Latest News and Updates about the Vineyard L.C. '07 Mission trip!
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Update Posted:
August 05, 2007 [
02:08
p.m. ] Update and prayer schedule...
We're tired, yes but overjoyed with the presence of the Lord!
[ Prayer needed: ]
- Pray for Wade (flu/cold),
- My feet (new blisters),
- And for our schedule as we continue on.
I'm getting ready for the Sunday night CONGRESSO -- the Youth Rally.
This is the final service and I'm the speaker tonight.
Tomorrow we have the day off and much
needed rest.
Wednesday we will be helping to build the new offices for the
porto de Moz base. Wednesday we will be delivering
Thirst Relief water filters and then getting
back on the boat and heading up river.
Thursday we will be visiting river villages and then heading back
towards Altamira for our trek home on Friday!!
We prayed for everyone at church around 12:10 (YOUR TIME THIS MORNING).
I wanted to pray during your ministry time but the team
believes since I'm not there, you guys would be
ending a lot sooner!
We pray daily for you all and I may not be able to get on line
any more this week (unsure) ....
So, just in case,
please know
that we
love you.
Pastor Steve
 They are tired, but I know it is all for You. Father, please continue to protect the missionary team each and every day with your angels and Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."  |
Update Posted:
August 01, 2007 [
02:33
p.m. ]
Webmaster's note: Unfortunately Pastor Steve was unable to send any
photos from
Brazil due to slow connections over there. We'll have to wait until they return!
Brazil due to slow connections over there. We'll have to wait until they return!
Dearest family of God...
God is SO answering your prayers and we are doing wonderfully! First, the trip
from Altamira to Port Victoria was a miracle (to me)! I am always sick by the
end of that journey (incredibly hot, majorly dusty, and the drivers are totally
insane on the worst roads you can imagine) BUT, though it still shook up
the team due to driving, we rode in an air conditioned, comfortable
vehicle that shielded us from the dust clouds (which are constant).
We traveled to Espirit de Santo -- the village site for a possible church plant.
The leader (who I will refer to as OWL) is also the local rector for a very
religious order of Catholicism -- their only faith and it does not teach
the people or lead them into a personal relationship with Jesus.
I had met with Owl back in February as well as the local
school teacher. To be honest, we spent the afternoon
sharing our written in Portuguese testimonies and
just visiting in a couple of the homes.
It would be crucial to have these two men on board and sanction a potential new church.
After much prayer and God opening up to me [in] Colossians chapter 1 (literally) -- God
gave me direction. He then opened Carole's heart to evangelize the children in a
separate building and Christa had brought some things from her grandma
and Carole used some of her kids camp materials for
an impromtu Jr Church. We worshiped, then
separated. Eric Kurella shared his testimony
and I spoke THEN GOD TOOK OVER.
I had prayed that Owl and Moses (the teacher) would accept Christ into their hearts.
THEY BOTH DID! But not only them, but the father of every home in the village
and one very brave lady. There were 22 present and 11 prayed the sinner's
prayer asking Jesus' forgiveness and to be the leader of their hearts!
There was a presence that was so strong that I couldn't hold back
the tears. Next door, Jesus was shared by several team
members (Carole, Samantha, Christa, Ron, Jessica,
Jeanette, and Donnell) and 99% of the kids along
with teenagers, moms and onlookers
ALL asked Christ in their hearts.
Out of a village with about 60 people coming
for worship -- 40 or 50 asked Jesus to be
their Lord and Savior. The BOOK OF ACTS
came alive in front of us and i can't wait
to have them tell you the stories!
We left this morning for Porto de Moz and stopped at the TLC Vineyard camp
to drop off a much needed weed whacker and generator. It is now
afternoon and we are about to do street evangelism
in Porto du Moz so I must go.
Thank you for praying for us. I will be teaching on Acts 12 tonight
with just the team and the missionaries.
Keep praying for us and know that your prayers (following Acts 12 are coming alive!)
