Bair – April 2010
We just want to send a quick prayer request update for you all. We will be sending a more detailed video update soon, we promise!
As many of you know, we invited a friend of ours, Julia Seagrist, to come down here for a year with the ABWE AMP program to help care for our kids while we are in language school. Last week, after some severe abdomen pain and eventually yellow eyes, we learned that she passed a gall bladder stone. Not only that, but it was discovered that she still has 30 or more stones in her gall bladder! After many exams and blood tests, it has been determined that removing the gall bladder is the best action at this point. So, Julia is scheduled for gall bladder surgery on Tuesday morning, April 20, at 10:30 am.
We are very comfortable and confident with the doctor that God has provided to do the surgery. He was the on-call doctor at the ER we went to last Friday night and it “just so happens” that he specializes in gall bladders!! God is so good, isn’t he?
We are asking for you to pray for several things related to all of this:
1. Julia has one more blood test that needs to show improvement in some liver enzymes on Saturday. Please pray the results are good or we will have to move the surgery.
2. Teresa needs some extra energy because the same day Julia has surgery, the boys MK teacher Carol is having surgery. So, Teresa will be homeschooling them for a few days in the midst of spending time at the hospital, caring for Julia, and doing language school. (Please pray for Carol too! She’s having surgery on her esophagus valve.)
3. Most importantly, pray for a smooth surgery Tuesday morning and a smooth recovery following.
Thanks so much for all your prayers. We will let you know how everything goes!
Serving God in Brasil,
Lucas and Teresa Bair
UPDATE: Julia’s surgery went well and she is back home with the Bair’s recovering.
Bair – February 2010
A precious song about the Precious Blood
A message from a friend recently brought to my mind a song that is very precious to me. This is the song that the Lord used to speak to me about my unwillingness to follow His leading to Brazil. I was being stubborn and selfish. He reminded me of what He had done for me. Unfortunately, I’m still stubborn and selfish. So, He has reminded me again.
Before the cross I kneel and see
The measure of my sin
How You became a curse for me
Though You were innocent
The magnitude of Your great love
Was shown in full degree
When righteous blood, the crimson spill
Rained down from Calvary
Oh, the precious blood
That flowed from Mercy’s side
Washed away my sin
When Christ my Savior died
Oh, the precious blood
Of Christ the crucified
It speaks for me before Your throne
Where I stand justified
And who am I that I should know
This treasure of such worth
My Savior’s pure atoning blood
Shed for the wrath I’d earned
For sin has stained my every deed
My every word and thought
What wondrous love that makes me one
Your priceless blood has bought
A crown of thorns, pierced hands and feet
A body bruised, and Mercy’s plea
Oh, the precious blood
That flowed from Mercy’s side
Washed away my sin
When Christ my Savior died
Oh, the precious blood
Of Christ the crucified
It speaks for me before Your throne
Where I stand justified.
Praise the Lord for His precious blood.
Voelker – February 2010
Teachers 2010-2011
God has provided teachers willing to serve the Lord here next school year. Please pray with us for Sarah Haynie and Erin Wahlstrom who are in the process of raising support to join us for 2010-2011. Meredith Peters came to us last August and has decided to return for another year. Pray for her supporters to be willing to continue to give toward her ministry here. Pray too for Tammy McComb, Laurie Flietstra and Craig and Megan Beatty, and Minne and Michelle Bouma who are currently in North America raising the necessary funds to return as career missionary teachers. God is able to supply for all of these individuals. Pray too for those who are already here as career missionary teachers; Cal, Nick Rachevsky and Phil Schlener. Ask God to con-tinue to use our staff and our school to touch lives for eternity.
Charity Voelker
Our youngest daughter will graduate from Moody Bible Institute in May. God is leading her into missions. Charity plans to do a one year missionary internship with Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. She will be working with the mobilization department, traveling to various college campuses to encourage Bible college students to give their lives to serving God in missions. We are excited about God’s leading in Charity’s life and the way that Charity can use her gifts and passions to serve the Lord in this way. Please join us in praying for her as she raises the financial support she needs to serve in this capacity. Individuals or churches can participate by pledging monthly support for a year or by giving one time gifts. If you are interested, please contact us for more information or to know how to get in touch with Charity.
Prayer
- Benjina’s need for salvation.
- Four unsaved families represented in our school.
- Teachers needing support.
- Church – Pray for Pastor Beto Marques and his family as they serve the Lord by leading two congregations.
- Tobias and Angela Pray for them to find jobs here in Portugal
- Charity – support needs
- Car Fund: Pray for the remaining $2,500 needed in our car fund.
Car Fund
We now have $1,125 in our car fund. If you would like to give toward this project, please send your gift to our ABWE account and mark it “022 Car fund.”
Delores Woods – February 2010
Dear Ones in our Wonderful MESSIAH,
Praise GOD for His guidance and leading this last week.
