Categoria: News

Prayer Update

eabrazil

EAB SPECIFIC PRAYER TOPICS FOR ALL STANDING WITH US IN PRAYER
May – 2020
(NEW ITEMS IN RED)
1.        We pray against Covid 19. Brazil is now where the virus is spreading fastest in the
world!
2.        We pray for a change in
attitude from the government so as to take the virus seriously following
scientific
            guidelines
in national unity.
3.        We pray for the poor who
EAB ministers to and who stand in great need at this time.
4.        We pray for those of ACEV
who have Covid 19: Elizionaldo up in the mountains at Matureia and El. at
Campina
           
Grande. Marah
Danielle (Patos) and family  awaiting test confirmation. 82 year
           
old father of church leader Tica (Curral Velho) confirmed positive.
5.        We pray for John and Liz
under tremendous stress at this time and for all the EAB teams of workers.
6.        We pray for a true
spiritual revival as a result of this pandemic.
7.        We pray for atheists and
agnostics now being forced to think about the meaning of life – that we might
reach
            them
with and for Jesus.
8.        We pray for EAB folk and
friends on the front line of battle against Covid 19 as professional health
workers.
            Protect
and strengthen them and fill them with supernatural strength and compassion.
9.        Help the authorities to
develop a vaccine quickly and discover adequate treatment.
10.      We pray for all suffering mental
stress in these exceptional times.
11.      We especially pray for the poor in the
area of EAB’s work. We pray for the poor who today face inadequate
           health
facilities owing to long term corruption which had syphoned of funds for
personal things.
12.      We pray for sufficient funding at this
time of crisis for EAB as we seek to feed the hungry and poor, broadcast
           
and counsel via internet etc etc.
13.      Please pray for situations of extreme
domestic violence which have erupted in one or two churches under the
            stress
of lockdown.
14.      We pray for the protection and feeding
of EAB’s very poor action children at our schools.
15.      We pray for God’s help to help the
landless and homeless.
16.      Please help John, Liz and EAB to take
hope to the hopeless without God.
17.      Bless and keep all our pastors and
leaders – together with all our church members.
18.      We pray for our youth who struggle to
understand this new world we are in and we pray for the seniors and
            lonely.
19.       We pray for our ex-son-in-law
Cleytson who has Covid 19. Two of his sons are our grandsons Felipe and
            
Arthur.
20.       Please pray for an atheist I am
evangelizing in the middle of all this.
With love,
John & Liz
PS – Please do join our daily John & Liz / EAB prayer times from
9.30 pm UK time if you can.

Continue Reading

Prayer Update

eabrazil

EAB SPECIFIC PRAYER TOPICS FOR ALL STANDING WITH US IN PRAYER
May – 2020
(NEW ITEMS IN RED)
1.        We pray against Covid 19. Brazil is now where the virus is spreading fastest in the
world!
2.        We pray for a change in
attitude from the government so as to take the virus seriously following
scientific
            guidelines
in national unity.
3.        We pray for the poor who
EAB ministers to and who stand in great need at this time.
4.        We pray for those of ACEV
who have Covid 19: Elizionaldo up in the mountains at Matureia and El. at
Campina
           
Grande. Marah
Danielle (Patos) and family  awaiting test confirmation. 82 year
           
old father of church leader Tica (Curral Velho) confirmed positive.
5.        We pray for John and Liz
under tremendous stress at this time and for all the EAB teams of workers.
6.        We pray for a true
spiritual revival as a result of this pandemic.
7.        We pray for atheists and
agnostics now being forced to think about the meaning of life – that we might
reach
            them
with and for Jesus.
8.        We pray for EAB folk and
friends on the front line of battle against Covid 19 as professional health
workers.
            Protect
and strengthen them and fill them with supernatural strength and compassion.
9.        Help the authorities to
develop a vaccine quickly and discover adequate treatment.
10.      We pray for all suffering mental
stress in these exceptional times.
11.      We especially pray for the poor in the
area of EAB’s work. We pray for the poor who today face inadequate
           health
facilities owing to long term corruption which had syphoned of funds for
personal things.
12.      We pray for sufficient funding at this
time of crisis for EAB as we seek to feed the hungry and poor, broadcast
           
and counsel via internet etc etc.
13.      Please pray for situations of extreme
domestic violence which have erupted in one or two churches under the
            stress
of lockdown.
14.      We pray for the protection and feeding
of EAB’s very poor action children at our schools.
15.      We pray for God’s help to help the
landless and homeless.
16.      Please help John, Liz and EAB to take
hope to the hopeless without God.
17.      Bless and keep all our pastors and
leaders – together with all our church members.
18.      We pray for our youth who struggle to
understand this new world we are in and we pray for the seniors and
            lonely.
19.       We pray for our ex-son-in-law
Cleytson who has Covid 19. Two of his sons are our grandsons Felipe and
            
Arthur.
20.       Please pray for an atheist I am
evangelizing in the middle of all this.
With love,
John & Liz
PS – Please do join our daily John & Liz / EAB prayer times from
9.30 pm UK time if you can.

Continue Reading

Pray without ceasing

eabrazil

Three more have joined the EAB prayer group which prays for us and EAB every evening from 9.30 pm to 10 pm. We are very encouraged and grateful. So far we have:


1. Joy Levermore
2. Laurence Levermore (High Wycombe)
3. Jean Medcraft-North
4. Dr. Liz Williams (Basingstoke)
5. Steve Oakley
6. Lisa Oakley (London)
7. Peter Court
8. Vanessa Court (Weston Super Mare)
9. Marian Rashleigh (Southampton)


If you could join the group please send me an email at eabrazil@gmail.com

Continue Reading

Pray without ceasing

eabrazil

Three more have joined the EAB prayer group which prays for us and EAB every evening from 9.30 pm to 10 pm. We are very encouraged and grateful. So far we have:


1. Joy Levermore
2. Laurence Levermore (High Wycombe)
3. Jean Medcraft-North
4. Dr. Liz Williams (Basingstoke)
5. Steve Oakley
6. Lisa Oakley (London)
7. Peter Court
8. Vanessa Court (Weston Super Mare)
9. Marian Rashleigh (Southampton)


If you could join the group please send me an email at eabrazil@gmail.com

Continue Reading

Prayer changes things

eabrazil

A prayer schedule has emerged from nowhere as an answer to the gigantic needs being faced by us in NE Brazil at this time. The prayer group have decided to pray for 30 minutes each evening at 9:30 pm BST for us and EAB’s work in general. The group has been started by my 2 sisters Joy Levermore and Jean Medcraft-North together with Laurence Levermore + Steve and Lisa Oakley and Dr. Liz and we would very much like to know of others willing to commit to such prayer times each evening or at least most. Please add your names to our EAB prayer warriors list via eabrazil@gmail.com.


