Categoria: News

Brazil’s Father’s Day is on the second Sunday in August but we celebrated it on the Saturday as Sundays are too hectic. We slept at Green Pastures on the Friday night and spent Saturday there with a lovely family day. I walked 16 km including a night trek encountering a killer Coral snake which was fantastic, as I managed to photograph it and film it.


The Sunday Father’s Day service was out of this world. God spoke to me in the week for the service to be less festive, than these occasions tend to be, and more spiritual. Thus the Lord blessed abundantly. I preached on “The Greatest Commandment” from Mark 12 and it was well… wow! Praise God!

Please pray for Keith Dyer, who is EAB’s chairman of the Board of Trustees Roy Dyer’s 83 year old father, who fell down a ladder yesterday and broke some bones. It seems to have been quite a nasty fall and Keith certainly needs our prayers.

Please pray for Keith Dyer, who is EAB’s chairman of the Board of Trustees Roy Dyer’s 83 year old father, who fell down a ladder yesterday and broke some bones. It seems to have been quite a nasty fall and Keith certainly needs our prayers.

Liz and I had a lay in bed till 6 am today after a busy and blessed Sunday. I had a shower and a short walk and then we had breakfast together. As we chatted we felt that we should visit Sister Aina, her sister Lourdes (both active participants of our seniors project) and Aina’s daughter Solange. 


Later on Liz phoned Aina to see if they would be in at 4 pm and she replied: “I am all goose bumps! I prayed very early this morning and told the Lord I needed to see my pastors”! 


To visit these trophies of God’s grace was a blessing to us as we look back on what the Lord has done in their lives. Our church is a “hospital church” so best to stay away if you’re perfect! God’s love heals wounds and God’s power changes lives. I can say no more. Thank you Jesus for the power of the Gospel and blood of Jesus!


Yesterday’s communion service was blessed too. The church was full and the service was lovely. Thanks for your prayers always.


Please pray for EAB which is facing especially challenging financial times. Now, on top of the lowest exchange rate on the pound in 28 months, the government is trying to rip us off adding 4% charges insinuating EAB (81 years old!) is not worthy of exemption from this tax as previously. So we are now battling this out legally and tightening our belts whilst we wait for a solution. Prayer changes things. Please pray! 

Liz and I had a lay in bed till 6 am today after a busy and blessed Sunday. I had a shower and a short walk and then we had breakfast together. As we chatted we felt that we should visit Sister Aina, her sister Lourdes (both active participants of our seniors project) and Aina’s daughter Solange. 


Later on Liz phoned Aina to see if they would be in at 4 pm and she replied: “I am all goose bumps! I prayed very early this morning and told the Lord I needed to see my pastors”! 


To visit these trophies of God’s grace was a blessing to us as we look back on what the Lord has done in their lives. Our church is a “hospital church” so best to stay away if you’re perfect! God’s love heals wounds and God’s power changes lives. I can say no more. Thank you Jesus for the power of the Gospel and blood of Jesus!


Yesterday’s communion service was blessed too. The church was full and the service was lovely. Thanks for your prayers always.


Please pray for EAB which is facing especially challenging financial times. Now, on top of the lowest exchange rate on the pound in 28 months, the government is trying to rip us off adding 4% charges insinuating EAB (81 years old!) is not worthy of exemption from this tax as previously. So we are now battling this out legally and tightening our belts whilst we wait for a solution. Prayer changes things. Please pray! 

Great service last night at Curral Velho where we preached the Gospel. We had a lovely meeting with the couple that lead the church there before the meeting and had a nice meal with them too. Two hours to get there and two to drive home late at night but the Holy Spirit filled the car all the way home as Liz and I worshipped God with the help of Matt Redman. The car floated home and can’t possibly of used any petrol!


On Tuesday night all the youth were at our house to do a surprise party for Alice on the eve of her 12th birthday. It was quite a shock for her as they were all hidden behind the front garden wall and when she opened the gate bang! It was lovely!


The Bible study in Exodus 1-2 went well on Thursday.  This week we’ll move on to chapters 3-5. Tonight is the monthly Communion service in Patos.


Some of the youth went up the mountain to Teixeira to visit the church there last night whilst Liz and I went to Curral Velho. Thanks for all your prayers.


I finished reading ‘God’s Strategy in Human History – Volume 1 – God’s Path to Victory’ this week. A great book and a real blessing. 

Great service last night at Curral Velho where we preached the Gospel. We had a lovely meeting with the couple that lead the church there before the meeting and had a nice meal with them too. Two hours to get there and two to drive home late at night but the Holy Spirit filled the car all the way home as Liz and I worshipped God with the help of Matt Redman. The car floated home and can’t possibly of used any petrol!


On Tuesday night all the youth were at our house to do a surprise party for Alice on the eve of her 12th birthday. It was quite a shock for her as they were all hidden behind the front garden wall and when she opened the gate bang! It was lovely!


The Bible study in Exodus 1-2 went well on Thursday.  This week we’ll move on to chapters 3-5. Tonight is the monthly Communion service in Patos.


Some of the youth went up the mountain to Teixeira to visit the church there last night whilst Liz and I went to Curral Velho. Thanks for all your prayers.


I finished reading ‘God’s Strategy in Human History – Volume 1 – God’s Path to Victory’ this week. A great book and a real blessing. 

Great service last night at Curral Velho where we preached the Gospel. We had a lovely meeting with the couple that lead the church there before the meeting and had a nice meal with them too. Two hours to get there and two to drive home late at night but the Holy Spirit filled the car all the way home as Liz and I worshipped God with the help of Matt Redman. The car floated home and can’t possibly of used any petrol!


On Tuesday night all the youth were at our house to do a surprise party for Alice on the eve of her 12th birthday. It was quite a shock for her as they were all hidden behind the front garden wall and when she opened the gate bang! It was lovely!


The Bible study in Exodus 1-2 went well on Thursday.  This week we’ll move on to chapters 3-5. Tonight is the monthly Communion service in Patos.


Some of the youth went up the mountain to Teixeira to visit the church there last night whilst Liz and I went to Curral Velho. Thanks for all your prayers.


