Categoria: News

In Jeremiah 27 God instructs Jeremiah to make and put on a wooden yoke with straps. This symbolic act was a visual prophecy that Judah, plus neighbouring nations, had to submit to the yoke of Babylon or face destruction. Word was sent to this effect to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon and Judah. The people were warned not to listen to the false prophets who were saying the opposite. Thus God said: “Do not listen to them… they are prophesying lies to you… serve the king of Babylon and you will live”. 

Last night I did my usual Care Centre duties taking people home from the dentist’s to rural areas where there is no public transport. Another totally deaf man was attended yesterday with the help of an interpreter as the go-between him and the dentist.

I have now completed half the Book of Jeremiah having written the synopses of 26 of its 52 chapters. Thankfully Jeremiah managed to get out of being executed in chapter 26! It was no joke being a prophet in those days as if they didn’t like your message they bumped you off!

I hear it’s hot in the UK so let me suggest that you keep out of the sun and have 1 or 2 showers a day. 💦

In Jeremiah 25 God speaks through the prophet to tell Judah that he had decided to place them in Babylonic exile for 70 years, banishing all joy and gladness, and the whole country will become a desolate wasteland. When the 70 years are up God will punish Babylon for their guilt and repay them according to their deeds. Then God gave Jeremiah the cup of the wine of his wrath and told him to give it to be drunk (that is experienced) by a variety of nations in the known world. Then the chapter ends with a poetic description of the onslaught of  God’s judgement: “roll in the dust you leaders of the flock… hear the cry of the shepherds and the wailing of the leaders… the land will become desolate… because of the Lord’s fierce anger”.

 Jeremiah 24 is a short chapter telling of a vision of baskets of figs which God gave to Jeremiah. The basket of good figs represented the Jews in Babylonian exile who God says “will return to me with all their heart… my eyes will watch over them for their good… and I will build them up”. However the basket of poor figs represented King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials and the surviving remnant of the Jews in Judah… “I will make them abhorrent… and an object of ridicule… and I will destroy them”.

Jeremiah 22 is a prophecy for the kings of Judah. It points to the fall of the Davidic dynasty owing to sin, social injustice and idolatry. Initially God demands care for the foreigner, orphan and widow saying that the Davidic lineage depends on this. God then warns about his impending destruction of Judah and then says that King Shallum will die in captivity. He then goes on to say that his brother Jehoiakim, who succeeded him, was condemned for his worker exploitation and his desire for opulence. Jeremiah prophecies that Jehoiakim will receive the funeral of a donkey being dragged out and thrown from Jerusalem. Then the chapter concludes with a message for Coniah, Jehoiakim’s son, saying that God would rip it off even if he was just a signet ring on his hand, and that he and his mother will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar. 

Our daughter Missionary Sacha preached a superb sermon from Joel 2 last night. It was a real blessing. Numbers were down in church as many were away at the youth camp. The youth camp finished last night and was a real blessing too. Missionary Betânia preached last night in the final service. Thanks for your prayers.

Liz and I spent yesterday evening at Green Pastures at the youth camp which is facing quite an uphill battle as a result of some non-Christian participants who are involved in spiritism. There is an unusually heavy atmosphere about the place which can best be described as a spiritual dark cloud of oppression. Please pray. 🙏

I watched Scotland lose to Morocco 1 x 0 and thought they played quite well against a good team. Scotland could still qualify for the knockout stages. We will see.

I watched Brazil beat Haiti 3 x 0 and thought Brazil played fairly well but not brilliantly. 2 of Brazil’s goals were scored by Matheus Cunha (Manchester United) who is from our state of Paraiba in João Pessoa where we have 4 churches. Now next Wednesday Brazil play Scotland which should be interesting. Pundits here think Brazil will find Scotland a tough nut to crack.

Our Youth Camp at Green Pastures started yesterday and the opening service was really blessed with a sermon from Pastor Fabrício Junior who is the youth pastor at our Campina Grande Catolé church.

Yesterday afternoon our school took part in the St. John’s Donkey Cart parade in the Patos high street. All the Patos schools have been doing these annual parades for 20 years every month of June as part of the St. John’s Festival. The donkeys and carts are colourfully decorated for the parade and ours looked very good.  Please 

The Cultura Inglesa TEFL School run by our daughters and grandchildren held its certificate presentation evening yesterday and Liz and I went along in support. All went off very well.