Prayer does change things more than this world dreams of and we certainly stand in need of it at this time. The situation is grave with Brazil in 4th place in the sad world virus rankings and rising very fast indeed, surely to second place very soon. Please pray for us. 


Hospitals are over run like in so many countries but here little effort is being made to solve the problem. In fact the president himself ridicules what all the fuss is about! It is a sad situation and we badly need your prayers and support.


Please pray with us and for us and let us know if you will be joining the group. This is both a public health battle, political battle and spiritual battle and we must stand together in prayer. We look to the Lord. 


The broad guidelines for our prayers are laid out in my prayer from Patos transmitted yesterday at https://www.facebook.com/acevpatos/videos/289830242046449/. Please do join us in prayer. 

Continue Reading

Prayer changes things

eabrazil

A prayer schedule has emerged from nowhere as an answer to the gigantic needs being faced by us in NE Brazil at this time. The prayer group have decided to pray for 30 minutes each evening at 9:30 pm BST for us and EAB’s work in general. The group has been started by my 2 sisters Joy Levermore and Jean Medcraft-North together with Laurence Levermore + Steve and Lisa Oakley and Dr. Liz and we would very much like to know of others willing to commit to such prayer times each evening or at least most. Please add your names to our EAB prayer warriors list via eabrazil@gmail.com.


Prayer does change things more than this world dreams of and we certainly stand in need of it at this time. The situation is grave with Brazil in 4th place in the sad world virus rankings and rising very fast indeed, surely to second place very soon. Please pray for us. 


Hospitals are over run like in so many countries but here little effort is being made to solve the problem. In fact the president himself ridicules what all the fuss is about! It is a sad situation and we badly need your prayers and support.


Please pray with us and for us and let us know if you will be joining the group. This is both a public health battle, political battle and spiritual battle and we must stand together in prayer. We look to the Lord. 


The broad guidelines for our prayers are laid out in my prayer from Patos transmitted yesterday at https://www.facebook.com/acevpatos/videos/289830242046449/. Please do join us in prayer. 

Continue Reading

Unusual National Conference

eabrazil

This Saturday we value your prayers as we will be holding our annual Leader’s Conference via Google Meet as opposed to the less secure Zoom. It will be quite an experience!


All our leaders debating, discussing and electing the leadership 
team for the coming 4 years – amongst other matters. We sure do value your prayers.


We are blessed with an expert (Philip) on all this tech stuff and will be doing a trial run tonight just to make sure all is in order for Saturday. Then the minutes have to be registered at a solicitors on Monday 18th  in time for our deadline of the 20th.


I personally am vastly improved in health. Thank you for praying. Please don’t stop. Liz is the rock of Gibraltar as ever! God sure blessed me with Liz!


The whole family has helped so much as have the teams for the variety of ongoing activities. 


On Sunday the election results will be displayed here! Watch this space.


The Covid-19 virus bites harder and harder in Brazil now with a sad division amongst the politicians. The Federal Government is ridiculously flamboyant about a “load of fuss about a minor cold”, but the State Governors resist as does the Supreme Court and we fumble on. Also years of corruption siphoning off money from health care for personal things (robbery) means our healthcare system is utterly inadequate. All the talk about the heat being conducive to combatting the virus, plus plain ignorance and the ignoring of scientists – means the virus is deeply embedded all around us. We lie low and trust God!


One particular case of domestic violence has greatly upset us but the wife was gladly kept from her husband’s knife by their 20 year old daughter’s intervention. These are difficult times. Philip has been greatly used of God is astounding wisdom. God is our refuge and strength. 

Continue Reading

Unusual National Conference

eabrazil

This Saturday we value your prayers as we will be holding our annual Leader’s Conference via Google Meet as opposed to the less secure Zoom. It will be quite an experience!


All our leaders debating, discussing and electing the leadership 
team for the coming 4 years – amongst other matters. We sure do value your prayers.


We are blessed with an expert (Philip) on all this tech stuff and will be doing a trial run tonight just to make sure all is in order for Saturday. Then the minutes have to be registered at a solicitors on Monday 18th  in time for our deadline of the 20th.


I personally am vastly improved in health. Thank you for praying. Please don’t stop. Liz is the rock of Gibraltar as ever! God sure blessed me with Liz!


The whole family has helped so much as have the teams for the variety of ongoing activities. 


On Sunday the election results will be displayed here! Watch this space.


The Covid-19 virus bites harder and harder in Brazil now with a sad division amongst the politicians. The Federal Government is ridiculously flamboyant about a “load of fuss about a minor cold”, but the State Governors resist as does the Supreme Court and we fumble on. Also years of corruption siphoning off money from health care for personal things (robbery) means our healthcare system is utterly inadequate. All the talk about the heat being conducive to combatting the virus, plus plain ignorance and the ignoring of scientists – means the virus is deeply embedded all around us. We lie low and trust God!


One particular case of domestic violence has greatly upset us but the wife was gladly kept from her husband’s knife by their 20 year old daughter’s intervention. These are difficult times. Philip has been greatly used of God is astounding wisdom. God is our refuge and strength. 

Continue Reading

Unusual National Conference

eabrazil

This Saturday we value your prayers as we will be holding our annual Leader’s Conference via Google Meet as opposed to the less secure Zoom. It will be quite an experience!


All our leaders debating, discussing and electing the leadership 
team for the coming 4 years – amongst other matters. We sure do value your prayers.


We are blessed with an expert (Philip) on all this tech stuff and will be doing a trial run tonight just to make sure all is in order for Saturday. Then the minutes have to be registered at a solicitors on Monday 18th  in time for our deadline of the 20th.