I finished reading ‘God’s Strategy in Human History – Volume 1 – God’s Path to Victory’ this week. A great book and a real blessing. 

I had the pleasure of dedicating another baby this Sunday and then today Liz and I visited a new born babe and family. All part of the job.


On Saturday evening I led the evangelistic service on the south of the River Espinharas in Patos in the borough of Jatobá. It went very well. This coming Saturday Liz and I will be travelling to the small town of Curral Velho, about a two and a bit hours journey west of Patos. I will be preaching at our church there’s 29th anniversary service.


This Sunday night’s service in Patos was really good and the sermon on 2 Timothy 2:1-7 went great. There has been considerable positive repercussion which is encouraging and the Men’s Fellowship has decided to continue discussion of the text in their meeting tomorrow evening.


On Thursday in the Bible study we will now move on from Job to Exodus chapters 1 to 5. We have covered Genesis 1 to 3, 12, 15 and 22 and Job 1 to 3 plus 38 to 42. So now today, so as to link up Genesis 22 to Exodus 1, I have studied and done a resume of chapters 23 to 50 of Genesis, chapter by chapter, to use prior to going into Exodus 1. 


This Wednesday (July 31st) is our granddaughter Alice’s 12th birthday. As we always say – how time flies! It doesn’t seem that long since she was a minute premature baby held in one hand! She has now grown to the extent that she looks like 15 or 16 and not 12. God is good.


On Wednesday night I’ve got a meeting lined up with some of the youth leaders about work evangelizing in colleges and universities. I hope sharing my experience with them in this field may be helpful to them.


This morning I had a lovely meeting with a couple who are Roman Catholic leaders. It was very precious. A RC group may well be going to hold a two-day seminar at Green Pastures later in the year. They also expressed their desire for me to have a meeting for a chat with the RC bishop and which I gladly accepted. The ball’s in their court. “The times they are a changing”! That’s for sure! Please pray with us on all this.

I had the pleasure of dedicating another baby this Sunday and then today Liz and I visited a new born babe and family. All part of the job.


On Saturday evening I led the evangelistic service on the south of the River Espinharas in Patos in the borough of Jatobá. It went very well. This coming Saturday Liz and I will be travelling to the small town of Curral Velho, about a two and a bit hours journey west of Patos. I will be preaching at our church there’s 29th anniversary service.


This Sunday night’s service in Patos was really good and the sermon on 2 Timothy 2:1-7 went great. There has been considerable positive repercussion which is encouraging and the Men’s Fellowship has decided to continue discussion of the text in their meeting tomorrow evening.


On Thursday in the Bible study we will now move on from Job to Exodus chapters 1 to 5. We have covered Genesis 1 to 3, 12, 15 and 22 and Job 1 to 3 plus 38 to 42. So now today, so as to link up Genesis 22 to Exodus 1, I have studied and done a resume of chapters 23 to 50 of Genesis, chapter by chapter, to use prior to going into Exodus 1. 


This Wednesday (July 31st) is our granddaughter Alice’s 12th birthday. As we always say – how time flies! It doesn’t seem that long since she was a minute premature baby held in one hand! She has now grown to the extent that she looks like 15 or 16 and not 12. God is good.


On Wednesday night I’ve got a meeting lined up with some of the youth leaders about work evangelizing in colleges and universities. I hope sharing my experience with them in this field may be helpful to them.


This morning I had a lovely meeting with a couple who are Roman Catholic leaders. It was very precious. A RC group may well be going to hold a two-day seminar at Green Pastures later in the year. They also expressed their desire for me to have a meeting for a chat with the RC bishop and which I gladly accepted. The ball’s in their court. “The times they are a changing”! That’s for sure! Please pray with us on all this.

Sunday’s sermon on ‘Suffering’ went well and the service was good. This week I have a baby to dedicate and my sermon is 50% prepared on “Be strong in Grace” (2 Timothy 2:1-13). 


I walked 5,5 km on Tuesday having done a lot of theological reading on Monday. Then yesterday Liz and I had a long counselling session which was quite difficult involving complicated deep rooted problems. As usual it has to be “no names no pack drill” as the world is too small today to be able to mention anything. On the Monday I forgot to mention that we had another extremely difficult counselling session. We live in a very sick world and the wounded lie strewn everywhere! May God keep us always being a ‘hospital’ church, which loves and cares for the sinner, but which rejects the sin. 


We had another fine shower yesterday so the showers are adding up which is unusual and welcome for the month of July. The total for the month adds up to about an inch of rain. This makes no difference to the drying up process in the fields as the rain is not enough for that and the heat soon evaporates small quantities of rain, but nevertheless the rain is warmly welcome. These showers we are getting are the sort of left overs from the strong coastal rains which fall there at this time of year and in Recife there was severe flash flooding with sadly over a dozen people killed.

Sunday’s sermon on ‘Suffering’ went well and the service was good. This week I have a baby to dedicate and my sermon is 50% prepared on “Be strong in Grace” (2 Timothy 2:1-13). 


I walked 5,5 km on Tuesday having done a lot of theological reading on Monday. Then yesterday Liz and I had a long counselling session which was quite difficult involving complicated deep rooted problems. As usual it has to be “no names no pack drill” as the world is too small today to be able to mention anything. On the Monday I forgot to mention that we had another extremely difficult counselling session. We live in a very sick world and the wounded lie strewn everywhere! May God keep us always being a ‘hospital’ church, which loves and cares for the sinner, but which rejects the sin. 


We had another fine shower yesterday so the showers are adding up which is unusual and welcome for the month of July. The total for the month adds up to about an inch of rain. This makes no difference to the drying up process in the fields as the rain is not enough for that and the heat soon evaporates small quantities of rain, but nevertheless the rain is warmly welcome. These showers we are getting are the sort of left overs from the strong coastal rains which fall there at this time of year and in Recife there was severe flash flooding with sadly over a dozen people killed.