We love you all and, oh yes, it's incredibly hot here!
God Bless,
Pastor Steve
Update Posted:
August 05, 2007 [
02:08
p.m. ] Update and prayer schedule...
We're tired, yes but overjoyed with the presence of the Lord!
[ Prayer needed: ]
- Pray for Wade (flu/cold),
- My feet (new blisters),
- And for our schedule as we continue on.
I'm getting ready for the Sunday night CONGRESSO -- the Youth Rally.
This is the final service and I'm the speaker tonight.
Tomorrow we have the day off and much
needed rest.
Wednesday we will be helping to build the new offices for the
porto de Moz base. Wednesday we will be delivering
Thirst Relief water filters and then getting
back on the boat and heading up river.
Thursday we will be visiting river villages and then heading back
towards Altamira for our trek home on Friday!!
We prayed for everyone at church around 12:10 (YOUR TIME THIS MORNING).
I wanted to pray during your ministry time but the team
believes since I'm not there, you guys would be
ending a lot sooner!
We pray daily for you all and I may not be able to get on line
any more this week (unsure) ....
So, just in case,
please know
that we
love you.
Pastor Steve
|
They are tired, but I know it is all for You. Father, please continue to protect the missionary team each and every day with your angels and Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." |
Update Posted:
August 01, 2007 [
02:33
p.m. ]
Webmaster's note: Unfortunately Pastor Steve was unable to send any
photos from
Brazil due to slow connections over there. We'll have to wait until they return!
Brazil due to slow connections over there. We'll have to wait until they return!
Dearest family of God...
God is SO answering your prayers and we are doing wonderfully! First, the trip
from Altamira to Port Victoria was a miracle (to me)! I am always sick by the
end of that journey (incredibly hot, majorly dusty, and the drivers are totally
insane on the worst roads you can imagine) BUT, though it still shook up
the team due to driving, we rode in an air conditioned, comfortable
vehicle that shielded us from the dust clouds (which are constant).
We traveled to Espirit de Santo -- the village site for a possible church plant.
The leader (who I will refer to as OWL) is also the local rector for a very
religious order of Catholicism -- their only faith and it does not teach
the people or lead them into a personal relationship with Jesus.
I had met with Owl back in February as well as the local
school teacher. To be honest, we spent the afternoon
sharing our written in Portuguese testimonies and
just visiting in a couple of the homes.
It would be crucial to have these two men on board and sanction a potential new church.
After much prayer and God opening up to me [in] Colossians chapter 1 (literally) -- God
gave me direction. He then opened Carole's heart to evangelize the children in a
separate building and Christa had brought some things from her grandma
and Carole used some of her kids camp materials for
an impromtu Jr Church. We worshiped, then
separated. Eric Kurella shared his testimony
and I spoke THEN GOD TOOK OVER.
I had prayed that Owl and Moses (the teacher) would accept Christ into their hearts.
THEY BOTH DID! But not only them, but the father of every home in the village
and one very brave lady. There were 22 present and 11 prayed the sinner's
prayer asking Jesus' forgiveness and to be the leader of their hearts!
There was a presence that was so strong that I couldn't hold back
the tears. Next door, Jesus was shared by several team
members (Carole, Samantha, Christa, Ron, Jessica,
Jeanette, and Donnell) and 99% of the kids along
with teenagers, moms and onlookers
ALL asked Christ in their hearts.
Out of a village with about 60 people coming
for worship -- 40 or 50 asked Jesus to be
their Lord and Savior. The BOOK OF ACTS
came alive in front of us and i can't wait
to have them tell you the stories!
We left this morning for Porto de Moz and stopped at the TLC Vineyard camp
to drop off a much needed weed whacker and generator. It is now
afternoon and we are about to do street evangelism
in Porto du Moz so I must go.
Thank you for praying for us. I will be teaching on Acts 12 tonight
with just the team and the missionaries.
Keep praying for us and know that your prayers (following Acts 12 are coming alive!)
