Categoria: News

I have now completed two-thirds of my résumé of the Book of Isaiah with 44 of the 66 chapters done.

Yesterday we went to the wake of Brother Neto’s mother from the Patos church who died aged 70. As I always explain wakes here are before the burial and not after it as in the UK. 

Last night we held a special Mother’s Day service at Green Pastures which I both led and preached at. Liz and deaconess Josinete gave short words too, and the children made a special presentation for their mums. It was a wonderful evening. Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday in May in Brazil and Father’s Day is on the second Sunday in August. 

I am feeling much better today after a week of tummy troubles which left be feeling off-colour. Thanks for your prayers. 

A couple from our Patos church have just had a new daughter born, Priscila, to join their 5-year-old son Moisés. Mum is Rebeca and Dad is Caetano who drills wells for a living. I see that a 35-year-old woman in Ethiopia has just given birth to quintuplets – 4 boys and a girl!

Yesterday was ‘World Donkey Day’! Our 3 donkeys at Green Pastures: King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and Merrylegs II had a lovely day! 😀

Brazil’s President Lula had a meeting in Washington this week with Donald Trump and explained to him, amongst other things, how the Brazilian PIX instant bank payment system works, without using credit cards, and which has attracted interest from the Americans.

I am feeling much better today after a week of tummy troubles which left be feeling off-colour. Thanks for your prayers. 

A couple from our Patos church have just had a new daughter born, Priscila, to join their 5-year-old son Moisés. Mum is Rebeca and Dad is Caetano who drills wells for a living. I see that a 35-year-old woman in Ethiopia has just given birth to quintuplets – 4 boys and a girl!

Yesterday was ‘World Donkey Day’! Our 3 donkeys at Green Pastures: King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and Merrylegs II had a lovely day! 😀

Brazil’s President Lula had a meeting in Washington this week with Donald Trump and explained to him, amongst other things, how the Brazilian PIX instant bank payment system works, without using credit cards, and which has attracted interest from the Americans.

I send my warmest congratulations to David Attenborough on this his 100th birthday! Thank you for all your amazing nature films including the one we recently watched called ‘A Gorilla Story’. I hope the brother who wrote to me complaining about my previous comments about this man will forgive my enthusiasm but it is a ton!

Our granddaughter Alice is 18 and at university studying psychology. At the moment she is in Campina Grande taking part in a Conference on Neuroscience, Autism and its Disorders. Alice already has qualifications as an ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) technician in the field of Autism. Please pray for Alice who does a great work with children! 

Last night’s mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study was taken by Pastor Rafael who gave a further study in Zephaniah. 

Our ministry has various aspects and angles, but one of them we often do together is counselling which has been the case this week. God has used and blessed us this week and we value your prayers for each person we minister in this way. No names no pack drill.

We ask for prayer for the difficult situation we face concerning the pound sterling which is at an all time low as a result of the Iran war. It is making things very difficult for us and the work. 

Isaiah 40 brings a total shift in emphasis, from now on to the end of the book, focusing on comfort and blessing rather than judgement and difficulties. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God”, says Isaiah at the start. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem”. (This chapter again reminds me of Handel’s Messiah) “Every valley shall be raised up… the glory of the Lord will be revealed… the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever… the Sovereign Lord comes with power… he tends his flock like a shepherd… the nations are like a drop in a bucket… to whom will you compare God?… He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth… lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?… do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God… he gives strength to the weary… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength… they will walk and not faint”!

 Isaiah 39 and 2 Kings 20:12-19 are virtually identical telling the story of Hezekiah receiving envoys from Babylon to whom he unwisely showed off all his treasures in his storehouses. Isaiah rebuked this telling him that one day everything he had showed off would be “carried off to Babylon”! Hezekiah was relieved that this would not occur during his lifetime.

Last night’s Men’s Fellowship street service in São Mamede was led by school teacher Claudivan with Pastor Rafael preaching. At the end one man made a commitment to Christ. PTL!

I have completed the first half of the Book of Isaiah covering the first 33 chapters of its 66 total. This means I have now written the résumé of 60% of the Bible. The Book of Isaiah, the largest prophetic book in the Bible, is a collection of prophetic sayings about a variety of topics such as divine judgement, messianic hope and the holiness of God.

Isaiah 35 is an extremely joyful chapter of restoration and healing! A barren desert is transformed into a lush productive paradise! “The wilderness will rejoice and blossom… it will burst into bloom… they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God… strengthen the feeble… be strong and do not fear… the eyes of the blind will be opened and the deaf will hear… water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert… there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness… no lion will be there or any ferocious beast…. but only the redeemed will walk there and the ransomed of the Lord will return and enter Zion with singing!”

