Porto Alegre/Inter-Nation Coming Unglued!

I have written in the past about the 2 professional soccer clubs that are in Porto Alegre; Grêmio and Sports Club Internacional. Today, in Japan, SC Internacional won the FIFA Club World Cup against Barcelona! That means that they are the best team in the world (out of all the club teams-and there are a ton)! Barcelona has been considered the team to beat for quite some time. They have a lot of talent and experience and, not to mention, the best player in the world - Ronaldinho.

Today, however, belonged to Inter-Nation! I have been a fan on Internacional since before we moved to Porto Alegre (for over 5 years). To see this happen is really something special. When the game ended, the city came unglued! People have been shouting and running in the streets! All of the car horns and firecrackers make it seem like we are in a war zone. It is crazy!

Anyway, I just thought that I would give you a little cultural blurb today. I wouldn't expect the celebration to lighten up anytime soon; even with the 100 degree weather we are expecting. The celebration actually started last night (just because we were playing in the game). Every 15 minutes or so throughout the night we heard fireworks and firecrackers going off. It was a lot of fun for Elisa (sense the sarcasm)!

Transitioning in Faith

Our church family is in a time of transition. A little over a year ago our team started coming to the point where we realized that some changes needed to be made in our ministries in order to not only reach out to the "not-yet" Christians of the Porto Alegre area in a more effective way, but to leave a self-sufficient, growing and maturing church family. In September of last year we started researching different ways to minister to the people of this city. After several months of prayer and research we made a unified decision to put all of our emphasis on our small groups. We call our small groups Growth Groups. The reason for this name is that they are designed to grow! They are evangelistic groups. Our decision to put our emphasis on our groups goes a huge step further. We have been in a transition to move our evangelistic Growth Groups to a point where they can become House Churches.

Our small groups, or Growth Groups, have really been a great blessing to our Christian family in Porto Alegre. The Lord has chosen to use these groups to knock down the walls and barriers that exist between the "lost" and His family. In our time of study and prayer we have seen the Lord bringing us back to His church in the 1st century. We really want to take a step forward by looking at what the early Christians did in homes. We believe that the Lord has given us a vision that will allow His word to be taken to all people in Porto Alegre.

This past Sunday (December 3rd) Kevin, Paul and I shared our vision with our church family. With God's grace and our trusting in His guiding we will give more people the opportunity to have a relationship with Christ than we ever thought possible. Below is my part of the 3 part sermon that Kevin, Paul and I gave. I hope that it helps you understand a little bit about where we are coming from.

When Jesus chose his first disciples, he chose several fishermen. He said to them, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men…” In the year 2000, our mission team, had this commandment in mind when we decided to come to Porto Alegre and start a church. We wanted, and still want, to be fishers of men. This is a task that all of us should take seriously – bringing other people to a relationship with Christ. So today, we want to use this analogy of fishing to explain to you where our church has been and where we want to go in the future.

There are two common ways to fish. One way is with a pole, line, hook and bait. The object here would be to put the bait on the hook, hang it in the water and hope that a fish is attracted to the bait, takes a bite and gets stuck on the hook. This way of fishing demonstrates the way that our church has tried to “fish” up to this point. We have tried to attract people to our church and a relationship with Christ. How do you make a church attractive to people? You have a nice, comfortable building, quality worship services, diverse activities for all ages, special events, a relaxed, comfortable environment, etc. During these last three years, we have worked hard to implement these types of programs and activities, trying to attract more and more people. Many events brought large crowds to the building, but few of those people ever came back.

In 2005, after the 2^nd anniversary of the Igreja de Cristo do Sul, we began to take a look at the results of our 1^st two years of existence here in Porto Alegre. We had done various special events like Friend’s Day, Kid’s Day, Women’s retreats, Youth retreats, Men’s retreats, Lets Start Talking, and VBS. Literally thousands of people entered our building through these events, and five people became Christians because of these activities. Today, only one of these people continues to come to this church. However, in this same time, people also became Christians not because of the special events, but because of their relationships with members of this church. In the end of 2005, there were 17 new brothers that became Christians because their friends or family talked to them about Jesus. Today, eleven of these people continue to come to this church. While we were happy because of the growth or progress that was made, we felt that God wanted and continues to want all of us to allow Him to do much more to reach the lost of this city through each one of us. We began to look for reasons for this slow progress. We could say that the people in Rio Grande do Sul are more resistant. They don’t open up their lives easily to new things. One thing that we began to realize is that many people here don’t feel a need for a “church” and so they aren’t even looking for one. The fish, so to speak, aren’t even hungry for the bait that’s in the water. However, we do see that people are hungry for something in their lives. They are searching for answers and we know that those answers are found in Jesus.