We love you all and, oh yes, it's incredibly hot here!
God Bless,
Pastor Steve
Update Posted:
July 30, 2007 [
10:25 p.m. ] Bon Dia from Brasil!!!
We made it safe and sound but due some struggles with our excess baggage,
we’ve already had to change part of our schedule! Everyone is excited
and just taking in the local culture. We are in Altamira for the day and will
head up the river today (around 5 PM Monday).
Today we spend time team building with the missionaries, touring the local
Vineyard mission projects, eating at a churrascaria (a meat smorgasborg
Brazilian style that is wonderful). Though far from American like is the “big city”
compared to where we go from here – up river to “Espirit deSanto”
which is a small river village where we will rub shoulders with native
Brazilians and have worship service. This is the location of our
next Vineyard Church plant!
We will not be able to make contact again until we are off the river either
Wednesday or Thursday. Prayer requests! Both services last night
ended with a host of people at the altar. Wade preached at Central
and I preached at Mariauche. There were around 200 to 250 people
at each location. The team stepped up to the bat in ministry.
Christa shared her testimony at Central Vineyard and Carole
shared her testimony at Mariauche and God used them
in beautiful ways! I prayed with one young man
who asked Christ into his heart with such sincerity
that it touch me deeply!
As I write this, there is a great commotion behind me
here in the mission base house as one of the
missionaries capture a tarantula to show
everyone (which he picked up just outside).
I’m sending a few pictures – hopefully
they will make it through.
We love you all and want you to know that God IS ANSWERING YOUR PRAYERS!
Send more as soon as I can!
His mission is Exciting!
Pastor Steve
Webmaster:
July 28, 2007 | "
Hello, good evening everyone. I would like to thank you all for taking
advantage of the Guestbook. I am very sure Pastor Steve and the Brazil Team appreciate your earnest and outspoken prayers. The Lord hears and sees your prayers. Anjali, thanks for the update on the flight status! Our prayers have been heard. Stay tuned, and keep an eye out at this website for very near updates from the Brazil missionary team. Also don't stop your Guestbook posts - the more you pray together as believers the better things will go! God bless you all, the Lord loves you so much!
"Scriptures: (NIV) Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever I do, I must work at it with all my heart. I am working for the Lord, not for men. I know that I will receive an inheritance from the Lord as my reward. It is the Lord Christ I am serving. Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. My Prayer: Thank you Jesus for Pastor Steve, and for the Church. Thank you for all of the members, and all the people who have such a strong heart for Jesus. It is an inspiration and such joy to see a team of eleven dedicate themselves in such a powerful way to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Father God I also pray for Your cleansing, and forgiveness of my sins. Lord touch my heart in such a way, so that You will be pleased. Lord keep your Spirit on our missionary team in Brazil. In Jesus name, amen. Thank you Lord." |
Webmaster
Update Posted:
July 25, 2007 [
10 a.m. ] Dear Friends and Family....
We leave this Friday night and the first post will probably not happen until
late Sunday or Monday. Then we will be in the back rivers of the Amazon
Basin until Wednesday and I will try to post sometime again Wednesday.
We will be reachable via my email address... If you need to get a
message to us until Tuesday and then we're back on the river a bit.
Do pray for us and we'll certainly be praying for you. It's a very small
world via internet but our hearts are even closer because of the Jesus!
Dr. David Jeremiah stated it this way: "Perhaps you are still wondering
what why we are going to Porto de Moz." After all, their problems are
not your problems, right? Wrong, when God says GO, you go -- no
matter where or when or how. He has a plan and WE GET to
participate with Him -- unless we ignore His promptings. You see life is
not about us -- but Him. Our theme is "Jesus, take me to the cross."
We have been called by our Lord to love our neighbors as ourselves
and the Bible defines a neighbor as anyone whose need we can meet!"