If you had been born then where were you 50 years ago today when man landed on the moon? I was with John Wildrianne, Jean-Jaques Zbinden and some fellow students from IBTI, including Claude Bonjour, working on an evangelistic tent campaign in Luxembourg, and I watched the landing in a café there. Miraculously a Portuguese speaking church was planted there from amongst migrants from Portugal. Liz and I visited the church on furlough from Brazil in 1976.


This week I have read the book of Job and prayed and meditated a lot about human suffering and its causes, and we studied Job chapters 1-3 on Thursday in the Bible Study. Tomorrow I will be preaching on “Why is there so much suffering in the world?”


Yesterday I walked at Green Pastures where the Deaf Fellowship’s annual conference started and tonight Liz, myself and others will be back there for the one public service for us non-sign language speakers. The entire conference is organized and run by the deaf led by our deaf pastor Luiz Carlos and tonight’s service will be no different apart from the fact that the service will be translated to Portuguese for the hearers’ benefit. Deaf pastor Luiz Carlos will lead and another deaf speaker will preach entirely in Brazilian sign language (LIBRAS) as well as all the praise, prayer and worship in sign language. Every year I shed tears, as the service for us is very emotional. It is absolutely amazing what God is doing amongst the deaf! They can’t hear my voice but they can hear God’s voice loud and clear. PTL!


5 of our young folk, including granddaughter Louisa, are on a long coach journey to the most southern State of NE Brazil called Bahia, for a week long Inter-Varsity training conference to train students from all round the northeast to evangelize their colleagues in universities. They left Patos yesterday afternoon and joined other Christian students to fill up a coach in João Pessoa to get there. In the night the coach had an accident with a drunk driver hitting the coach but all are well. The coach had to be changed which lost further time and this was made worse in Maceió when the replacement coach had to have repairs. Quite where they are now I don’t know. Please pray that God will mightily bless the event.

If you had been born then where were you 50 years ago today when man landed on the moon? I was with John Wildrianne, Jean-Jaques Zbinden and some fellow students from IBTI, including Claude Bonjour, working on an evangelistic tent campaign in Luxembourg, and I watched the landing in a café there. Miraculously a Portuguese speaking church was planted there from amongst migrants from Portugal. Liz and I visited the church on furlough from Brazil in 1976.


This week I have read the book of Job and prayed and meditated a lot about human suffering and its causes, and we studied Job chapters 1-3 on Thursday in the Bible Study. Tomorrow I will be preaching on “Why is there so much suffering in the world?”


Yesterday I walked at Green Pastures where the Deaf Fellowship’s annual conference started and tonight Liz, myself and others will be back there for the one public service for us non-sign language speakers. The entire conference is organized and run by the deaf led by our deaf pastor Luiz Carlos and tonight’s service will be no different apart from the fact that the service will be translated to Portuguese for the hearers’ benefit. Deaf pastor Luiz Carlos will lead and another deaf speaker will preach entirely in Brazilian sign language (LIBRAS) as well as all the praise, prayer and worship in sign language. Every year I shed tears, as the service for us is very emotional. It is absolutely amazing what God is doing amongst the deaf! They can’t hear my voice but they can hear God’s voice loud and clear. PTL!


5 of our young folk, including granddaughter Louisa, are on a long coach journey to the most southern State of NE Brazil called Bahia, for a week long Inter-Varsity training conference to train students from all round the northeast to evangelize their colleagues in universities. They left Patos yesterday afternoon and joined other Christian students to fill up a coach in João Pessoa to get there. In the night the coach had an accident with a drunk driver hitting the coach but all are well. The coach had to be changed which lost further time and this was made worse in Maceió when the replacement coach had to have repairs. Quite where they are now I don’t know. Please pray that God will mightily bless the event.

A weekend of ministry over the weekend at the coast was full of happenings, near accidents, long tiring journeys, but much blessing too. 


We left on Saturday morning and had some very near accidents arriving in João Pessoa on the coast owing to wreckless drivers changing lanes like they were in Formula one! We made it in one piece and rested up a bit before going to preach at our main church there’s 25th anniversary service. My message was especially appreciated and blessed. PTL! To our great surprise a young mother turned up at church who we had not seen for 20 years and it was a very emotional encounter for both Liz and I. She had been involved in the work here but marriage problems caused her to leave and we lost contact. It was amazing how we were able to minister to her after the service till half an hour before midnight! 


On the Sunday we travelled down the coast to Recife where we ministered at the new church plant there. We arrived early so as to be able to chat to the couple who lead the work there and it was not easy as I was so tired from all the activities the previous day. Added to this we had a stressful journey in the rain, as it is the rainy season in Recife, and had another, even worse, very near accident, but the Lord kept us through it all. Somehow I managed to gather strength to conduct communion and preach and I actually felt stronger as the service progressed. The people were so pleased we had gone there. We managed to get to bed earlier on Sunday night after all this!


Yesterday, Monday, we drove back to Patos, arriving home at 5pm having driven about 1,000 km over the weekend with much ministry in between. God is good!

A weekend of ministry over the weekend at the coast was full of happenings, near accidents, long tiring journeys, but much blessing too. 


We left on Saturday morning and had some very near accidents arriving in João Pessoa on the coast owing to wreckless drivers changing lanes like they were in Formula one! We made it in one piece and rested up a bit before going to preach at our main church there’s 25th anniversary service. My message was especially appreciated and blessed. PTL! To our great surprise a young mother turned up at church who we had not seen for 20 years and it was a very emotional encounter for both Liz and I. She had been involved in the work here but marriage problems caused her to leave and we lost contact. It was amazing how we were able to minister to her after the service till half an hour before midnight! 


On the Sunday we travelled down the coast to Recife where we ministered at the new church plant there. We arrived early so as to be able to chat to the couple who lead the work there and it was not easy as I was so tired from all the activities the previous day. Added to this we had a stressful journey in the rain, as it is the rainy season in Recife, and had another, even worse, very near accident, but the Lord kept us through it all. Somehow I managed to gather strength to conduct communion and preach and I actually felt stronger as the service progressed. The people were so pleased we had gone there. We managed to get to bed earlier on Sunday night after all this!


Yesterday, Monday, we drove back to Patos, arriving home at 5pm having driven about 1,000 km over the weekend with much ministry in between. God is good!