Isaiah 31 warns Judah against trusting Egypt’s power as a solution to its defence against Assyria. “Woe to those who go down to Egypt… who trust in their multitude of chariots… Egyptians are men not God!… the Lord will protect Judah like a lion and like hovering birds God will shield Jerusalem… so return to God… because Assyria will fall by the sword… declares the Lord whose fire is in Zion”. 

Isaiah 30 rebukes Judah for seeking an alliance with Egypt which God says will be futile. The result will be that “everyone will be put to shame… because Egypt is an unprofitable nation… which is utterly useless”. Isaiah goes on to say that the people are rebellious “unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction… and their rejection of God’s message is like a high wall which is cracked and bulging”. So God points to the solution which is “repentance and rest in salvation… because in quietness and trust is your strength”. For “the Lord longs to be gracious… when you cry for help… and throw away your images like a menstrual cloth… then your cattle will graze in broad meadows… and the Lord will bind up the bruises of his people”. The chapter concludes prophesying that “the Lord will shatter Assyria… with his sceptre he will strike them down… with raging anger and consuming fire”.

They have started getting things ready early for the St John’s Festival this year on June 24th and there are streamers all over the central main streets of Patos. This is the main Patos festival of the year with 5 nights of all night music and dancing in the town centre.

Did you know that the vast majority of people in Brazil call Liz ‘Betinha’ (pronounced Beteenya)?

Sacha led last night’s communion service and Pastor Rafael preached. We received Sister Analice into fellowship and a young woman called Bianca gave a word of testimony. It was a lovely service.

They have started getting things ready early for the St John’s Festival this year on June 24th and there are streamers all over the central main streets of Patos. This is the main Patos festival of the year with 5 nights of all night music and dancing in the town centre.

Did you know that the vast majority of people in Brazil call Liz ‘Betinha’ (pronounced Beteenya)?

Sacha led last night’s communion service and Pastor Rafael preached. We received Sister Analice into fellowship and a young woman called Bianca gave a word of testimony. It was a lovely service.

 Last night I went to lead the monthly Communion Service at Green Pastures and I preached on ‘He that is without sin throw the first stone’ from John 8 as I continue through John’s Gospel week by week. The service was excellent with a good number present.

I saw 2 Burrowing Owls there together with many young toads and a tree frog. 

Extremely heavy rain has been falling on the coast in João Pessoa and Recife causing havoc. 6 people have been killed as a result in Recife and the main water supplies have been interrupted in João Pessoa as the pumping system has been inundated. 

I went to Green Pastures yesterday and saw Cattle Egrets, Picui Ground Doves and Blue-black Grassquits. I will be back there preaching the Gospel later on.

Sadly QPR ended the season with another defeat away to Ipswich 3 x 0. This means we ended the season in 15th place out of 24 which is the same as last season. This season we won 16 games, drew 10 and lost 20.

Isaiah 27 concludes the Apocalypse section of chapters 24 to 27 pointing to God’s victory over evil represented by the Leviathan: “He will slay the monster of the sea.” Then comes the vineyard, representing Israel, which is “fruitful… I the Lord watch over it… I water it continually… guard it day and night… Israel will bud, blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” However reference is then made to Israel’s suffering for its sin resulting in the removal of their pagan altars: “No Asherah Poles or incense altars will be left standing”. Then Israel will be regathered for worship in Jerusalem: “Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain.”

This month of May we will be holding our annual General Conference, as we do every May, when our pastors and leaders gather together to discuss the work of the Lord, to give new ministers probationary status etc. Please pray for this Conference on the 22nd and 23rd of May in João Pessoa on the coast. Please pray for all decision making. We have some delicate issues to handle.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible Study and lawyer Murilo brought an excellent study on 1 John 5:1-12. Granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) led the worship accompanied by Davi.

Last month this blog was read 42,345 times. This is the largest monthly readership ever. Our thanks and greetings to one and all. Please add your comments with your name.

The bi-annual EAB magazine “InTouch” #edition 105 for May 2026 has just been published online on the EAB website at www.eabrazil.org. The hard copies will soon be with everyone by regular post. Our thanks go to editor Marian Rashleigh and graphic  designer Dave Flowers.

Our daughter Lynn, her husband Hutan and their children John David and Amanda have gone to São Paulo for an English language conference from their Cultura Inglesa language school. 

I have finished one third of the Book of Isaiah. That is 22 of the 66 chapters. This is part of my project to write a résumé of the whole Bible. This means I have now completed 59% of the chapters of the Bible.

The Life Squad (Pastor Rafael and Iara) evangelized the Patos Men’s Prison yesterday and 2 decisions were made for Christ.

I have started reading a new book again given to me by my granddaughter Louisa. It is called ‘One Day’ written by David Nicholls. 