I personally am vastly improved in health. Thank you for praying. Please don’t stop. Liz is the rock of Gibraltar as ever! God sure blessed me with Liz!


The whole family has helped so much as have the teams for the variety of ongoing activities. 


On Sunday the election results will be displayed here! Watch this space.


The Covid-19 virus bites harder and harder in Brazil now with a sad division amongst the politicians. The Federal Government is ridiculously flamboyant about a “load of fuss about a minor cold”, but the State Governors resist as does the Supreme Court and we fumble on. Also years of corruption siphoning off money from health care for personal things (robbery) means our healthcare system is utterly inadequate. All the talk about the heat being conducive to combatting the virus, plus plain ignorance and the ignoring of scientists – means the virus is deeply embedded all around us. We lie low and trust God!


One particular case of domestic violence has greatly upset us but the wife was gladly kept from her husband’s knife by their 20 year old daughter’s intervention. These are difficult times. Philip has been greatly used of God is astounding wisdom. God is our refuge and strength. 

Continue Reading

Not posting much

eabrazil

I am not posting much because with the lock down we are limited to do anything other than on Internet. Philip and the others of church leadership are doing a good job in Patos on this, as is Pastor Wostenes and leadership team of all the general churches here. Thus I am having a long needed break to build up health and strength, which is much needed, and value your prayers.


We are helping feed the hungry in a very discreet way. If it was publicized we would have multitudes asking for help non-stop and have no peace. Similarly such work is being done round the projects and churches. Much teaching is being done online for all the communities with which EAB works, both spiritual and health wise, including about how to avoid the virus. Thus contacts are maintained. Please pray for us and EAB. 

Continue Reading

Not posting much

eabrazil

I am not posting much because with the lock down we are limited to do anything other than on Internet. Philip and the others of church leadership are doing a good job in Patos on this, as is Pastor Wostenes and leadership team of all the general churches here. Thus I am having a long needed break to build up health and strength, which is much needed, and value your prayers.


We are helping feed the hungry in a very discreet way. If it was publicized we would have multitudes asking for help non-stop and have no peace. Similarly such work is being done round the projects and churches. Much teaching is being done online for all the communities with which EAB works, both spiritual and health wise, including about how to avoid the virus. Thus contacts are maintained. Please pray for us and EAB. 

Continue Reading

Zoom is helpful

eabrazil

The church youth in Patos had their meeting on Saturday via Zoom again, but included our Juazeirinho and Teixeira church young people as well together with Beatriz who is on an exchange year in Demark


We, as most of our churches, did live broadcasts on line at the normal time of our church services. Strange, difficult and stressful times for all of us. We pray for each other.

Continue Reading

Zoom is helpful

eabrazil

The church youth in Patos had their meeting on Saturday via Zoom again, but included our Juazeirinho and Teixeira church young people as well together with Beatriz who is on an exchange year in Demark


We, as most of our churches, did live broadcasts on line at the normal time of our church services. Strange, difficult and stressful times for all of us. We pray for each other.

Continue Reading

Adapting

eabrazil

This is an unbelievable time of adapting to a new world reality and we are certainly working hard on this. The work load is incredible coordinating all the different teams and church leaders around EAB/ACEV’s 88 churches. Let me try and give you an overview of some little bits of everything.


The senior leadership team of 10 has regular coordination meetings to discuss umpteen questions that arise. Please pray for pastor Umbirajara’s wife (one of the team) whose wife has discovered she has a malignancy and is being operated on right now. 


Then there are issues linked to funds to support this outlying pastors in small churches. How to manage this? Then there is the problem that next month is statutory time to elect a new team (this is done every 4 years), or re-elect the old one, at our annual Leader’s Conference, which almost certainly won’t happen. This has to be officially registered with a public notary which is closed. Without this registered change in the leadership board the banks won’t work for us and we wouldn’t be able to do bank transfers to pay workers, projects etc. We can organize an internet general assembly for the election under these exceptional circumstances, I think, but will we be able to get a public notary to register it so as to have legal public value before the banks and authorities? I am sharing the details of this one issue, or a long list, just for you to understand the dilemmas and challenges facing us as leaders of the Mission. Please pray and support. Thank you.

Continue Reading

Adapting

eabrazil

This is an unbelievable time of adapting to a new world reality and we are certainly working hard on this. The work load is incredible coordinating all the different teams and church leaders around EAB/ACEV’s 88 churches. Let me try and give you an overview of some little bits of everything.


The senior leadership team of 10 has regular coordination meetings to discuss umpteen questions that arise. Please pray for pastor Umbirajara’s wife (one of the team) whose wife has discovered she has a malignancy and is being operated on right now. 


Then there are issues linked to funds to support this outlying pastors in small churches. How to manage this? Then there is the problem that next month is statutory time to elect a new team (this is done every 4 years), or re-elect the old one, at our annual Leader’s Conference, which almost certainly won’t happen. This has to be officially registered with a public notary which is closed. Without this registered change in the leadership board the banks won’t work for us and we wouldn’t be able to do bank transfers to pay workers, projects etc. We can organize an internet general assembly for the election under these exceptional circumstances, I think, but will we be able to get a public notary to register it so as to have legal public value before the banks and authorities? I am sharing the details of this one issue, or a long list, just for you to understand the dilemmas and challenges facing us as leaders of the Mission. Please pray and support. Thank you.

Continue Reading

Adapting

eabrazil

This is an unbelievable time of adapting to a new world reality and we are certainly working hard on this. The work load is incredible coordinating all the different teams and church leaders around EAB/ACEV’s 88 churches. Let me try and give you an overview of some little bits of everything.


The senior leadership team of 10 has regular coordination meetings to discuss umpteen questions that arise. Please pray for pastor Umbirajara’s wife (one of the team) whose wife has discovered she has a malignancy and is being operated on right now. 


Then there are issues linked to funds to support this outlying pastors in small churches. How to manage this? Then there is the problem that next month is statutory time to elect a new team (this is done every 4 years), or re-elect the old one, at our annual Leader’s Conference, which almost certainly won’t happen. This has to be officially registered with a public notary which is closed. Without this registered change in the leadership board the banks won’t work for us and we wouldn’t be able to do bank transfers to pay workers, projects etc. We can organize an internet general assembly for the election under these exceptional circumstances, I think, but will we be able to get a public notary to register it so as to have legal public value before the banks and authorities? I am sharing the details of this one issue, or a long list, just for you to understand the dilemmas and challenges facing us as leaders of the Mission. Please pray and support. Thank you.