Liz and I leave shortly to preach at the coastal city and capital of Paraíba State – João Pessoa – where it is EAB/ACEV’s 25th anniversary service. It is about a 4 and half hour drive to get there from Patos. We will sleep there tonight.


Tomorrow we will travel down from there to Recife to preach at the EAB/ACEV church plant in the borough of Cordeiro in that big city. I will conduct the communion service for the few there too. We will sleep there and travel back to Patos on Monday (DV). Your prayers are valued.


The Bible study in Patos went well on Thursday and we finished Abraham and Isaac up to Genesis 22. We now go on to Job next week as we are doing the central stories of the Bible in chronological order.

Liz and I leave shortly to preach at the coastal city and capital of Paraíba State – João Pessoa – where it is EAB/ACEV’s 25th anniversary service. It is about a 4 and half hour drive to get there from Patos. We will sleep there tonight.


Tomorrow we will travel down from there to Recife to preach at the EAB/ACEV church plant in the borough of Cordeiro in that big city. I will conduct the communion service for the few there too. We will sleep there and travel back to Patos on Monday (DV). Your prayers are valued.


The Bible study in Patos went well on Thursday and we finished Abraham and Isaac up to Genesis 22. We now go on to Job next week as we are doing the central stories of the Bible in chronological order.

I shared some thoughts around this fact with EAB’s Board of Trustees earlier as EAB passes through difficult times financially. I make an appeal for everyone to please PRAY more because prayer changes things. Prayer makes a difference! For we are in a spiritual battle and the evil one will use many methods to try and hinder God’s work, but we need to unite in prayer, clothed with God’s armour, so as to win the battle and take the Gospel to the lost.


Paul says in Romans 8:28 that “In all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good”. What a privilege to work together with God in prayer. Prayer changes things! Please pray for EAB and for us always!


Prayer is not just an exercise in obedience, but makes a difference, as we intercede on behalf of people or situations. Prayer changes things more than this world dreams of! 

I shared some thoughts around this fact with EAB’s Board of Trustees earlier as EAB passes through difficult times financially. I make an appeal for everyone to please PRAY more because prayer changes things. Prayer makes a difference! For we are in a spiritual battle and the evil one will use many methods to try and hinder God’s work, but we need to unite in prayer, clothed with God’s armour, so as to win the battle and take the Gospel to the lost.


Paul says in Romans 8:28 that “In all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good”. What a privilege to work together with God in prayer. Prayer changes things! Please pray for EAB and for us always!


Prayer is not just an exercise in obedience, but makes a difference, as we intercede on behalf of people or situations. Prayer changes things more than this world dreams of! 

Last night’s mid-week service saw a great crowd gather right out in the sticks at the ex-landless Community of Aparecida where I had the joy of preaching the Gospel. What a difference the Gospel is making in this place for the poorest of the poor. Many have come to Christ and the well project, market garden project and 4-legs project have brought real hope and love to the people here and now with a home in glory reserved for each one in Christ one day. It is so encouraging to see God moving and blessing in this place. Thank you for praying and supporting.


I will be off shortly to conduct the Thursday night Bible study as we move on with Abraham from Genesis chapters 16 to 22 – and then Isaac too – as we work through the key stories of the Bible in chronological order. Next in line will be Job next week if we get through these chapters today.

Last night’s mid-week service saw a great crowd gather right out in the sticks at the ex-landless Community of Aparecida where I had the joy of preaching the Gospel. What a difference the Gospel is making in this place for the poorest of the poor. Many have come to Christ and the well project, market garden project and 4-legs project have brought real hope and love to the people here and now with a home in glory reserved for each one in Christ one day. It is so encouraging to see God moving and blessing in this place. Thank you for praying and supporting.


I will be off shortly to conduct the Thursday night Bible study as we move on with Abraham from Genesis chapters 16 to 22 – and then Isaac too – as we work through the key stories of the Bible in chronological order. Next in line will be Job next week if we get through these chapters today.

I have been so busy that I did not get round to blogging for a few days. However here I am with an update.


The last 2 main Sunday services were especially blessed. Many hands were raised at the end of last night’s service – I would guess around 15 as I lost count – with some making first commitments to Christ and others responding to the sermon on Deuteronomy 30:11-20. This is a very challenging text. If I would be able to preach like Moses did here, at 120 years old, I would be well pleased!


The Bible Study midweek was also really good and we progressed in Genesis to chapter 15. The Men’s ministry was really blessed too midweek at a farmstead and at Juazeirinho a special weekend evangelistic outreach was held and 4 decisions were made for Christ. PTL!


I did an hour long interview on the Catholic radio station on Friday! Times have changed! I also fitted in some good reading time with Roger Forster last week which is being a real blessing to my life. I had some good prayer times too at Green Pastures which is a great place to pray as it’s silence in the middle of God’s creation, with background music from the birds, so that I can talk freely to the Lord and hear his voice. 


On Mondays I try to rest up a bit but will be visiting one family with Liz this afternoon as a new baby has arrived. This Wednesday I will be preaching at the ex-landless settlement in São Mamede County and on Saturday we will have a group going to the town of São Mamede to re-start our church plant in the town. However I will be preaching at João Pessoa on the Saturday and in Recife at the new church plant there on the Sunday. We value your prayers for the long journies involved and for all the ministry of God’s Word and for the Lord’s provision for all the petrol to get to all the places we minister at.

I have been so busy that I did not get round to blogging for a few days. However here I am with an update.


The last 2 main Sunday services were especially blessed. Many hands were raised at the end of last night’s service – I would guess around 15 as I lost count – with some making first commitments to Christ and others responding to the sermon on Deuteronomy 30:11-20. This is a very challenging text. If I would be able to preach like Moses did here, at 120 years old, I would be well pleased!


The Bible Study midweek was also really good and we progressed in Genesis to chapter 15. The Men’s ministry was really blessed too midweek at a farmstead and at Juazeirinho a special weekend evangelistic outreach was held and 4 decisions were made for Christ. PTL!