Isaiah 22 is an oracle predicting judgement on Jerusalem for lack of repentance and condemns people for self-trust as opposed to trust in God. It also proclaims the replacement of the proud steward Shebna by Eliakim. “The Lord, the Lord Almighty has a day of tumult and trampling and terror in the Valley of Vision, a day of battering down walls and of crying out to the mountains… you saw that the City of David had many breaches in its defences… you built a reservoir between the two walls but you did not look to the one who made it… the Lord called you on that day to weep and to wail… till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for.” Then the Lord says to Shebna the steward in charge of the palace: “The Lord is about to hurl you away you mighty man… you will die you disgrace to your master’s house!… I will depose you from office… I will summon my servant Eliakim and clothe him with your robe… and he will be a father to those in Jerusalem… I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David… the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 16 continues the prophecy against Moab which was started in the previous chapter. “Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab… the oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land.” Reference is made to Moabite pride: “We have heard of Moab’s pride… her pride and her insolence… therefore the Moabites wail… lament and grieve… the fields of Heshbon wither… O Heshbon I drench you with tears… my heart laments for Moab like a harp… within 3 years Moab’s splendour and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble.”

Last night’s Patos Men’s Fellowship meeting was cancelled owing to heavy rain falling. At Green Pastures yesterday in rained 22 mm taking the annual total up to 648.6 mm.

This chapter is an oracle against Moab: “Ar in Moab is ruined and destroyed in a night… Kir in Moab is destroyed in a night… every head is shaved and every beard cut off… in the streets they wear sackcloth… my heart cries out over Moab… they lament their destruction… the waters of Nimrim are dried up and the grass withered… nothing green is left… their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim… and Dimon’s waters are full of blood!”

People who have stayed in our house will remember Linda who has always helped Liz with the cooking when we have visitors. Well today, aged 72, she is getting married to a brother in the Campina Grande area who is in his 80s. Both of them have recently lost their spouses so they have decided to take the plunge! Please pray for Linda and her new husband Hermes.

Yesterday we did our usual work bringing people into the Care Centre dentist and taking them home again. 

I have just done Pilates! 🏃

People who have stayed in our house will remember Linda who has always helped Liz with the cooking when we have visitors. Well today, aged 72, she is getting married to a brother in the Campina Grande area who is in his 80s. Both of them have recently lost their spouses so they have decided to take the plunge! Please pray for Linda and her new husband Hermes.

Yesterday we did our usual work bringing people into the Care Centre dentist and taking them home again. 

I have just done Pilates! 🏃

Yesterday morning we held a church business meeting when lawyer Murilo was chosen to be a new assistant pastor and our daughter Sacha was chosen to be a missionary which is the term used for female ministers. Both decisions were unanimous for these two who have been ministering the word in the church for a long time. We also discussed increasing our Gospel tracts distribution and we organized the training of a new emergency committee for untoward eventualities. We also defined all the church ministries leaders for the coming year. It was a very good meeting.

On Saturday 15 young people from Patos went up the mountain to Teixeira for evangelism together with folk from our church there. 9 of them went in the Kombi. The day was a blessing.

Last night Pastor Rafael and I led the service and Sacha preached an excellent sermon on John 5:1-15. I dedicated a baby called Eloah. It was a really blessed service.

Yesterday morning we held a church business meeting when lawyer Murilo was chosen to be a new assistant pastor and our daughter Sacha was chosen to be a missionary which is the term used for female ministers. Both decisions were unanimous for these two who have been ministering the word in the church for a long time. We also discussed increasing our Gospel tracts distribution and we organized the training of a new emergency committee for untoward eventualities. We also defined all the church ministries leaders for the coming year. It was a very good meeting.

On Saturday 15 young people from Patos went up the mountain to Teixeira for evangelism together with folk from our church there. 9 of them went in the Kombi. The day was a blessing.

Last night Pastor Rafael and I led the service and Sacha preached an excellent sermon on John 5:1-15. I dedicated a baby called Eloah. It was a really blessed service.

Yesterday morning we held a church business meeting when lawyer Murilo was chosen to be a new assistant pastor and our daughter Sacha was chosen to be a missionary which is the term used for female ministers. Both decisions were unanimous for these two who have been ministering the word in the church for a long time. We also discussed increasing our Gospel tracts distribution and we organized the training of a new emergency committee for untoward eventualities. We also defined all the church ministries leaders for the coming year. It was a very good meeting.

On Saturday 15 young people from Patos went up the mountain to Teixeira for evangelism together with folk from our church there. 9 of them went in the Kombi. The day was a blessing.

Last night Pastor Rafael and I led the service and Sacha preached an excellent sermon on John 5:1-15. I dedicated a baby called Eloah. It was a really blessed service.