I have enjoyed the Ladies Bible studies. Dyhana is enjoying helping Ana as she begins to walk with the LORD. We had a great time in Bible study Friday afternoon.
Thursday I was making some purchases in a store. I was the only customer and there were 2 Ladies to wait on people. Ilma waited on me and I noticed she had been reading a book about a television “evangelist” The other Lady had lent it to her as she likes to read. I was able to share the gospel with her and I am rejoicing as she accepted the LORD as her personal SAVIOR. She was happy to receive a Bible and Daily Bread devotional book. Pray for her. I seeking to find a church near where she lives for her to attend.
Bet Sar Shalom is getting a new gate. The old wooden one is down and just propped up until all the torn down parts are removed. The part of the side walk that had to be taken out when the new sidewalk was put in is going out with the gate “junk” A big garbage container from the city is in the yard and the young men of Bet Sar Shalom put the junk in the container. Since one container is not enough there is going to be a delay taking this one away and getting another brought and filled. The city does this in the middle of the night and “never” on week-ends. The first one was delivered at 3 a.m. What “fun” it has been. A night watchman had to come and will be here 2 more nights. We hope the new gate is in by Tuesday or Wednesday. One of the young men is also staying during the day to keep an eye on things. Please pray for the gate to be placed and ready soon. Please pray for the rest of the money to come in to finish paying for it.
Several had talked to the night watchman this week-end and mentioned that he attends a “saved by works” church. After the service and snack time I had the privilege of sharing GOD’s gift of salvation with Jeromarcio. He was thrilled to receive GOD’s gift of salvation and know he is saved for eternity. Please pray for him, his wife Nita, 2 children and soon to be born daughter.
With all this going on the Young People under the direction of Renilde have been practicing a liitle play for the Purim program next Saturday. Please pray for the luncheon and program Saturday Feb. 27th starting a 1 o’clock. Pray that the story of Esther and GOD’s deliverance for the Jewish people will speak to hearts as they hear the message of GOD’s even greater deliverance in salvation, forgiveness of sin.
I am looking forward to Nickell Family members arriving Friday the 26th. They are coming in order to attend the All Brazil Baptist Mid-Mission Family conference celebrating 75 years in Brazil. It is to take place in a town about 2 hours from Sao Paulo, March 1-6. All the Nickells and I leave on Monday afternoon for conference. It will be an exciting week of hearing GOD”s Word and seeing many friends.
Thank you,
Serving HIm with You,
Delores Woods
Delores Woods – February 2010
Dear Ones in Our Wonderful MESSIAH,
Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving.
Greetings from a very warm Sao Paulo. It is 85 in the room where I am.
Tomorrow is “Carnival” day. The holiday actually began Friday. Businesses closed and will only reopen after 12 noon on Wednesday. While there is much dancing, carousing in some streets, clubes and the “Sambodromo” (built for the samba schools to dance and parade) it is pretty quiet in our area. There is not even the noise of any building going on at the mall addition site, directly across from Bet Sar Shalom.. Many of this mega city have traveled to the beaches and mountain resorts.
Tomorrow Bet Sar Shalom People will be coming for a work day, lunch, game time and ending with the regular Tuesday evening prayer service.
It is very exciting to see those who have come to CHRIST growing. It is even more exciting to see them sharing the Gospel with others. Dyhana is the single Mother of the twins Brida and Hana who turn 4 in March. She met Ana and as their frindship developed began sharing the Gospel and gave her a Bible. She brought her to Bet Sar Shalom. Ana really liked Bet Sar Shalom and how people treated her. Ana also received a year long Daily Bread and was reading both her Bible and the devotional. She returned last week-end. What a privilege I had of sharing with her after the service. She accepted JESUS as her Savior. Can you imagine how excited Dyhana is? Ana wll be joining Dyhana in our discipleship studies.
Please pray for Ana who is talking to her Mother and has invited her to the services.
Ana is to be going to the USA in a few Months to study. Please pray as I seek to find a Church for her to attend there. I do not have the exact address but understand it is in the San Francisco area.
Pray also for Dyhana as she grows in the LORD. Pray for the salvation of Dyhana’s Mom Angela. Her brother Fulvio is one of the young men helping in Dan’s absence. Her other brother Rodger is away from the LORD. All live at home with Angela.
Thank You,
Serving HIM with You,
Delores Woods
Boyd – February 2010
First impressions from Sant Marta
I wanted to share a few first impressions from Santa Marta, although I don’t have any photos on my computer in this moment to upload (The photo of El Rodadero above, near where we’re staying, is courtesy of somnoliento).
First, the people have been wonderful so far. The costeño (person from the coast) in general is known for being friendly and fun-loving. That has been our experience. We’ve had more conversations with strangers than you can imagine. The funniest was talking to a guy who must have had a few mental problems because he authoritatively talked about all of the Colombia soccer teams as if I were his best friend and knew all of them as well. The truth is I hardly know the names of all of the teams, let alone the best players in the history of the teams from Cali, Tolima, Bucaramanga, etc. He was with two other guys who were talking about soccer, and I counted about eight front teeth among the three.