I did an hour long interview on the Catholic radio station on Friday! Times have changed! I also fitted in some good reading time with Roger Forster last week which is being a real blessing to my life. I had some good prayer times too at Green Pastures which is a great place to pray as it’s silence in the middle of God’s creation, with background music from the birds, so that I can talk freely to the Lord and hear his voice. 


On Mondays I try to rest up a bit but will be visiting one family with Liz this afternoon as a new baby has arrived. This Wednesday I will be preaching at the ex-landless settlement in São Mamede County and on Saturday we will have a group going to the town of São Mamede to re-start our church plant in the town. However I will be preaching at João Pessoa on the Saturday and in Recife at the new church plant there on the Sunday. We value your prayers for the long journies involved and for all the ministry of God’s Word and for the Lord’s provision for all the petrol to get to all the places we minister at.

I have been so busy that I did not get round to blogging for a few days. However here I am with an update.


The last 2 main Sunday services were especially blessed. Many hands were raised at the end of last night’s service – I would guess around 15 as I lost count – with some making first commitments to Christ and others responding to the sermon on Deuteronomy 30:11-20. This is a very challenging text. If I would be able to preach like Moses did here, at 120 years old, I would be well pleased!


The Bible Study midweek was also really good and we progressed in Genesis to chapter 15. The Men’s ministry was really blessed too midweek at a farmstead and at Juazeirinho a special weekend evangelistic outreach was held and 4 decisions were made for Christ. PTL!


I did an hour long interview on the Catholic radio station on Friday! Times have changed! I also fitted in some good reading time with Roger Forster last week which is being a real blessing to my life. I had some good prayer times too at Green Pastures which is a great place to pray as it’s silence in the middle of God’s creation, with background music from the birds, so that I can talk freely to the Lord and hear his voice. 


On Mondays I try to rest up a bit but will be visiting one family with Liz this afternoon as a new baby has arrived. This Wednesday I will be preaching at the ex-landless settlement in São Mamede County and on Saturday we will have a group going to the town of São Mamede to re-start our church plant in the town. However I will be preaching at João Pessoa on the Saturday and in Recife at the new church plant there on the Sunday. We value your prayers for the long journies involved and for all the ministry of God’s Word and for the Lord’s provision for all the petrol to get to all the places we minister at.

I have prepared this Sunday’s sermon on Fellowship in Christ’s light from 1 John 1:1-10 and I’ve sent the order of service to our visuals man so all ready for our main Sunday service.


On Thursday I led the Bible study in Genesis 12 as having covered the creation and the fall we are now into Abraham and Isaac as we follow though a series right through the Bible focusing on its main stories.


Yesterday Liz and I had a further meeting with our deaf pastor Luis Carlos, with the help of interpreter Geralda, preparing for the Deaf Conference at Green Pastures from July 19th-21st. 


I have also be handling a variety of issues this week trying to sort out a problem between two of our church leaders at one of our churches, discussing possible ministry from one of our Bible School students at another church, managing some difficult issues with a complicated person in another church and dealing with some tense family problems that another of our church leaders has. I can’t go into details with these matters as the world is too small today! However please pray on these matters as God knows the details. Things like the above crop up all the time but God helps us in these times.


Tonight we will be supporting the Youth in their church planting endevours in the Jatobá borough of Patos where we have our school. It was interesting how this week the school got out church Firefighter Romildo to go and give a talk to the kids’ parents on how to avoid accidents with the children in the home and on what to do if they happen.


Please pray for us as we prepare for ministry in a couple of week’s time in João Pessoa on the coast and with the church plant in Recife also on the coast. 

I have prepared this Sunday’s sermon on Fellowship in Christ’s light from 1 John 1:1-10 and I’ve sent the order of service to our visuals man so all ready for our main Sunday service.


On Thursday I led the Bible study in Genesis 12 as having covered the creation and the fall we are now into Abraham and Isaac as we follow though a series right through the Bible focusing on its main stories.


Yesterday Liz and I had a further meeting with our deaf pastor Luis Carlos, with the help of interpreter Geralda, preparing for the Deaf Conference at Green Pastures from July 19th-21st. 


I have also be handling a variety of issues this week trying to sort out a problem between two of our church leaders at one of our churches, discussing possible ministry from one of our Bible School students at another church, managing some difficult issues with a complicated person in another church and dealing with some tense family problems that another of our church leaders has. I can’t go into details with these matters as the world is too small today! However please pray on these matters as God knows the details. Things like the above crop up all the time but God helps us in these times.


Tonight we will be supporting the Youth in their church planting endevours in the Jatobá borough of Patos where we have our school. It was interesting how this week the school got out church Firefighter Romildo to go and give a talk to the kids’ parents on how to avoid accidents with the children in the home and on what to do if they happen.


Please pray for us as we prepare for ministry in a couple of week’s time in João Pessoa on the coast and with the church plant in Recife also on the coast. 

I have prepared this Sunday’s sermon on Fellowship in Christ’s light from 1 John 1:1-10 and I’ve sent the order of service to our visuals man so all ready for our main Sunday service.


On Thursday I led the Bible study in Genesis 12 as having covered the creation and the fall we are now into Abraham and Isaac as we follow though a series right through the Bible focusing on its main stories.


Yesterday Liz and I had a further meeting with our deaf pastor Luis Carlos, with the help of interpreter Geralda, preparing for the Deaf Conference at Green Pastures from July 19th-21st. 


I have also be handling a variety of issues this week trying to sort out a problem between two of our church leaders at one of our churches, discussing possible ministry from one of our Bible School students at another church, managing some difficult issues with a complicated person in another church and dealing with some tense family problems that another of our church leaders has. I can’t go into details with these matters as the world is too small today! However please pray on these matters as God knows the details. Things like the above crop up all the time but God helps us in these times.


Tonight we will be supporting the Youth in their church planting endevours in the Jatobá borough of Patos where we have our school. It was interesting how this week the school got out church Firefighter Romildo to go and give a talk to the kids’ parents on how to avoid accidents with the children in the home and on what to do if they happen.