Continue Reading

88 EAB Churches preach the Gospel in Lockdown

eabrazil

With church services cancelled everywhere the Church of Jesus Christ adapts and reaches out with teaching and preaching the Gospel. The church buildings may be closed but the church moves on. Of course we miss the physical company of everyone, but the body of Christ continues in fellowship with Christ and His body.


I was encouraged by Brother Paulo, speaking to him on WhatsApp yesterday, from the ex-landless community not many miles from Green Pastures. He spoke to me from his little farmstead he received from a government project where EAB/ACEV drilled a well for the community and set up a community market garden project. I checked he was being duly careful even though he is in such an isolated community. He assured me they are. Then he told me that they had heeded my advice, from some time back, to hold little daily family times of prayer, praise and Bible reading, by who can read. He said these times “are being a great blessing to him, his wife and family, because they are learning to pray more and praise from the heart”! So this is one example of a cloud having a silver lining. Please continue to pray for us and support the work here in these difficult times. 

Continue Reading

88 EAB Churches preach the Gospel in Lockdown

eabrazil

With church services cancelled everywhere the Church of Jesus Christ adapts and reaches out with teaching and preaching the Gospel. The church buildings may be closed but the church moves on. Of course we miss the physical company of everyone, but the body of Christ continues in fellowship with Christ and His body.


I was encouraged by Brother Paulo, speaking to him on WhatsApp yesterday, from the ex-landless community not many miles from Green Pastures. He spoke to me from his little farmstead he received from a government project where EAB/ACEV drilled a well for the community and set up a community market garden project. I checked he was being duly careful even though he is in such an isolated community. He assured me they are. Then he told me that they had heeded my advice, from some time back, to hold little daily family times of prayer, praise and Bible reading, by who can read. He said these times “are being a great blessing to him, his wife and family, because they are learning to pray more and praise from the heart”! So this is one example of a cloud having a silver lining. Please continue to pray for us and support the work here in these difficult times. 

Continue Reading

Rains slow

eabrazil

The rainy season this year for Green Pastures is well down on the last 3 years. On the other hand the reservoirs for Patos have done much better and one is overflowing. The big reservoir at Coremas, from where Patos has its pipeline, has also taken in a massive amount of water. So things vary from area to area with the Patos area doing really well but not at Green Pastures where the lake is nearly dry and the river bed is dry. All very green, but it doesn’t get passed this as rain which comes in small quantities doesn’t accumulate in lakes and reservoirs. We pray that April will be better because its the last month in which we can get big rains.


In the work of the Lord we press on with internet being our means of communication like it is for you. We bring messages, praise and prayer through this means and use Zoom for some fellowship groups. Lots of prayer and counselling goes on via WhatsApp too. Clearly we really do need your prayers as I know you need ours. We must stand together in Christ. 


We are carrying out supplying food parcels where we can for our poor Action Child/Schools children as they are very poor. This we are being very discreet about as we can’t do it for everyone so we are saying nothing about this on Facebook to avoid possible tumults. The whole situation here is very complex and precarious. The political chaos is hindering a lot with lack of emergency healthcare preparation abominable. Please pray.


Please pray for us personally, for our family and all our leaders and church members. We are constantly under pressure. We look to God – our refuge and strength. 

Continue Reading

Rains slow

eabrazil

The rainy season this year for Green Pastures is well down on the last 3 years. On the other hand the reservoirs for Patos have done much better and one is overflowing. The big reservoir at Coremas, from where Patos has its pipeline, has also taken in a massive amount of water. So things vary from area to area with the Patos area doing really well but not at Green Pastures where the lake is nearly dry and the river bed is dry. All very green, but it doesn’t get passed this as rain which comes in small quantities doesn’t accumulate in lakes and reservoirs. We pray that April will be better because its the last month in which we can get big rains.


In the work of the Lord we press on with internet being our means of communication like it is for you. We bring messages, praise and prayer through this means and use Zoom for some fellowship groups. Lots of prayer and counselling goes on via WhatsApp too. Clearly we really do need your prayers as I know you need ours. We must stand together in Christ. 


We are carrying out supplying food parcels where we can for our poor Action Child/Schools children as they are very poor. This we are being very discreet about as we can’t do it for everyone so we are saying nothing about this on Facebook to avoid possible tumults. The whole situation here is very complex and precarious. The political chaos is hindering a lot with lack of emergency healthcare preparation abominable. Please pray.


Please pray for us personally, for our family and all our leaders and church members. We are constantly under pressure. We look to God – our refuge and strength. 

Continue Reading

Rains slow

eabrazil

The rainy season this year for Green Pastures is well down on the last 3 years. On the other hand the reservoirs for Patos have done much better and one is overflowing. The big reservoir at Coremas, from where Patos has its pipeline, has also taken in a massive amount of water. So things vary from area to area with the Patos area doing really well but not at Green Pastures where the lake is nearly dry and the river bed is dry. All very green, but it doesn’t get passed this as rain which comes in small quantities doesn’t accumulate in lakes and reservoirs. We pray that April will be better because its the last month in which we can get big rains.


In the work of the Lord we press on with internet being our means of communication like it is for you. We bring messages, praise and prayer through this means and use Zoom for some fellowship groups. Lots of prayer and counselling goes on via WhatsApp too. Clearly we really do need your prayers as I know you need ours. We must stand together in Christ. 


We are carrying out supplying food parcels where we can for our poor Action Child/Schools children as they are very poor. This we are being very discreet about as we can’t do it for everyone so we are saying nothing about this on Facebook to avoid possible tumults. The whole situation here is very complex and precarious. The political chaos is hindering a lot with lack of emergency healthcare preparation abominable. Please pray.


Please pray for us personally, for our family and all our leaders and church members. We are constantly under pressure. We look to God – our refuge and strength. 

Continue Reading

I am shocked to the core!

eabrazil

Brazil’s president has just decreed that “church services are essential services” like water or electricity supplies – thus bowing to the mass of fanatical evangelicals who elected him. It is an unbelievable decree! This means the prosperity theology lot and many others can gather their money as usual. 


