Another Update From Brazil

Picking up where we left off...

Thursday night was awesome.  Worship leaders and teams from all over the city and some from nearby towns came.  I did a workshop on personal time with the Lord and leading people in worship.  The presence of God surprised me with just how quickly we were in the ‘deep end’ right from the start!  Again, unity is being built among the churches through events like this and it was awesome to see the different leaders from the churches interact and connect.

Last night (Friday Night) Tamsey spoke at the very first women’s event at O Refugio!  Pastor’s wives of four different area churches came along with ladies from all over the city.  They had desserts and coffee before hand, had a time of worship and then she shared and prayed over the ladies.  Pastor Jean and I, along with one of the church leaders (Eduardo) kept the children during the event.  That, in itself, was a miracle!  We had about 7 kids running crazy through the house (their apartment is in the same building as the church so it was much easier to keep them at home than at church).  We had a blast though and it was a real blessing to the ladies. 

From Tamsey: The first women’s event at O Refugio was so special.  I was honored and humbled to be the guest speaker.  The hunger of the women here really blew me away.  From the time worship started to the very end women were seeking more of the Lord.  They have such a passion to know Him and encounter Him.  I got the chance to meet and pray with several ladies, so I know first hand that God is and will continue to move in this city.  I am so grateful to be partnered with Pastor Giuliana in ministering to the women in her city.  She is an amazing woman of God and it was an honor to minster along side her.

Ok... so I’m back. 

Today will be a special day.  We will do an outreach into the poorest neighborhoods of the city.  O Refugio has gone into this neighborhood ever since the beginning of the church back in January making this their sixth time.  They have built a real trust with the people.  So, today we will take milk to give away along with the love of God and prayer for all who will receive it.  Ella will be helping a lot today.  I’m so excited for her to have this experience of sharing God’s love and seeing how blessed we truly are.

Later tonight I will lead worship and speak at a ‘Bola De Neve’ church.  That translates ‘snowball church’.  This is a very fast growing association of churches in Brazil.  The name speaks of growing in the Lord (like a snowball being rolled in the snow) into a mighty force!  It is a church that really appeals to the younger generation (the church pulpits are surf boards and stuff like that).  So, that will be a blast and I’m so honored for the invitation.  The worship music in Bola De Neve churches is primarily done in the reggae style so that, in itself, makes me super excited!! I may try to bring the white boy, reggae funk myself!  Pray for me. :)

Our Time In Brazil So Far...

The First Few Days

We made it to Brazil safely and have settled in after a few days.  We haven’t had super accessible internet so we haven’t been able to update everyone as consistently as we had hoped.  But then again, it’s good to be confronted with just how comfortable our lives are back home.  I enjoy the difference and am more grateful for what I do have.  

Ella has done so amazingly well.  We’re so proud of her.  After a long layover in Rio (and a spontaneous bus adventure into the city!) we made it to Curitiba Monday evening and then made the drive south to Sao Bento Do Sul.  It was so good to meet our friends here.  We have had a wonderful time together.

First, let me explain something to you... it is COLD here.  I’m not talking about it’s a little cool.  I’m talking about cold.  It’s winter here and we are in the south of the country so it gets much colder here than in other parts of Brazil.  It’s hard to prepare your mind for winter weather when it’s been close to 100 degrees each day in Carolina!  It’s also hard to think about being as cold indoors as it is outdoors.  Central air and heat is a major luxury here and one that our friends cannot afford.  We truly are a spoiled lot.

Tuesday we had an amazing meeting with area musicians.  It is a testimony to how Jean (the pastor of O Refugio) has reached out to the musical community and built relationships here.  We had about 30 people come.  These guys are the premier players in the bars and clubs of the city; many of which are music teachers.  We met at the church and for many, it was their first time in an evangelical church.  I had the privilege of teaching the Nashville Number System (something they were absolutely fascinated with) and give some insight into home and studio recording.  It could not have gone better.  Afterwards we hung out and I gave my CD’s away for them to take home.  Let’s pray it opens the atmosphere for them to receive Jesus!  

Wednesday we spent time in the city getting to know the area and then had a get together at Jean and Giuliana’s apartment with some of the musicians that came to the workshop.  It was awesome to continue building relationships with these guys.  One of the guys said that God did something in his heart while he was at the workshop.  This is what we’re believing for.  

Tonight, I will lead a worship workshop for area pastors, leaders and musicians.  We already have heard from so many that are coming that Jean and Giuliana are trying to find a bigger location!  We’re so overwhelmed by the welcome we’ve received here by the city and by the church.  It is our prayer to get the city and the church together more and more!!  

Tomorrow Tamsey will speak for a women’s event.  I’m so excited for her.  Pastor wives are responding from all over the area to say that they are coming.  One of the leaders at  O Refugio is a teacher here in the city.  She has invited all of the teachers at her school to come tomorrow.  Pray for an open heaven, an impartation of the miraculous and a revelation of Jesus.  We’re expecting nothing less!  

I’ll try to update the blog again before the weekend.  We’ve been invited to play and speak at a ‘Bola De Neve’ church here in town Saturday Night after we do an outreach in the city and then we will minister at O Refuge Sunday.  We are so grateful for your prayers and support.  We could not be here but for the grace of God and friends like you.

Blessed.

The Power and Potential of Friendship

I came across this blog I wrote a couple years ago.  As I think about our upcoming trip to Brazil the message here speaks to me all the louder.  My friend who started this ministry, passed away since I wrote this.  The impact of his life stirs me all the more as I consider these thoughts again.

There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother...

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

I'm sitting in northern Georgia in the US and am between sessions at a missions event I'm leading worship for. This particular organization helps construct church buildings for existing churches in Brazil. They have done this for over 30 years and have taken thousands of people on their first missions trips (including me!). Over 300 churches built, countless lives impacted by the Love of Jesus and more stories than you can imagine. All of it stemming from one American guy and his Brazilian friend.

These two men became friends on accident. They should have never met. They had nothing in common. One, a country preacher in the US and the other a businessman in the center of the Amazon in Brazil. However, they did become friends. And they found they had two things in common... they both loved Jesus and the both wanted to do something for the Brazilian people.

And so, over 30 years later, I am here at an event where these two friends (now in their 60's) are talking about all that God has done through them and all that they have planned for the years ahead. And it makes me think of my friends.

I shouldn't know my friends in Austria and Bosnia and Brazil and Belgium and Uganda, etc... There was no earthly reason for us to meet. But as I sit here, inspired by the ministry and accomplishments of two friends who just did what they could to build the Kingdom of God I think about my friends and what stories we will tell 30 years from now. I hope to make a difference. I want to impact this world for Jesus. And, I'd love to get to do it with my friends.

So, the next time you share a cup of coffee with a friend, or send an email to a friend across the seas think of what God may use that friendship to accomplish. We are not our own and we are not here for our own purposes. He desires to use us to see His Kingdom come and HIs will to be done on the earth!

Inspired,
Nathan