So, we began to think. We began to look at the way that we were “fishing”. We began to question “Is this the only way to establish a church here in Porto Alegre?” “Could there be a better way?” We began to study about the reasons that we do the things that we do and research other ways to “fish”. We prayed, and asked God to lead us and give us courage to make changes, if they needed to be made. We also have asked you to read and study the first example of church that we have in the book of Acts, and to pray for God to give you a vision of what this church could be in the future. In the meeting last month, you said that you wanted to see more emphases in the Lord’s Supper, more flexibility in the hours of activities, and more training for Brazilian leadership. Someone said, you have noted that we grow through prayer and that the church needs to have less religion and more spiritual flexibility. It needs to be a church that doesn’t depend on American funds and that it needs to better use its own resources. It needs to utilize more vehicles to promote unity like sports, theatre and music. You said that church can happen in a house or in any location. You said that we need to have a clearer purpose.

We want you to know that we have listened very carefully to you and have used your suggestions, along with our own experiences and study to come up with a new plan for this church. Above all, we want you to know that we feel the leading of the Holy Spirit in our decisions. Making changes takes courage, and we don’t take our responsibility as leaders lightly. We have prayed that God would lead us and he has and we continue to pray that you will have open and receptive hearts to the new vision that we are going to share with you today.

Staying Connected

Jennifer and I have been extremely blessed by our sponsoring congregation, Eastside church of Christ (Colorado Springs, CO). Yesterday they had their annual "Missions Sunday". This is a day when the mission works that they are supporting around the globe are really promoted and given the spotlight. They usually host an auction to raise money for mission efforts on this day. They sell all kinds of different items, most of which come from the countries where they are supporting a missionary family.

For the last 2 years this has been a great way for us to stay connected with Eastside. Last year they called us in the middle of the mission's worship service! One of the elders asked us some questions about our work in Porto Alegre and then he prayed over us - through the phone! It was really encouraging to us.

In yesterday's service they called me and another missionary (medical) that they support in Guatemala. Instead of asking us questions, Eastside gave us an opportunity to help lead the service. I was asked to lead the Lord's Supper over the phone. From what I have heard it went over really well. They had a picture of me and Jennifer and Elisa on the projection screen while I was talking and leading the prayers. I hung up my cell phone feeling a lot of love. I was encouraged by the Lord's ability to keep his family connected. Our bond is stronger than good phone service. We share the same grace and are washed in the same blood. Nothing can break that bond!

I heard that a couple of suggestions were made to do a video conference next year! Each year has gotten better, so I wouldn't be surprised. We'll just have to wait and see!

I want to encourage all of you who read this to try to do something creative like this to lift spirits of the missionaries that you or your church family are supporting. Do something to stay connected. You won't regret it.

Relationships

Do you think much about the relationships that you have? If you were to list all of the relationships/friendships that you have who would you include? Would you think of the guy who bags your groceries or the gas station attendant? Would you think of the mailman or your butcher (we have local butchers in Brazil)? Who would you include in your list?

I have been learning more and more about the importance of relationships in our daily lives. Ever since I went away to college I have been able to make friends fairly easily. In Brazil, however, it has been much more difficult. I have good intentions to befriend everyone I am blessed to have a conversation with. I pray often that the Lord would bless me with opportunities to become friends with more people, in particular Brazilians. Even though I have good intentions that doesn't mean that I am successful at making friends or even see those opportunities when they come my way.

One of my hindrances in Brazil has been the language barrier. Although I speak Portuguese at a much higher level now, it is still difficult to be myself in this foreign language. I like to joke with people and it is difficult to feel comfortable being that way in Portuguese. I feel that some of my Brazilian friends, mainly those in our church family, are starting to get to know me on a deeper level. I am happy about this, I really am. It is difficult, though, not to get frustrated when my friendships with Brazilians outside of our church family are not developing as quickly as I would like or when I am being myself but am not being understood.

Sometimes my difficulties with growing and maintaining friendships here are just plain comical! Over the last 2 and a half years, Jennifer and I have been growing friendships with 3 different couples in our apartment building. We have had dinner together and have had some good times getting to know one another. Okay, here comes the comical part: all three of these families have moved or are making plans to move out of our building just when we started getting close to them (or closer to them). One of the families moved to Italy (Tanja and Stefan). They are a really cool German couple that lived below us. We miss them dearly and pray that they are doing well. We have shot a couple of emails back and forth since their move, but that is about it. The other 2 couples will remain in Porto Alegre. We will be able to continue to maintain a friendship with each of them, but it is hard to know that we will not see them as often as we used to.

I really want to be Jesus to everyone I come in contact with. I want to know people and I want them to know me. I want to be comfortable with myself in Portuguese or any other language that the Lord calls me to learn. I want to know how to maintain the relationships that I do have and not allow anyone who comes into my life to "slip through the cracks". I want to be encouraged that the Lord is giving me opportunities to meet new people each day and I want to see them for what they are!