Tragically Brazil’s president is not taking this virus serious. We can only cry to God to intervene. Please join us.

Continue Reading

I am shocked to the core!

eabrazil

Brazil’s president has just decreed that “church services are essential services” like water or electricity supplies – thus bowing to the mass of fanatical evangelicals who elected him. It is an unbelievable decree! This means the prosperity theology lot and many others can gather their money as usual. 


Tragically Brazil’s president is not taking this virus serious. We can only cry to God to intervene. Please join us.

Continue Reading

(1) However do these things happen?

eabrazil

Liz was born in 1949 in a house in the street where
our church is in Patos. I was also born that year, thousands of miles away, in
a maternity hospital in London, England. The chances of us ever meeting were
very remote, like winning on the lottery, but when God…

Liz was involved in the EAB church in Patos from very
young. Liz is an amazingly strong devoted Christian. Many don’t realize what a
rock she is because she rarely says much about it. I talk the hind legs off a
donkey, but Liz gets on with the work, serves the Lord and never turns away a
poor person in need. She taught a Sunday School class with 120 children when
she was only 13 years old.
I was in Notting Hill, London at this time, at my
church called Peniel Chapel. I too was involved in the church from very young,
and I too was involved as a teenager with children’s work. My job was to go
round with driver Steve Grantham in the church mini-bus and collect the kids to
take them to church 4 times a week! My job was to knock on the doors of houses
and flats and get the kids into the mini-bus. Our record number was 252
children one Tuesday night and not one was white! I loved the Anglo/West Indian
community and still do.
My church was missions mad! Founded by pastor Ben
Griffiths who was fruit of the 1904 Welsh Revival, he was a tremendous man of
faith and missionary vision. We supported dozens of missionaries all over the
world and this included Brazil. Our missionary family in Minas Gerais, in south
east Brazil, were the Roults, and on their visits to the UK they stayed with
their family a couple of streets from where I lived. I started hearing a lot and
to feel God’s call on my life, and was already planning to head for Brazil one
day still in my teenage years of child evangelism. It was just a matter of
turning the West Indians into Brazilians!
I had never heard of north-east Brazil. Who had? My
church worked down south and I thought one day that I might head there.
However, 1966 (the year that England won the Football World Cup) was far more significant
for my life for another reason. In the October the Millbrook Church youth from
Southampton came to my church in London for a united youth service during which
a young lady, who had recently arrived from north-east Brazil, was asked to
sing Psalm 51 in Portuguese. My jaw dropped at her beauty!
I tried to chat to Liz after the service, but to no
avail. I prayed a lot over the following weeks! In the New Year I went to run
with my Cross-Country athletics club at Southampton and in the evening I went
to see a Christian film for youth at a Baptist church and prayed that Liz would
be
…Continue Reading

(1) However do these things happen?

eabrazil

Liz was born in 1949 in a house in the street where
our church is in Patos. I was also born that year, thousands of miles away, in
a maternity hospital in London, England. The chances of us ever meeting were
very remote, like winning on the lottery, but when God…

Liz was involved in the EAB church in Patos from very
young. Liz is an amazingly strong devoted Christian. Many don’t realize what a
rock she is because she rarely says much about it. I talk the hind legs off a
donkey, but Liz gets on with the work, serves the Lord and never turns away a
poor person in need. She taught a Sunday School class with 120 children when
she was only 13 years old.
I was in Notting Hill, London at this time, at my
church called Peniel Chapel. I too was involved in the church from very young,
and I too was involved as a teenager with children’s work. My job was to go
round with driver Steve Grantham in the church mini-bus and collect the kids to
take them to church 4 times a week! My job was to knock on the doors of houses
and flats and get the kids into the mini-bus. Our record number was 252
children one Tuesday night and not one was white! I loved the Anglo/West Indian
community and still do.
My church was missions mad! Founded by pastor Ben
Griffiths who was fruit of the 1904 Welsh Revival, he was a tremendous man of
faith and missionary vision. We supported dozens of missionaries all over the
world and this included Brazil. Our missionary family in Minas Gerais, in south
east Brazil, were the Roults, and on their visits to the UK they stayed with
their family a couple of streets from where I lived. I started hearing a lot and
to feel God’s call on my life, and was already planning to head for Brazil one
day still in my teenage years of child evangelism. It was just a matter of
turning the West Indians into Brazilians!
I had never heard of north-east Brazil. Who had? My
church worked down south and I thought one day that I might head there.
However, 1966 (the year that England won the Football World Cup) was far more significant
for my life for another reason. In the October the Millbrook Church youth from
Southampton came to my church in London for a united youth service during which
a young lady, who had recently arrived from north-east Brazil, was asked to
sing Psalm 51 in Portuguese. My jaw dropped at her beauty!
I tried to chat to Liz after the service, but to no
avail. I prayed a lot over the following weeks! In the New Year I went to run
with my Cross-Country athletics club at Southampton and in the evening I went
to see a Christian film for youth at a Baptist church and prayed that Liz would
be
…Continue Reading

Flooding

eabrazil

With
so much in lock down it’s services on line, lots of counselling via WhatsApp or
by phone, and lots of meetings online with different teams of our leaders. I am
also seeking to maintain a positive approach doing creative and enjoyable
things such as reading (a commentary on Galatians at the moment), praying and
Bible reading, and writing stories of our experiences in the work of the Lord
over the years. I’ll post here chapter 1 today and I pray it will bless you.

We’re
in the rainy season here and at Green Pastures rains are quite poor, but
further to the west the rains are much heavier. We have just received news from
Flores that our Pastor Nemias and his family have had to move out of their
house and move into the church on higher ground for fear of severe imminent
flooding. Please pray for this on top of everything else.
Continue Reading

Flooding

eabrazil

With
so much in lock down it’s services on line, lots of counselling via WhatsApp or
by phone, and lots of meetings online with different teams of our leaders. I am
also seeking to maintain a positive approach doing creative and enjoyable
things such as reading (a commentary on Galatians at the moment), praying and
Bible reading, and writing stories of our experiences in the work of the Lord
over the years. I’ll post here chapter 1 today and I pray it will bless you.