Today the annual June youth camp starts at Green Pastures and will end of Sunday night. Please pray for the camp.

Last night I preached the Gospel at a street meeting in the town of São Mamede preaching on Jesus’ raising of Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter and the healing of the woman subject to bleeding for 12 years. It was an excellent service.

This morning I took 36 year 4 children on a nature trail at Green Pastures teaching them to care for creation. The children were from the Fera School in Patos and all went off very well. I enjoy doing these nature trails.

Liz went to the ladies prayer meeting last night. Meanwhile a small group led by schoolteacher Claudivan went and held a service at Fred and Marileide’s farm near Green Pastures. Also last night our dentist attended more needy people at the Care Centre. There are activities at our church every night. I was preparing my message to preach tonight at São Mamede.  

Last night I let the young people take the service in Patos and Rayla led, Bianca brought a lovely short word, the drama did a short excellent play and Pastor Murilo preached a good solid sermon. The service was a blessing. The church was nearly full. The children sang a song for us pastors as the second Sunday in June in Brazil is Pastors’ Day, and we all were given a water bottle as a gift.

I watched the 1 x 1 draw between Brazil and Morocco last night in the World Cup. Brazil’s performance was disappointing and they will feel happy with a draw.

I also watched Scotland’s excellent 1 x 0 victory over Haiti leaving them top of their group. Scotland and Haiti played very well although I would have preferred the Scotland manager to have brought on the renowned Stenhousemuir chaplain Michael Rollo. At least he did bring on Lyndon Dykes which was wonderful!

Yesterday Liz and I travelled 40 km to the neighbouring state of Rio Grande do Norte to inspect the church building project in the town of Ipueira. We went there with Deacon Dedé who is the leader there. The foundations have been built and now the walls are being erected with the wall on the south side the most advanced. We were very pleased to see how the work is going.

On the way back we called into Green Pastures and heard pairs of Caatinga Cacholotes singing beautiful duets as they do. 

I will be watching Brazil play Morocco in their first game in the World Cup tonight. Next comes Haiti against Scotland and then on Wednesday England against Croatia. Brazil, Scotland and England will be the 3 teams I’ll be following in this World Cup. 

The Life Squad ministered the Gospel at the Men’s Prison yesterday afternoon composed of Pastor Rafael and Sister Iara, and 1 decision was made for Christ out of 400 prisoners.

Last night the weekly service was held in front of our Patos school when 32 gathered to hear the Gospel preached by Brother Wellington – not Lord Wellington! It was a lovely service.

Liz and I did a lot of administrative work yesterday morning, and during the rest of the day I prepared a new sermon on “The River of the Water of Life” (Revelation 22:1-2) to be preached in Campina Grande next month. We value your prayers.

Last night I chaired a planning meeting for our Pastor Frank Dyer School for the second half of 2026. There were 14 people in the meeting discussing services, sporting and educational activities, work with teens and work with children etc. Please pray for this school and for the planting of a branch church in it in this southern borough of Patos.

Liz has just got back from a long counselling session.

Last night I chaired a planning meeting for our Pastor Frank Dyer School for the second half of 2026. There were 14 people in the meeting discussing services, sporting and educational activities, work with teens and work with children etc. Please pray for this school and for the planting of a branch church in it in this southern borough of Patos.

Liz has just got back from a long counselling session.

 I was all set to preach last night on ‘the great I am’ at Green Pastures when I received a call from Francisco telling me that the lighting had gone off so there was no way to hold the service in the dark as we need an electrician to solve the problem. I then proceeded to contact the different farmsteads calling off the service. God willing I will preach there next week and hold the monthly communion service.

Tonight I will be preaching on ‘The Joy of the Redeemed’ from Isaiah 35 in Patos at the communion service. Pastor Rafael will be preaching at Imaculada. 