Please pray for us as we prepare for ministry in a couple of week’s time in João Pessoa on the coast and with the church plant in Recife also on the coast. 

We hear on the news of the extremely hot weather being experienced at present in Europe, so here are a few basic suggestions to help:


1. Stay OUT of the sun.
2. Take AT LEAST 3 cold showers a day.
3. Drink lots of cold water from the fridge all day long.
4. Wear light tops, shorts and sandals.

We hear on the news of the extremely hot weather being experienced at present in Europe, so here are a few basic suggestions to help:


1. Stay OUT of the sun.
2. Take AT LEAST 3 cold showers a day.
3. Drink lots of cold water from the fridge all day long.
4. Wear light tops, shorts and sandals.

The EAB/ACEV 16th annual Youth Conference is at this moment in its final service and then everyone will have their final meal together before returning to all their different towns and churches. From all we saw and have heard it is being a great blessing and we await everyone’s return to Patos to get the full picture and report. Liz has just left for Green Pastures to transport a visiting speaker from João Pessoa to catch a coach home. I am working here in my office and will have to heat my own lunch up in the microwave! I value your prayers!


Last night’s service in Patos went very well despite very low numbers. This was due to 3 factors. First of all the Youth Conference has all our youth there of course plus others from the Patos church working in the kitchen at Green Pastures. Secondly because last night was the main annual bonfire night creating lots of smoke in the streets plus street parties which made it difficult or impossible for some to get to church. Thirdly because today is St. John’s day and as everything in Brazil is celebrated on the eve of whatever day it is – plus the fact that St. John’s day is the biggest day (like Christmas Day in the UK) for Brazil’s north-east, this meant that some people felt the cultural pull more than the Christian one! That is, they sort of preferred John to Jesus, which I am perhaps a bit harsh in saying, but that’s what happened with some. 


Nevertheless we had a good blessed service with Sacha alone on vocals and just brother Temistocles on guitar as all the rest of the worship band was away at the Conference. However the worship went really well despite this. My sermon on Genesis 3 went very well too. In fact I am already getting requests for me to preach the sermon again in a month or so’s time when we have everyone there! So I probably will do this.


We value your prayers for all the activities during this week in the work here. We value your financial support too. May God bless you this week!

The EAB/ACEV 16th annual Youth Conference is at this moment in its final service and then everyone will have their final meal together before returning to all their different towns and churches. From all we saw and have heard it is being a great blessing and we await everyone’s return to Patos to get the full picture and report. Liz has just left for Green Pastures to transport a visiting speaker from João Pessoa to catch a coach home. I am working here in my office and will have to heat my own lunch up in the microwave! I value your prayers!


Last night’s service in Patos went very well despite very low numbers. This was due to 3 factors. First of all the Youth Conference has all our youth there of course plus others from the Patos church working in the kitchen at Green Pastures. Secondly because last night was the main annual bonfire night creating lots of smoke in the streets plus street parties which made it difficult or impossible for some to get to church. Thirdly because today is St. John’s day and as everything in Brazil is celebrated on the eve of whatever day it is – plus the fact that St. John’s day is the biggest day (like Christmas Day in the UK) for Brazil’s north-east, this meant that some people felt the cultural pull more than the Christian one! That is, they sort of preferred John to Jesus, which I am perhaps a bit harsh in saying, but that’s what happened with some. 


Nevertheless we had a good blessed service with Sacha alone on vocals and just brother Temistocles on guitar as all the rest of the worship band was away at the Conference. However the worship went really well despite this. My sermon on Genesis 3 went very well too. In fact I am already getting requests for me to preach the sermon again in a month or so’s time when we have everyone there! So I probably will do this.


We value your prayers for all the activities during this week in the work here. We value your financial support too. May God bless you this week!

The 16th annual EAB/ACEV Youth Conference started on Saturday morning at Green Pastures and Liz and I joined them for the afternoon and evening. There must be about 200 present although I don’t have the exact figures yet from the leaders. It is lovely too see such a fine number and body of enthusiastic Christian youth, which speaks well for the present and the future.


The leaders are formed by a team including our granddaughter Louisa and her fellow law student Rayla + journalist Ray. The overall leader is Philip. Also in a support role are Dilma, Bia, Brenda and João Filho + the kitchen/cleaner team + the 2-man basic Green Pastures regulars of Tarcísio & Francisco + Liz of course! The whole team has worked extremely hard for the success of the Conference.

On the Saturday afternoon I was asked to lead a guided tour of the nature reserve and teach on the way that caring for God’s creation is a very basic and essential part of the mission of the church. If you don’t emphasize this fact in your church perhaps you might try reading the Bible! Please start with Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 and read God’s first ever “job description” for mankind which must make it somewhat important! I also taught how walking alone in the woods is a great place for prayer and excellent to combat anxiety and depression.


We then had a meal together and stayed for a lovely service when they ran out of chairs with so many there. It was a blessing. This was followed by an after-service fun time round the pool area, with live regional Christian music, and all sorts of games like fishing from the pool, hoops etc. plus lots of food made from maize which is tradition here in June + toffee apples and candy floss and coffee of course! It was all beautifully well organised and lovely fellowship. Liz and I got home to bed though at 1 am! Ugh!


I will be preaching and leading the service in Patos tonight. I will be preaching on “What a mess the serpent made”! (Genesis 3) I value your prayers. The Patos church will run as normal whilst the Youth Conference continues at Green Pastures. 

Our 1st Campina Grande Church baptized 11 on Sunday. PTL! Both our churches in that city are thriving both spiritually and numerically. Please keep praying and supporting.


Last night one decision for Christ was made on a farmstead near Green Pastures when 11 men from our Men’s fellowship went there to preach the Gospel. 


I photographed and filmed a beautiful Coral snake yesterday at Green Pastures. This ‘Michrurus ibiboboca’ is lethally venomous. The biologists are thrilled with my daylight registers of this species more commonly only seen at night. 

Liz and I visited one of our senior ladies today. She has had 3 husbands who all died. She has 2 sons, one of which is very problematic and has been in jail twice. We listened to her, talked things over and prayed with her.