We’re
in the rainy season here and at Green Pastures rains are quite poor, but
further to the west the rains are much heavier. We have just received news from
Flores that our Pastor Nemias and his family have had to move out of their
house and move into the church on higher ground for fear of severe imminent
flooding. Please pray for this on top of everything else.
Continue Reading

We pray for each other

eabrazil

We’re all in the same boat with this pandemic so we pray for each other. We do really value your prayers and support. We minister to so many people via Internet as this is the only way. Liz and I plan to do a live transmission to the church at the time of what is our normal main Sunday service. All services were banned here, as from this week, which we are aware is the case in so many countries.


We seek to remain positive in all this and watch little news broadcasts. I am on the BBC opinion panel, as I have been for years, and I have just been asked for my opinion on its coverage of the crisis. I gave very frank answers to their questions.


We maintain our daily devotional times of course, listen to good inspirational music, read good books (reading a commentary on Galatians at the moment with one on Romans next), watch films, and in the evenings we have a fun and jokes time with the family on WhatsApp. There is a lot of guidance to be given to our different fellowship groups and major decisions being taken with the general church leadership team. We value your prayers for us that we may be kept healthy and strong in the Lord for us to be able to keep counselling and supporting the many who need it. 


I plan to write some EAB stories here on my blog and on the EAB Facebook page in the coming days. I will continue to write for the churches here’s benefit as well. We all must have a positive agenda for the glory of God whether in isolation or not. May God help us all to this end at this time.


Please especially pray for Brazil facing immense ignorance from many (disbelief in the problem!) and much inertia and irresponsibility from some authorities. Our public health structure is frighteningly inadequate. Please remember us in your prayers and help support us as we seek to continue the work and care for the flock and very poor communities in creative blessed ways. 

Continue Reading

Sunday

eabrazil

We have reached another Sunday with the Sunday School for all ages held this morning and all is now set for the evening service when God’s Word will be preached and the Lord’s Name praised. These are tense days for everyone, though the full impact of the current public health crisis has not been felt yet in Brazil, though it is forecast for between now and the end of April. We all certainly need to pray for each other at this time.  


I have been working on the next edition of EAB’s magazine ‘In Touch’ (edition 93). Over the 82 years of EAB the name of its publication has changed a lot, but we have managed to stick to ‘In Touch’ for many years this time. Marian Rashleigh is my co-editor and she is key in the whole process. We are very grateful to her for her faithful service in so many ways. 


Of course we, as a local church and as a Mission here in Brazil are busy working on contingency plans at this time. We value your prayers a great deal. 

Continue Reading

Sunday

eabrazil

We have reached another Sunday with the Sunday School for all ages held this morning and all is now set for the evening service when God’s Word will be preached and the Lord’s Name praised. These are tense days for everyone, though the full impact of the current public health crisis has not been felt yet in Brazil, though it is forecast for between now and the end of April. We all certainly need to pray for each other at this time.  


I have been working on the next edition of EAB’s magazine ‘In Touch’ (edition 93). Over the 82 years of EAB the name of its publication has changed a lot, but we have managed to stick to ‘In Touch’ for many years this time. Marian Rashleigh is my co-editor and she is key in the whole process. We are very grateful to her for her faithful service in so many ways. 


Of course we, as a local church and as a Mission here in Brazil are busy working on contingency plans at this time. We value your prayers a great deal. 

Continue Reading

Building Repairs

eabrazil

International Women’s Day was celebrated on Sunday in Patos with all the women standing for a photograph, all the prayers and Bible reading conducted by Women as well as the sign language for the deaf. The Men’s Fellowship distributed chocolates to all the ladies and I preached on Women’s Ministry in God’s Kingdom. It was a blessed & happy evening.


Liz & I were checking out the work being done on our Patos church extension today, as one of the outer walls had not been properly plastered by the previous owner, so we are removing it and doing the job properly. Please pray!
Continue Reading

Building Repairs

eabrazil

International Women’s Day was celebrated on Sunday in Patos with all the women standing for a photograph, all the prayers and Bible reading conducted by Women as well as the sign language for the deaf. The Men’s Fellowship distributed chocolates to all the ladies and I preached on Women’s Ministry in God’s Kingdom. It was a blessed & happy evening.


Liz & I were checking out the work being done on our Patos church extension today, as one of the outer walls had not been properly plastered by the previous owner, so we are removing it and doing the job properly. Please pray!
Continue Reading

Bible Study

eabrazil

I will be off very shortly to give the Thursday evening Bible study and I’ll be attempting to cover Deuteronomy 28-31 + 34 tonight to complete our journey through the key stories of the Bible, in chronological order, having done the Pentateuch plus Job thus far. My task tonight is almost impossible but I’m going to try! 5 chapters of Deuteronomy in a night! Wow! This takes us up to the batten swap at the Jordan with Moses handing over to Joshua. 


I’ve also prepared my sermon for Sunday when I’ll be preaching on women’s ministry in the church, on International Women’s Day. 


I have had a lot of trouble shooting to do this week in the work and lots of problems to discuss and work on. It has been quite a week! One son of one of our leaders sadly attempted suicide, whilst away studying, was one of the problems. So we value your prayers always for us and the work of EAB. 

Continue Reading

Bible Study

eabrazil

I will be off very shortly to give the Thursday evening Bible study and I’ll be attempting to cover Deuteronomy 28-31 + 34 tonight to complete our journey through the key stories of the Bible, in chronological order, having done the Pentateuch plus Job thus far. My task tonight is almost impossible but I’m going to try! 5 chapters of Deuteronomy in a night! Wow! This takes us up to the batten swap at the Jordan with Moses handing over to Joshua. 


I’ve also prepared my sermon for Sunday when I’ll be preaching on women’s ministry in the church, on International Women’s Day. 


I have had a lot of trouble shooting to do this week in the work and lots of problems to discuss and work on. It has been quite a week! One son of one of our leaders sadly attempted suicide, whilst away studying, was one of the problems. So we value your prayers always for us and the work of EAB. 

Continue Reading

Communion Service

eabrazil

Yesterday I conducted our third communion service of the year (being the first Sunday of the month) in the Patos church and the church was completely full with our communion cups just working out to the right number! I breathed a sigh of relief with one cup left for me after all had received, as this is so unnecessary because we have another tray of cups which a stubborn deaconess refuses to use as she doesn’t like the spare tray’s format! I have asked Liz to fix the deaconess! 


