sort of classical quintet towards the end. So variety is the spice of life!


Gleydice certainly has amazing self-confidence and goes for things in a big way. It was a fairly mega production and she managed to just about pull it off recording 16 songs live on stage in one night – though it did finish late. Of course there are studio resources to patch and fix so we now wait for the final product to see how it all turned out. Going on the basis of the first DVD I am sure it will all work out well and be a blessing to many.


The message of Integral Mission was loud and clear throughout the night. That was important and distinctive as few do anything like it in Brazil. A few years back I challenged Gleydice to communicate the Integral Mission message in song – and she did!


Liz and I stayed the night in Campina Grande getting to bed a bit after midnight. We drove back to Patos this morning where we arrived at 11am – and I got straight down to finishing my sermon for tonight in the Patos church. Liz has been out visiting a lady in hospital from our Ibiara church with a broken arm and visiting a young couple who had a baby this week.


OK… it’s off to church now in Patos! We value your prayers.

Liz and I travelled to Campina Grande yesterday afternoon and made the journey in two hours as there was no traffic. We went to take part in the recording in a theatre of the new and second DVD of EAB/ACEV’s praise and worship group there called “Tenda do Encontro”. I gave the opening message of the evening prior to the start of the music.


It was an interesting evening with various contrasting styles in music and dance. It started with pop/rock and as the night went on went through regional folk music, then what I would call Gleydice music, with Gleydice being the leader and singer of the group whose compositions have a distinctive style. There were also songs from other composers and there was also a sort of classical quintet towards the end. So variety is the spice of life!


Gleydice certainly has amazing self-confidence and goes for things in a big way. It was a fairly mega production and she managed to just about pull it off recording 16 songs live on stage in one night – though it did finish late. Of course there are studio resources to patch and fix so we now wait for the final product to see how it all turned out. Going on the basis of the first DVD I am sure it will all work out well and be a blessing to many.


The message of Integral Mission was loud and clear throughout the night. That was important and distinctive as few do anything like it in Brazil. A few years back I challenged Gleydice to communicate the Integral Mission message in song – and she did!


Liz and I stayed the night in Campina Grande getting to bed a bit after midnight. We drove back to Patos this morning where we arrived at 11am – and I got straight down to finishing my sermon for tonight in the Patos church. Liz has been out visiting a lady in hospital from our Ibiara church with a broken arm and visiting a young couple who had a baby this week.


OK… it’s off to church now in Patos! We value your prayers.

On 15th November 1969 Liz and I were married at the Millbrook Christian Centre, Southampton, England and today, 45 years later, we celebrate in Patos, Paraíba, Brazil going later to speak at a DVD recording by the EAB/ACEV P&W Group ‘Tenda do Encontro’ in a theatre in Campina Grande.

Liz and I are reckoning that this marriage gives every sign of being on track to work out! However, as I always say to Liz: “If you did ever think of leaving me, just make sure you take me with you”!

We’ve got lots to thank God for over these years, especially for our 4 kids, 7+ grandkids and for all the spiritual children God has given us along the way.


Last night my talk to the university students in Pombal went well despite a late start. My talk started at 9.30pm instead of 8.30pm – I spoke for an hour – and then had to drive home to Patos. I got to bed a bit after midnight. I enjoyed doing this. It just would have been better had they started on time!


Now I’ve got to prepare my sermon for tomorrow in Patos. Help!

I stayed up late last night and finished my message for the students of the Brazilian inter-varsity (ABU) conference at which I will be speaking in Pombal this Friday. I was extremely tired after the stressful funeral of a 7-year old child, but I had no choice but to go for it. I will be speaking on “Christianity, Environment & Sustainability”.


Now I need to complete the message already started for Campina Grande tomorrow – day on which Liz and I will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary! We usually end up celebrating it with me preaching somewhere or other! Then I need to prepare from scratch my sermon for the Patos church on Sunday. Help!


This blog had passed the 132,000 visits mark today. Many thanks and hi to all readers from the UK, Brazil, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Switzerland, France, Belgium, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, India, Spain, Portugal etc. May God bless you all. Please keep praying for us and EAB and please keep or start supporting EAB via online giving at http://www.eabrazil.com/ or direct to the UK head-office speaking to Beryl Gough (Treasurer) at eabfinance@gmail.com

I stayed up late last night and finished my message for the students of the Brazilian inter-varsity (ABU) conference at which I will be speaking in Pombal this Friday. I was extremely tired after the stressful funeral of a 7-year old child, but I had no choice but to go for it. I will be speaking on “Christianity, Environment & Sustainability”.


Now I need to complete the message already started for Campina Grande tomorrow – day on which Liz and I will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary! We usually end up celebrating it with me preaching somewhere or other! Then I need to prepare from scratch my sermon for the Patos church on Sunday. Help!


This blog had passed the 132,000 visits mark today. Many thanks and hi to all readers from the UK, Brazil, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Switzerland, France, Belgium, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, India, Spain, Portugal etc. May God bless you all. Please keep praying for us and EAB and please keep or start supporting EAB via online giving at http://www.eabrazil.com/ or direct to the UK head-office speaking to Beryl Gough (Treasurer) at eabfinance@gmail.com

Well I have just got back to the office from an exhausting stressful difficult funeral, but the Lord really helped us and I preached the Gospel hot and strong and everyone felt the mighty presence of God and we really felt spiritual victory by the end.


Philip, Louisa and Lucas Silva were great with the worship songs, Liz was as amazing as ever, and in the end everything really came together. There was a big crowd present and lots of emotion of course.


The order of service just kept getting altered as we went along. In the end the little boy’s mother who abandoned him as a baby asked to sing (and it was pretty bad), a cousin asked to read a message (good), the boy’s school headteacher asked to speak and she was good, the father (who also abandoned the child) spoke a few words, and an uncle spoke (well). Then finally the grandmother from our church, who brought the lad up, also spoke nicely. There is a lot more about this whole story that I can’t write here. All I can say is that the whole story is very sad and drugs are involved.


Well, now I must get on working on sermons for the weekend. May the Lord help me!


Liz is going off now to see Felipe, our 17 years old grandson still in hospital, who is no better and now has an abcess inside his throat and his fever will not recede. Please pray.