I am convinced that we are missing part of God’s plan for our lives as
believers. Just look at our churches! The modern evangelical church
is built around the idea that we have been called to meet the needs
of each other. While it is true that we are to encourage one another
and build one another up, we have forgotten that our spiritual
strength is to be leveraged against the needs of the world to
which we have all been called.
In other words, we are to meet each other’s needs on our way
to meeting the needs of the people who don’t know Christ.
We are to be salt and light in the world ... not in the
church! Over the years of our lifetime, we have
more and more turned our focus inward toward
ourselves instead of outward toward others.
I am excited that we are getting our eyes off
of ourselves and on to those would need to
hear that Jesus loves them.
We HAVE to do that here, yes -- but we must GO, too.
Pray for us! Love you dearly,
Pastor Steve
Update Posted:
July 25, 2007 [
1 a.m. ] Airport Delays!!!
Kelsie (one of our missionaries in Porto de Moz) sent the following note.
It's self explanatory that we NEED to really pray! This mission WILL
happen!
Steve
| Subject: Warden Message -
Airport Delays Dear warden, Please pass the following information to the U.S. citizens you come into contact with. Thank you for your assistance. Jennifer W. Noronha Acting Consul General AIRPORT DELAYS U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Brazil July 24, 2007 This Warden Message is to alert American Citizens living in or traveling to Brazil of continued widespread delays in air travel nationwide. International and domestic flights have been affected. Delays of up to five hours are common and many flights have been cancelled. Other flights have been drastically rerouted. It is not clear when the situation will improve. Americans are advised to be prepared for long waits at Brazilian airports and to be prepared for missed connections. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at HYPERLINK http://travel.state.gov/ HYPERLINK "http://travel.state.gov/" http://travel.state.gov/ where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at HYPERLINK "http://travelregistration "http://travelregistration In case of an emergency, please contact the Consular Section of the Embassy,in Brasilia at Avenida das Nações, Lote 3, telephone 061-3312-7000, after-hours telephone 061-3312-7400. |
Update Posted:
July 24, 2007"We're Praying!!!"
We're praying that any delays will be for God's
will only. A time for evangelism, God will put people around
you who will need to know Jesus as much as anyone else in Brazil, what the enemy means for harm,
God will use, through you (His team), for HIS WILL!!
Tracey Hart
you who will need to know Jesus as much as anyone else in Brazil, what the enemy means for harm,
God will use, through you (His team), for HIS WILL!!
Tracey Hart
Update Posted:
July 20, 2007 Vineyard LC/Porto de Moz Mission/Thirst Relief July 27 to August 12, 2007
Dear friends,
The Lord has opened the door for the Vineyard of Licking County to
partner with some missionaries to help establish a mission base in
Porto de Moz, Para, Brazil. This is the front lines of missions in the
Amazon Basin. Presently there are two established Vineyard Churches in
Porto de Moz and a couple of village churches along the Xingu and Xingu
tributaries. Our desire to help reach back into this remote part of the
world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many, many villages in these
back areas have never heard the good news of God's love but their
hearts are open and receptive!
The Lord has called Pastor Steve and the
Vineyard LC church to love and support the missionaries of PdM and to
work alongside them as much as possible to make disciples and establish
many churches all through this region. God has opened some incredible
doors and we've seen His hand rest upon this, the first mission from
Vineyard LC to the Porto de Moz newly established Mission Base!
This team is comprised of 11 members and will be leaving on Friday Evening,
July 27th and returning on Sunday, August 12th, 2007. They will be
speaking/preaching/teaching/sharing their testimonies/leading a kid's
camp/three youth rallies/a block party and helping to establish two NEW
churches! Obviously, the local missionaries will be doing all the
ground work and follow up. Our desire is to support them in their
endeavors!
Check often between July 30 and August 10 (dates we will
actually be in Brazil) and pray for us always and we'll be praying for
you, too! God bless! In His love and service,
Pastor Steve
[Wallpaper: Sweet House Of Prayer; 210kb]
While our Brazil Team is away,
leave them your prayers, messages, comments, or greetings!
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