December 30, 2006

2006 in Review

As the primary purpose of this blog is to inform current and potential ministry partners of our activity on the field, I thought it would be appropriate to post a summary of what God has done here in the past year. This is a modified version of what went out in our last Comings and Goings newsletter.

Also, the newsletter did not have pictures.

Ministry Internships

In January I took on the responsibilities of the Ministry Internship program at the Cariri Baptist Seminary. Roughly sixty students participated, ministering in churches and congregations throughout the region during the 2006 school year.

Puppets on TV

In the middle of the year, an opportunity arose for our churches in the area to produce a TV program. We contributed by producing a puppet segment.

English School

I was able to teach conversation classes at a local English school. This gave me the opportunity to make many contacts with unsaved folks, as well as the chance to help a young man from our church with a scholarship so he could study English.

F.O.C.U.S Team

In June we hosted the Fellowship of Christians United in Service team from our sending church in Florida. They presented the Gospel in many different ways to several different groups here in Brazil, and learned a lot about missions as well.

University

Itacyara passed her entrance exam with flying colors and began her studies in language arts at the local university. She has had a ministry with the other Christians who study there, re-inforcing their faith in the face of the humanistic and secular philosophies proclaimed regularly by the professors.

Preaching

Since January I have had the opportunity to speak at ten different churches and one conference.

AMEN

We had the privilege this year of participating with the Association for Foreign and National Missions (AMEN), a student-let missions group at the seminary.

Seminary Website

I was part of the team that set up a website for the seminary.

Mission Website

I was asked to be on the team that will set up a website for the mission (as yet non-existent)

MAB

The Baptist Auxilary Mission (MAB), a Brazilian mission agency, asked me to serve on their board. Our first meeting was last Thursday.

Mike

Mikey made great progress in his Portuguese this year. He completed his first year of schooling at the Colégio Batista, where he integrated himself very well.

Pregnancy

As most of you probably already know, Itacyara is expecting our second child, due sometime in July. We had our first pre-natal appointment last week, and all appears to be normal.

Sale of the House

This was a major prayer request for us this year, and in October God saw fit to allow the sale of our home in Florida. Recently we received an offering which all but clears all remaining debt.

Maranhão

At the beginning of the year, we felt God’s leading to help support financially the planting of a church in Itacyara’s hometown of São Luís. We would very much like to be there helping in that region, but for now God has placed us here in the Cariri. However, we were able to participate in this small way.

Romaria

We were delighted to be able to participate in the evangelistic outreach during the annual romaria pilgrimage here in Juazeiro do Norte. We resurrected the seminary puppet team, which did a splendid job. Many heard the Gospel through this ministry.

Communication

This year we have sent out numerous Comings and Goings newsletters. We have updated this blog almost daily. Our photo page grown to 2,612 images. We have posted no less than 17 videos. We are doing our best to keep you informed.

Once again, all glory for anything accomplished goes to God. We count it a privilege to be His servants here in Northeastern Brazil.

Next week we will take a look at some of the exciting things ahead for 2007.

Posted by Andrew on December 30, 2006 3:51 PM.