Jeremiah makes it clear that God’s mind is made up to judge Judah owing to their sin and unrepentance, and not even Moses and Samuel intervening would make any difference! The message from God through Jeremiah is devastating: “Those destined for death let them die; those destined for the sword let them have it; those destined for starvation let them starve; and those destined for captivity so be it!” God goes on to say: “You have rejected me… so I will destroy you… I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people… because they won’t change”. Then the prophet cried out to God weighed down by the message of doom and despair that he is commissioned to deliver. “Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth… everyone curses me”. But God replies saying he is with Jeremiah and will “make his enemies plead with him”. Jeremiah responds asking God to remember him and care for him questioning why he has to suffer so much “pain unending” in the service of God? God reacts to Jeremiah’s complaints calling on him to repent of his moaning and get on with the job. “If you repent I will restore you that you may serve me… and promises Jeremiah to protect him with a wall of bronze… saying he will save him from the hands of the wicked”. 

Our Pastor Oseias at the Itaporanga church has had some sort of mild heart-attack in which he passed out twice hurting his face a lot in the process with the impact of his falls. He is now in the hands of a cardiologist doing tests to arrive at a clear diagnosis and treatment. Please pray for Pastor Oseias and his wife Lucia at this time.  

Last night I led the prayer meeting and Bible study which went off very well with a good number present and many blessed participations in the service.

I have just eaten a delicious ‘custard apple’ for my morning snack! 😋

Dona Florzinha is a lovely very poor middle aged lady who rides round Patos on a donkey cart collecting recyclable goods. Liz is her friend and every week gives her all our recyclable items like empty tissue boxes, empty yogurt cartons etc. Dona Florzinha has just taken our materials to the recycling centre where she sells them, not for much, but it all helps. 

Liz is now out distributing food hampers to the poor and hungry,

Today is a public holiday in Brazil for the Roman Catholic festival of ‘Corpus Christi’ (body of Christ) commemorating the transubstantiation of the literal body and blood of Christ in the mass. This day occurs on the Thursday 60 days after Easter. Of course we do not believe in transubstantiation, and on Sunday we will be holding our monthly communion service in which we share the emblems which represent the body and blood of Jesus which we remember with grateful hearts.

I have just eaten a delicious ‘custard apple’ for my morning snack! 😋

Dona Florzinha is a lovely very poor middle aged lady who rides round Patos on a donkey cart collecting recyclable goods. Liz is her friend and every week gives her all our recyclable items like empty tissue boxes, empty yogurt cartons etc. Dona Florzinha has just taken our materials to the recycling centre where she sells them, not for much, but it all helps. 

Liz is now out distributing food hampers to the poor and hungry,

Today is a public holiday in Brazil for the Roman Catholic festival of ‘Corpus Christi’ (body of Christ) commemorating the transubstantiation of the literal body and blood of Christ in the mass. This day occurs on the Thursday 60 days after Easter. Of course we do not believe in transubstantiation, and on Sunday we will be holding our monthly communion service in which we share the emblems which represent the body and blood of Jesus which we remember with grateful hearts.

Yesterday a snake appeared in our Patos School and the headteacher called the Fire Brigade who came and “arrested” it! The children loved the diversion from regular lessons and once the fireman had hold of the non-venomous snake they all took turns in stroking it! I reckon the snake was glad to finally be released back into the wild after so much affection and attention! 🐉

Last night I went with the Patos Men’s Fellowship to preach the Gospel in São Mamede in a street meeting. It was a nice little service with about 35 people present.

A young man in the process of being taken to rehab for alcoholic addiction is to have a foot amputated owing to advanced diabetes. He has made a commitment to Christ and the plan is to take him to rehab as soon as possible. Please pray for him. 

An 11-year-old boy has been bitten by a shark in Recife. It is the second shark attack in Recife this year. The boy is recovering well in hospital.

I took some people home from the Care Centre last night who had been attended by our dentist. On the way to the farmstead I saw 3 Burrowing Owls and I saw the same 3 on the way back.

Yesterday I finished sending the reports from our 15 Action Schools to our EAB UK Office. Our total number of pupils attended this year is 810. I also sent the translated letters from all the sponsored children.

An 11-year-old boy has been bitten by a shark in Recife. It is the second shark attack in Recife this year. The boy is recovering well in hospital.

I took some people home from the Care Centre last night who had been attended by our dentist. On the way to the farmstead I saw 3 Burrowing Owls and I saw the same 3 on the way back.

Yesterday I finished sending the reports from our 15 Action Schools to our EAB UK Office. Our total number of pupils attended this year is 810. I also sent the translated letters from all the sponsored children.