Please pray for these things along with me. Relationship are essential. I believe that they are absolutely vital to our ministry here on Earth. I pray that we honor and glorify our Father through our relationship and that many will come to know Him all because we had the courage to say, "Hello, my name is..."

More Baptisms!

This last week we added 2 more to our family! Marcio was baptized on Wednesday morning by Paul Morrow at the church building. His mother, Miguelina, and sister, Daniela, were baptized back in July. We are praying that the remainder of this family will make a decision to follow Jesus soon!

Also, Elizabeth, the daughter of one of our members was baptized in Canada this last week. Elizabeth left Brazil for Canada a few months ago to study English and work. She has been well cared for by Christians there. Praise God that she found a home away from home!

Paul and Marcio prepare for "the plunge"!

You can see the joy as Paul welcomes Marcio to the family!

Searching for Vision

Our church family here in Porto Alegre, Brazil is searching for a vision from the Lord. On September 24th we challenged the leaders and hosts of our Growth Groups to fast and pray about the future of this family for 40 days (picking specific days of the week to fast - not fasting for the entire 40 days).

We have been feeling a deep burden to change our focus and reach out to this city in a more powerful, impacting way. The American missionaries working with this church family believe that the Lord has already blessed us with a very specific vision. We are anxious about following this call of the Holy Spirit. We are praying that this 40 days of fasting and praying for a vision will call our members to the same vision we already have. We want to be a family "agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." (Philippians 2:2, NLT)

I know that the Lord will unify us through this 40 days of vision searching. We ask you to be praying for us and our unity in the Holy Spirit. Please pray that the Lord would touch all of us and bring us to the same place in vision and hope for this church family and this city.

I have been convicted to separate myself from my computer and from tv for the next 7 days. I am excited about this fast because I know that the Lord will bless the times that I normally "surf" to grow my relationship with Him! My prayer is that this fast will be a way for me to be more productive in my searching after God and His purposes for me and this family.

I ask for prayers of strength, peace, courage, conviction and protection for our church family. We have already seen many attacks from the evil one because we are recognizing the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit. If you feel a burden upon your hearts to fast and pray with us we welcome you with open and loving arms.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and encouragement. Know that we are praying for you too!

Kid's Day!

October in Porto Alegre is a really great time! The weather starts warming up as we get into Spring. Flowers of purple, red, yellow and blue bloom from various trees throughout the city. It is a lovely time.

One of the things that makes October great in Brazil is Kid's Day. Children are really appreciated in Brazil. So, there is a special holiday designated to honor them. It usually falls on a Thursday in the middle of the month. On this day the children of Brazil don't go to school. They go to parties and are showered with gifts! It is like having their birthdays and Christmas all on one day! Needless to say, they really enjoy it.

It just so happens that the street that our church building is on closes down for a "block party" the Sunday before Kid's Day. This "block party" is called Criança na Avenida (literally translated: children in the street). When I say that the street is closed down I mean that no cars are allowed to drive down it. The street is full of pedestrianswalking from storefront to storefront and from activity to activity. Different groups and business owners have food stands out and games for the children to play. For the last 2 years we have made and sold Entreviero sandwiches (a mixed meat sandwich - very yummy!) and have all kinds of activities for passers-by. We sell the sandwiches to raise money for our Carnival Retreat. This helps us off-set some of the costs. Inside our building we have different games and a karaoke setup with Brazilian and American songs. The karaoke can be really funny sometimes! There is also a parade that goes down the street twice during the day. There is a small marching band and several different groups seeking exposure in the community. I think I saw the Lion's Club! We have built Noah's Ark for the last 3 years. It has been a huge way for us to be seen.

The greatest thing about the "block party" is the exposure. For the last 3 years we have had approximately 2,000 people come into or up to our building on this day. We hope and pray that our good attitudes and loving spirits touched people who came by this last Sunday.

This is me managing the selling of our sandwiches, drinks and cake. My first customer of the day!

Our member, Lauro Lima, is the master chef behind the wonderful Entreviero sandwiches.

This is our Noah's Ark float going down the street in the parade. If you look closely you can see some of our kids dressed up like animals. In this picture we have some ladybugs and a couple of lions.

This was Elisa's first parade - she was a bunny rabbit! You can see a picture of her on our other blog: www.terrysinbrazil.blogspot.com

We set tables and chairs up in front of our building for people to sit and relax and enjoy their food. Here you can see Jennifer eating a sandwich and visiting with some of our friends.

Jennifer and Elisa walked around and visited with people most of the day while I worked the cash register. It was a really fun day!