The service was lovely with Lucena back, a retired Congregational pastor who is now with us, who had been in Recife for treatment for 2 months with a liver abscess. Lindon Carlos, pastor of our Imaculada church, preached the Word from the book of Hebreus. 


We have suspended hugs and handshakes in church for the time being whilst this Coronavirus matter is not sorted out.


Please pray for the very difficult rain situation at Green Pastures. This year rainfall at Green Pastures is the lowest since 2016. We have only had 6 inches to date of the 40 inches target which we need to receive so as to keep going till the following year. As things stand the little lake at Green Pastures will soon be totally dry. Everything is more or less green with the light rains we have had, but it is what we call a “green drought”! That is, to the visitor seeing things green they will think all is well, but when they get to the lake they change their minds! The strange thing is that in Patos it is getting much more rain. It’s good for Patos but we could do with some at Green Pastures too! The rainy season here is during the first 4 months, plus dribs and drabs in May and the odd shower in June. So we are praying for rain in abundance between now and the end of April.

Continue Reading

Communion Service

eabrazil

Yesterday I conducted our third communion service of the year (being the first Sunday of the month) in the Patos church and the church was completely full with our communion cups just working out to the right number! I breathed a sigh of relief with one cup left for me after all had received, as this is so unnecessary because we have another tray of cups which a stubborn deaconess refuses to use as she doesn’t like the spare tray’s format! I have asked Liz to fix the deaconess! 


The service was lovely with Lucena back, a retired Congregational pastor who is now with us, who had been in Recife for treatment for 2 months with a liver abscess. Lindon Carlos, pastor of our Imaculada church, preached the Word from the book of Hebreus. 


We have suspended hugs and handshakes in church for the time being whilst this Coronavirus matter is not sorted out.


Please pray for the very difficult rain situation at Green Pastures. This year rainfall at Green Pastures is the lowest since 2016. We have only had 6 inches to date of the 40 inches target which we need to receive so as to keep going till the following year. As things stand the little lake at Green Pastures will soon be totally dry. Everything is more or less green with the light rains we have had, but it is what we call a “green drought”! That is, to the visitor seeing things green they will think all is well, but when they get to the lake they change their minds! The strange thing is that in Patos it is getting much more rain. It’s good for Patos but we could do with some at Green Pastures too! The rainy season here is during the first 4 months, plus dribs and drabs in May and the odd shower in June. So we are praying for rain in abundance between now and the end of April.

Continue Reading

Carnival Camp

eabrazil

I have just got home from a wonderful Carnival Camp at Green Pastures – the 41st! Tired yes… but rejoicing in the Lord.


This years theme was ‘spirituality’, focusing on the essential nature of our daily devotional times with God and the positive affects this has on our daily Christian lives. I preached in 3 of the 7 services and Wostenes and Gleydice, from Campina Grande, ministered at the others. On Monday and Tuesday they answered questions informally in the mornings with Wostenes preaching one night and Gleydice the other. Many came forward at the end of the services reconsecrating their lives to God and committing themselves to spending more time privately with God in prayer, fasting, worship and Bible meditation.


The praise and worship was greatly blessed as always. Our church band is extremely good. We just need to work more on the up and coming generations of musicians and band members and have kicked off initiatives to get a ‘kids band’ and a ‘teens band’ going for God. 


The leisure side of the Camp went beautifully too. Our sincerest thanks to those who contributed to making it possible for poorer folk/families to be there. These were very important inputs into their lives spiritually and fellowship-wise too. The youth ran a games afternoon one day and Philip ran another, what we used to call years ago – ‘opportunity knocks’, which I seem to have heard is called ‘X Factor’ today. Not that there is any element of competition in our version. It’s nice just to see up and coming talent and to show there is space for everyone. The menu was varied from little children to seniors. One group of 3 brothers – one a fireman and all fathers – ended up being nominated the ‘BeeGees’ owing to their popularity!


Then there were constant domino competitions throughout the camp, table tennis, volleyball and swimming. So praise God for a  lovely balanced and bless Camp and thanks very much for all your prayers and support. 

Continue Reading

Carnival Camp

eabrazil

I have just got home from a wonderful Carnival Camp at Green Pastures – the 41st! Tired yes… but rejoicing in the Lord.


This years theme was ‘spirituality’, focusing on the essential nature of our daily devotional times with God and the positive affects this has on our daily Christian lives. I preached in 3 of the 7 services and Wostenes and Gleydice, from Campina Grande, ministered at the others. On Monday and Tuesday they answered questions informally in the mornings with Wostenes preaching one night and Gleydice the other. Many came forward at the end of the services reconsecrating their lives to God and committing themselves to spending more time privately with God in prayer, fasting, worship and Bible meditation.


The praise and worship was greatly blessed as always. Our church band is extremely good. We just need to work more on the up and coming generations of musicians and band members and have kicked off initiatives to get a ‘kids band’ and a ‘teens band’ going for God. 


The leisure side of the Camp went beautifully too. Our sincerest thanks to those who contributed to making it possible for poorer folk/families to be there. These were very important inputs into their lives spiritually and fellowship-wise too. The youth ran a games afternoon one day and Philip ran another, what we used to call years ago – ‘opportunity knocks’, which I seem to have heard is called ‘X Factor’ today. Not that there is any element of competition in our version. It’s nice just to see up and coming talent and to show there is space for everyone. The menu was varied from little children to seniors. One group of 3 brothers – one a fireman and all fathers – ended up being nominated the ‘BeeGees’ owing to their popularity!


Then there were constant domino competitions throughout the camp, table tennis, volleyball and swimming. So praise God for a  lovely balanced and bless Camp and thanks very much for all your prayers and support. 

Continue Reading

Baptisms

eabrazil

hopetogether.org.uk informs that “Former football star
David Beckham’s two youngest children; showbiz celebrity Kim Kardashian West
and her youngest children; Liverpool Football Club star Roberto Firmino and the
Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian, have all been baptised recently”. I
know they are no different before God to someone I baptize deep in the interior
of NE Brazil who lives in a mud house, but it certainly is encouraging! On
Easter Sunday I’ll be baptizing another granddaughter’, Alice, and others in
EAB’s Patos Church too. PTL!