Last month this blog was read 74,153 times. I checked this statistic and learnt that Google, who owns the blog site, is not completely reliable so I have no way of knowing what the correct figure is. But anyway thanks for being with us and thanks for all your prayers and support.

Last night I led the service in Patos and Pastor Rafael preached on Psalm 32:1-5. It was a good service with a full church.

Last month this blog was read 74,153 times. I checked this statistic and learnt that Google, who owns the blog site, is not completely reliable so I have no way of knowing what the correct figure is. But anyway thanks for being with us and thanks for all your prayers and support.

Last night I led the service in Patos and Pastor Rafael preached on Psalm 32:1-5. It was a good service with a full church.

Ipueira is a small town with a population of 2,090 in the neighbouring state of Rio Grande do Norte about an hour’s drive from where we are based. We have been preaching the Gospel there for 13 years and now has come the time to build a little church there. We are at present building the foundations and value your prayers and support.

Yesterday we held a jumble sale to raise money for the Ipueira church building and it did exceptionally well raising over £300.

Last night I preached at Green Pastures on: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”! It was a blessed service. I saw the usual toads and tree frogs whilst there. This week we will be busy preparing for another youth camp at Green Pastures from June 19th to 21st.

Most of my English readers will not have heard of ‘João Fonseca’ but take a note for future reference as he is a superb Brazilian tennis player who yesterday knocked out Novak Djokovic from the French Open Tennis Grand Slam and he is just a teenager! He won in 5 sets. 

Yesterday I worked all day on the EAB Action Child Schools and Child sponsors reports. So far I have done 7 school reports and one child sponsor’s letter and sent them to Marian Rashleigh who handles the UK side of things. If there is anyone willing to help Marian with this work please contact her. 

Tonight I will be preaching the Gospel at the Green Pastures church.

I have just eaten a lovely load of watermelon which was delicious. 😋It was given to us by Green Pastures neighbour Júlio Camilo whom we saw coming to the Lord some years back.

A further drug addict, this time from the town of Pombal, is being taken to a Christian rehabilitation centre at Princesa Isabel. Please pray!

I recommend UCB’s daily devotional ‘Word for Today’. 2 minutes of quality Biblical reflection to start your day. https://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today This Christian radio is at Stoke-on-Trent and I did an interview there about the work of EAB/ACEV in Brazil many years ago.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Murilo gave the study on 1 John 5:13-21. It was a lovely service.

I have just eaten a lovely load of watermelon which was delicious. 😋It was given to us by Green Pastures neighbour Júlio Camilo whom we saw coming to the Lord some years back.

A further drug addict, this time from the town of Pombal, is being taken to a Christian rehabilitation centre at Princesa Isabel. Please pray!

I recommend UCB’s daily devotional ‘Word for Today’. 2 minutes of quality Biblical reflection to start your day. https://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today This Christian radio is at Stoke-on-Trent and I did an interview there about the work of EAB/ACEV in Brazil many years ago.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Murilo gave the study on 1 John 5:13-21. It was a lovely service.

Our grandson Arthur is in São Paulo for a music concert and other cultural activities.

The Life Squad evangelized the men’s prison again yesterday and God blessed them with one decision for Christ.

We had an important meeting with Pastor Rafael yesterday discussing the work of the Lord. 

I hear that it’s hot in the UK with temperatures reaching almost 35 degrees! Meanwhile here it’s the cooler time of the year with a maximum of 31 degrees.

I am progressing with my summary of the Book of Jeremiah and have now completed the first 13 chapters out of 52, so that’s a quarter of the book done.

I took some people home from the Care Centre’s dentist last night and saw 2 Pigmy Nightjars along the way plus 1 Burrowing Owl.

In Jeremiah 11 God speaks to his people through the prophet Jeremiah reminding them of the covenant they have broken: “Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant… obey me!… but they didn’t listen or pay attention… they have returned to the sins of their forefathers… so I will bring them a disaster they can’t escape… for you have as many gods as you have towns!… the Lord Almighty has therefore decreed disaster for you”. Then God revealed to Jeremiah a plot to assassinate him, so he prayed for God’s vengeance upon them. So God answered saying the young men would die by the sword and their children would die by famine so that there would be no survivors of these schemers and would-be assassins!