We then went to visit a man from the Patos church who went down with sudden deafness in one ear some months ago giving him noises in the ear all the time. He has just been operated on for the third time. We prayed with him too and for his elderly Mum and sister who cares for her.


I have spent some time reading today. I read 3 more chapters of God’s Strategy in Human History and one chapter from Christianity: The Evidence. Both books are by Forster & Marsten and are excellent. 


Liz has been helping the youth sort out what they are going to feed the participants at the Youth Conference this weekend at Green Pastures. Liz has also been counselling someone from church who has severe family problems. We always value your prayers for all aspects of the work of God we are involved in because our battle is definitely not just with “flesh and blood” but is much more sinister than that which meets the eye!

Liz and I visited one of our senior ladies today. She has had 3 husbands who all died. She has 2 sons, one of which is very problematic and has been in jail twice. We listened to her, talked things over and prayed with her.


We then went to visit a man from the Patos church who went down with sudden deafness in one ear some months ago giving him noises in the ear all the time. He has just been operated on for the third time. We prayed with him too and for his elderly Mum and sister who cares for her.


I have spent some time reading today. I read 3 more chapters of God’s Strategy in Human History and one chapter from Christianity: The Evidence. Both books are by Forster & Marsten and are excellent. 


Liz has been helping the youth sort out what they are going to feed the participants at the Youth Conference this weekend at Green Pastures. Liz has also been counselling someone from church who has severe family problems. We always value your prayers for all aspects of the work of God we are involved in because our battle is definitely not just with “flesh and blood” but is much more sinister than that which meets the eye!

I have been blessed reading Roger Forster and Paul Marston – God’s Stategy in Human History and found their thoughts on Romans 8:28 very interesting. The question is whether it is ‘things’ or ‘God’ who works?


The famous saying that “the translator can be the traitor” is clearly applicable in this verse which has so many Christians understanding that somehow ‘things’ abstractly or fatalistically control our lives. In fact what is true is that, as the alternative translation in the NIV margin gives it:


“We know that in all things God works together with those who love him”. We as Christians are challenged by this verse to be co-workers with God in the spiritual warfare against evil. It is God who works with us in all things! (Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 6:1) Thus this verse is saying:


“Nevertheless, what any Christian can be sure of is that, whatever disaster may strike and however bad the situation may be, God will be there, wanting to work together with that Christian and with other believers, to bring good into the situation”.

I have been blessed reading Roger Forster and Paul Marston – God’s Stategy in Human History and found their thoughts on Romans 8:28 very interesting. The question is whether it is ‘things’ or ‘God’ who works?


The famous saying that “the translator can be the traitor” is clearly applicable in this verse which has so many Christians understanding that somehow ‘things’ abstractly or fatalistically control our lives. In fact what is true is that, as the alternative translation in the NIV margin gives it:


“We know that in all things God works together with those who love him”. We as Christians are challenged by this verse to be co-workers with God in the spiritual warfare against evil. It is God who works with us in all things! (Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 6:1) Thus this verse is saying:


“Nevertheless, what any Christian can be sure of is that, whatever disaster may strike and however bad the situation may be, God will be there, wanting to work together with that Christian and with other believers, to bring good into the situation”.

Last night’s service in Patos was really good with much blessing on my sermon which focused on Jesus’ questioning of Peter: “Do you love me?” Normally preachers focus on Jesus’s commision to Peter to feed his lambs or sheep but I felt a real leading from God to focus on the question! In fact, I was out walking at Green Pastures last Tuesday when God clearly asked me just that! “Do YOU love me?”


How true it is that one always needs to know God Himself better and love HIM more!

Last night’s service in Patos was really good with much blessing on my sermon which focused on Jesus’ questioning of Peter: “Do you love me?” Normally preachers focus on Jesus’s commision to Peter to feed his lambs or sheep but I felt a real leading from God to focus on the question! In fact, I was out walking at Green Pastures last Tuesday when God clearly asked me just that! “Do YOU love me?”


How true it is that one always needs to know God Himself better and love HIM more!

A lad of 11 called Lazarus wandered into the Care Centre this week as he’d heard about it from his mates. He’s very timid and self conscious of his teeth which are all over the place as a result of a fall earlier in his life which removed one tooth and everything else started moving out of place from then onwards.


Normally we have appointments for the kids to see the dentist as things need to be organized to not have the dentist sitting and waiting etc. However we soon realized Lazarus was a special case and we needed to fit him in somehow.


His father was murdered soon after getting out of jail some years back and his mother dumped him and has run off never again to be seen. Lazarus is brought up by his very poor grandmother who herself is ill with elephantiasis which is caused by parasitic worm infections which cause enormously swollen legs and other body areas. 


Lazarus was attended and will be with us for some time having a series of teeth fillings prior to doing what is possible with a brace to straighten his teeth as far as is now possible. Please pray. 

A lad of 11 called Lazarus wandered into the Care Centre this week as he’d heard about it from his mates. He’s very timid and self conscious of his teeth which are all over the place as a result of a fall earlier in his life which removed one tooth and everything else started moving out of place from then onwards.


Normally we have appointments for the kids to see the dentist as things need to be organized to not have the dentist sitting and waiting etc. However we soon realized Lazarus was a special case and we needed to fit him in somehow.


His father was murdered soon after getting out of jail some years back and his mother dumped him and has run off never again to be seen. Lazarus is brought up by his very poor grandmother who herself is ill with elephantiasis which is caused by parasitic worm infections which cause enormously swollen legs and other body areas. 


Lazarus was attended and will be with us for some time having a series of teeth fillings prior to doing what is possible with a brace to straighten his teeth as far as is now possible. Please pray. 

June is the traditional time for regional music and street country dancing festivals in northeast Brazil built around the catholic saints of St. Anthony (12/13th), St. John (23/24th) and St. Peter (28/29th). I have no problem with these things in their original “barn dancing” form but these have been taken over by vulgar music with immoral words and dances which I detest. For nearly 20 years the united evangelical churches have run a public Christian outreach in this period with good Christian music and this Friday and Saturday was this year’s edition.


