Study at the Chácara

As most of you know I led a 10-week study on "Every Man's Battle" last year with several men in our church family. We had a great time getting to know one another on a deeper level as we spoke and learned about sexual purity.

Now I have taken this study out to the Chácara. While we were in the states Eastside church of Christ gave me the money to purchase 20 books to have this study with the guys out there. One of our members/employees, Paulo Renato, is going to help me with this study.

We began today with an introduction to the study and book as well as an introduction to our Accountability Groups. We plan on continuing the study for 10 weeks until the last Thursday of March. The guys at the Chácara are overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. There is a great chance that they could be corrupted by an addiction to sexual desire as well. Satan knows how to use sex against God's children - especially here in Brazil.

Starting this weekend the whole country will be in the midst of celebrating Carnaval. This is a time when most Brazilians do whatever they desire (sex, drugs and alcohol to name a few) and then move on with their lives next week. They are actually expected to step away from their lives and be "free" to do what they please until Tuesday night (the day of Carnaval). It is sad and very difficult to deal with for most of our Christian brothers and sisters.

I ask you to join the Christians in Brazil in praying for God to reign over this weekend. Please also pray for the men of the Chácara as they learn how to treat women (God's daughters) with the respect they deserve.

We will be conducting this study every Thursday. If you would like to pray for the men by name I will list them below. I know that it would mean a lot to them to know that they are prayed for by their brothers and sisters throughout the world.

Men of the Chácara:

Isaías (the director)
Gabriel
Airton
Antony
Claudimier
Adão Claudio
Eduardo
Rodrigo
Marcelo
Valter
Braulinho
Anderson
Diego
Jefferson
Ronaldo
Alexandre
Paulo Roberto
Marcos
Leandro
Paulo Rogierio
Josimar
Fabio
Christian
Gutimberg
Tales (at 14 years old he is the youngest to ever go to the Chácara. He and his girlfriend are expecting a baby)
Paulo Renato (my co-teacher who will take the study over in a few weeks)