Continue Reading

Baptisms

eabrazil

hopetogether.org.uk informs that “Former football star
David Beckham’s two youngest children; showbiz celebrity Kim Kardashian West
and her youngest children; Liverpool Football Club star Roberto Firmino and the
Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian, have all been baptised recently”. I
know they are no different before God to someone I baptize deep in the interior
of NE Brazil who lives in a mud house, but it certainly is encouraging! On
Easter Sunday I’ll be baptizing another granddaughter’, Alice, and others in
EAB’s Patos Church too. PTL!

Continue Reading

EAB Action Schools

eabrazil

With EAB’s Action Schools Project now totally revamped and upgraded we rejoice at the hundreds of extremely poor children we are able to minister to educationally, spiritually and socially. Being a shoe-string Mission we depend on donations from churches and individuals to be able to maintain this vital work and we hope and pray to expand it this year. To support this work and to receive more information about it please contact eabchild@gmail.com

Yesterday we held a training day gathering all teachers and church leaders from our Action Schools to go over the principles which govern the work we do, the high standards we must always maintain, improving reporting techniques to enable us to monitor better each school’s progress etc. Praise God for an excellent day as we start a new school year and for the great team we have. We seek to give poor kids a meal a day, help with their regular government very low standard school work so as for the children to genuinely learn and enjoy learning, and lead kids, up to year 5, to a living faith in Jesus Christ.


What a joy it was to hear about one of our ex-Action School kids who today is a bank manager and another who is a worship ministry leader in his church and RE teacher in his town! On the other hand, as we don’t just tell the success stories, we prayed together for another ex- EAB Action School kid who is living in promiscuity, has been involved in the drug culture and has been in jail twice. However he at least is back in church now and we pray for God in His love and mercy to change his life! The seed was sown and he is back in church! Please pray for this fantastic project.

Continue Reading

EAB Action Schools

eabrazil

With EAB’s Action Schools Project now totally revamped and upgraded we rejoice at the hundreds of extremely poor children we are able to minister to educationally, spiritually and socially. Being a shoe-string Mission we depend on donations from churches and individuals to be able to maintain this vital work and we hope and pray to expand it this year. To support this work and to receive more information about it please contact eabchild@gmail.com

Yesterday we held a training day gathering all teachers and church leaders from our Action Schools to go over the principles which govern the work we do, the high standards we must always maintain, improving reporting techniques to enable us to monitor better each school’s progress etc. Praise God for an excellent day as we start a new school year and for the great team we have. We seek to give poor kids a meal a day, help with their regular government very low standard school work so as for the children to genuinely learn and enjoy learning, and lead kids, up to year 5, to a living faith in Jesus Christ.


What a joy it was to hear about one of our ex-Action School kids who today is a bank manager and another who is a worship ministry leader in his church and RE teacher in his town! On the other hand, as we don’t just tell the success stories, we prayed together for another ex- EAB Action School kid who is living in promiscuity, has been involved in the drug culture and has been in jail twice. However he at least is back in church now and we pray for God in His love and mercy to change his life! The seed was sown and he is back in church! Please pray for this fantastic project.

Continue Reading

Busy & blessed week

eabrazil

The Men’s Fellowship meeting on Tuesday was especially blessed and the 2 brothers who came to Christ though this ministry last year were both in the meeting.


On Wednesday I took part in a Skype meeting with the new Tearfund leader in Brazil who lives in the south at São Paulo. Unfortunately it was confirmed, as I had suspected, that Tearfund has decided to cut back on funding work in Brazil so that is a further challenge to the work here on top of all the other difficulties in the funding field. I also went for an eye test and I am going to have to wear sunglasses out and about. The doctor has been pressurizing me on this matter and I have resisted, as I like to see small aspects of nature when out walking, but I am going to have to give in.


On Thursday I took the Bible study and we had a good study progressing through chapters 5 and 6 of Deuteronomy. Then yesterday I had another meeting with deaf pastor Luis Carlos to get feedback on the ministry and discuss a few matters. There are 28 doing the latest Brazilian sign language course we always run each year. The Deaf’s annual Conference will be in July.


With 2 weeks to go to the Carnival Camp it is all stations go preparing for this. I am today working on my opening message. There is of course so much preparation to do. You have no idea! All the dormitory roofs were overhauled this year as the clay tiles are prone to leaks and the massive amount of trees shed many leaves which block up roofing channels causing leakage problems in an eventual heavy rain. One has to think of everything! We value your prayers for the camp. 

Continue Reading

Counselling

eabrazil

There is always plenty of counselling ministry for Liz and I. We spent a nice time with one young Christian man in the last few days and we also visited Sandra who is a Down’s Syndrome lady. She loves it when we are with her and she loves to sing hymns with me. She beams smiling and she remembers the words of old hymns quite well. Bless her!


I celebrated my birthday eating a pizza with all the family and that was nice. The church gave me a shirt and a new wallet as my old one had been noticed to be falling apart! Honestly!


Communion service was lovely yesterday. I preached on Matthew 5:6 – “Hungering and thirsting for righteousness”. A young Bible School student of ours gave a short meditation prior to Communion in preparation for it which was nice. 


I had a long walk very early yesterday morning at Green Pastures and managed to photograph for the first time a gorgeous Striped Owl (Asio clamator) which is a fairly large and beautiful owl about 42 cm tall. This species had been registered at Green Pastures at night by our automatic cameras, but I had never seen one personally. However recently I have seen this large owl perching in one specific place near the lake, but every time I tried to get near enough to photograph it, it flew off and I couldn’t even see which species it was. I thought it might be a Barn Owl. So yesterday I very slowly approached the location from a different angle and it worked!


Tomorrow I will be speaking at the Men’s Fellowship (Book of Daniel) and the Bible Study (Deuteronomy) will be on Thursday. In between I have a meeting on Skype with Tearfund as things are complicated with them these days helping with any projects. It’s quite a headache. On Friday I have a meeting with our deaf pastor.


Please pray for us and for the soon coming Carnival Camp at Green Pastures starting on the 22nd of this month.

Continue Reading