However, as thing have developed the Christian outreach has slid into simply being shows. On the one hand they are a good getting together of Christians from the region. A sort of “united” show of force and the music is good Christian stuff. On the other hand it has lost any sense of being evangelistic outreach and is simply a social gathering of the evangelicals with food to sell from make-shift snack bars. It is impossible to worship God eating a hot dog at the same time! 


It goes on till very late and Liz and I stuck out a couple of hours last night, but I will be glad to get into church later to be able to worship and praise God and preach the Gospel.

June is the traditional time for regional music and street country dancing festivals in northeast Brazil built around the catholic saints of St. Anthony (12/13th), St. John (23/24th) and St. Peter (28/29th). I have no problem with these things in their original “barn dancing” form but these have been taken over by vulgar music with immoral words and dances which I detest. For nearly 20 years the united evangelical churches have run a public Christian outreach in this period with good Christian music and this Friday and Saturday was this year’s edition.


However, as thing have developed the Christian outreach has slid into simply being shows. On the one hand they are a good getting together of Christians from the region. A sort of “united” show of force and the music is good Christian stuff. On the other hand it has lost any sense of being evangelistic outreach and is simply a social gathering of the evangelicals with food to sell from make-shift snack bars. It is impossible to worship God eating a hot dog at the same time! 


It goes on till very late and Liz and I stuck out a couple of hours last night, but I will be glad to get into church later to be able to worship and praise God and preach the Gospel.

Friday night is here after a long day working on loads of EAB administrative stuff for the second day this week. 


I prepared my sermon for this Sunday earlier in the week and am looking forward to preach on John 21:15-25. This will bring a long series going through this gospel which has been good. The Bible study went well yesterday when I completed the first chapters of Genesis on creation and the fall. Next we move on to Genesis 12 as we are following the key stories of the Bible in chronological order as in the BibleGateway.com Bible reading plan. We move on to Abraham and Isaac now. Then it will be Job. Our mid-week Bible studies are informal with those present free to chip in or ask questions. Derek Kidner’s commentary on Genesis is excellent – just in case anyone is interested!


We visited a family which needs your prayers this week. A new baby girl has joined her sister. Her Mum has her hands full. It was lovely to see the Men’s Fellowship going out to the rural area of São Mamede County on Tuesday too when they supported our church’s work in that County led by Tarcísio from Green Pastures.


Please pray for the Youth Conference at Green Pastures next weekend which will run from Saturday (22) to Monday (24) which will be a public holiday. We look to the Lord for much blessing. 

Friday night is here after a long day working on loads of EAB administrative stuff for the second day this week. 


I prepared my sermon for this Sunday earlier in the week and am looking forward to preach on John 21:15-25. This will bring a long series going through this gospel which has been good. The Bible study went well yesterday when I completed the first chapters of Genesis on creation and the fall. Next we move on to Genesis 12 as we are following the key stories of the Bible in chronological order as in the BibleGateway.com Bible reading plan. We move on to Abraham and Isaac now. Then it will be Job. Our mid-week Bible studies are informal with those present free to chip in or ask questions. Derek Kidner’s commentary on Genesis is excellent – just in case anyone is interested!


We visited a family which needs your prayers this week. A new baby girl has joined her sister. Her Mum has her hands full. It was lovely to see the Men’s Fellowship going out to the rural area of São Mamede County on Tuesday too when they supported our church’s work in that County led by Tarcísio from Green Pastures.


Please pray for the Youth Conference at Green Pastures next weekend which will run from Saturday (22) to Monday (24) which will be a public holiday. We look to the Lord for much blessing. 

Friday night is here after a long day working on loads of EAB administrative stuff for the second day this week. 


I prepared my sermon for this Sunday earlier in the week and am looking forward to preach on John 21:15-25. This will bring a long series going through this gospel which has been good. The Bible study went well yesterday when I completed the first chapters of Genesis on creation and the fall. Next we move on to Genesis 12 as we are following the key stories of the Bible in chronological order as in the BibleGateway.com Bible reading plan. We move on to Abraham and Isaac now. Then it will be Job. Our mid-week Bible studies are informal with those present free to chip in or ask questions. Derek Kidner’s commentary on Genesis is excellent – just in case anyone is interested!


We visited a family which needs your prayers this week. A new baby girl has joined her sister. Her Mum has her hands full. It was lovely to see the Men’s Fellowship going out to the rural area of São Mamede County on Tuesday too when they supported our church’s work in that County led by Tarcísio from Green Pastures.


Please pray for the Youth Conference at Green Pastures next weekend which will run from Saturday (22) to Monday (24) which will be a public holiday. We look to the Lord for much blessing. 

I have just got home after preaching on this Pentecost Sunday. The service was really blessed. Last Sunday was also really blessed too when I also preached the Word as well. God is good and has really been blessing. 


On the Saturday we preached at Itaporanga and that was a blessing too, but getting there was a headache owing to a priest, in a town you have to go through to get to Itaporanga, blocking all the through-traffic in homage of his Saint Anthony! It is unbelievable that this medieval way of carrying on is still strong in these parts. He was throwing “holy water” on all the vehicles bringing everything to a standstill! We arrived late at the service in Itaporanga but we made it and we preached Christ!


We have been dealing with a complicated leadership problem this week too between 2 of our church leaders a long way from Patos. I can’t give details but ask for your prayers. So there is always so much to do in the work but God is our strength!

I have just got home after preaching on this Pentecost Sunday. The service was really blessed. Last Sunday was also really blessed too when I also preached the Word as well. God is good and has really been blessing. 


On the Saturday we preached at Itaporanga and that was a blessing too, but getting there was a headache owing to a priest, in a town you have to go through to get to Itaporanga, blocking all the through-traffic in homage of his Saint Anthony! It is unbelievable that this medieval way of carrying on is still strong in these parts. He was throwing “holy water” on all the vehicles bringing everything to a standstill! We arrived late at the service in Itaporanga but we made it and we preached Christ!


We have been dealing with a complicated leadership problem this week too between 2 of our church leaders a long way from Patos. I can’t give details but ask for your prayers. So there is always so much to do in the work but God is our strength!