Second, I have noticed very few Christian churches, at least on main streets. I wonder if this is because I haven’t traveled around much or if it’s because they are located on neighborhood streets. When I’ve told people that we want to start a new Christian church they tend to say something like, “Oh, okay,” and give me a look of pity or bewilderment perhaps. “Why would you want to start another one here when we already have a few?” seems to be their thought process.
Third, living in Costa Rica a year was great preparation for the coast. The heat is similar, although it’s hotter here than in San Jose. The culture is also somewhat similar, although I would say that costeños here are easier to get to know than the Costa Ricans were. Holly and the kids are doing very well with all of the changes, for which I thank God.
Matthews – February 2010
A great season in ministry
For those in the frozen Tundra (The Northern US), to give you a warmer perspective on things. We are currently in the middle of the hot season here in Australia. It has been unseasonably humid, but February is generally hot every year. (30+ Celsius everyday) Also, this is the time of year when things start to ramp up in ministry opportunities. We would appreciate your prayers on many items that are on our plate at this time. It is exciting to be part of all that is going on in Sydney.
1. Start of City Bible Forum (We are on Facebook City Bible Forum, Sydney, become a fan) and great series. (Did Jesus Say That? , Journey with Jesus -A perspective from John, Ecclesiastes, Counterfeit gods,etc.) Please pray we can find a new and more accessible venue for Wednesday and Thursday. Please pray for a fruitful year of ministry. Pray for our expansion into Melbourne & Adelaide and continued growth in Perth & Brisbane.
2. Sydney Prayer Breakfast – I was asked to be on the board for a first in Sydney. I know there are many prayer breakfasts around the world, but this one is a first for Sydney. Andrew Scippione (Commissioner of the NSW police) will be our speaker. Good Christian man and a big event. More details and website to come.
3. Spiritual Leadership course- Glorious Hope Baptist will be a running a course for the next couple of months for our leaders. Based on the book by J. Oswald Saunders. I will be assisting with the running of the course. Please pray for the leaders for our church to rise up to the opportunities of our growing church.
4. Life of Jesus course and Bible reading groups – All of our new courses are beginning in the city. Pray for many non-Christians to come to these courses and for a fruitful ministry.
5. Urban Fight Club (Men’s ministry) – UFC gets started next week with a good Aussie BBQ. Looking ahead to the year and how we can serve the Lord.
6. Church plants- We could use your prayers on these opportunities. I will send details soon, but I will be in discussions with some key leaders in the city for two fellowship plants in the city, Sydney. We are asking for God’s wisdom in these exciting new ventures.
7. School- We are still homeschooling for this year, but we are considering putting our kids into a great school next year. Challenges are distance from where we live. Thanks for your prayers on this decision.Also, it is a new curriculum for the kids this year (School starts in January in Australia and it is year round). Pray for their adjustment to a web based learning system.
8. Caroline’s health – Caroline started Kindy this year and is excited about all things. She will be going into the pediatric cardiologist for a second opinion on some tissue growing over one end of her aortic valve that shouldn’t be there and if it continues to grow it could cause damage due to disrupting the flow of blood. Thanks for your prayers for Caroline.
9. Footy season begins- Josh will be playing AFL (Real football-check out the promotion on my Facebook page) again this year. pray for his adjustment and protection for the season. Also, we would be a testimony to the players and families who attend each week.
10. Hope and Becca turn 16- I think the prayers for the parents go without saying on this one. Two words – Drivers Licenses. Two more words – White hair. Actually, pray for the girls. They are amazing young ladies and have servants hearts for the Lord. Pray for them during these challenging teen years. Pray they would continue to be a witness for you and testimony of all He is doing in their lives.
Well…that was supposed to be a quick update. My apologies for the length. Please keep in touch with us through signing up for our monthly updates on our website, just enter you e-mail in the RSS feed box. Also, we are on Facebook. Sorry, Skype is not the best option to contact us.
I will finish with a story: a good friend was all excited about the year of talks in Sydney. He had brought a non-Christian friend to the talks. His friend had commented, “You all really focus on Jesus, don’t you?”My friend stated, “Now he is getting it!”
All praise and honour goes to Jesus. That is what we are on about here in Australia. There is much to be done and we look forward to what he has for us in the future. We appreciate your prayers and support.
The adventure continues…
The Matthews Family
Bair – January 2010
Watch a video update from Lucas & Teresa Bair.
Matthews – January 2010
A tale of two nights…
We were given a gift to come and housesit at a mate’s house for a summer holiday. We did get some time to relax and rest after a busy year. During that time we had friends stop by for a bbq, a swim and/or coffee throughout the stay. In a matter of two evenings we had the privilege of being part of conversations that challenged and encouraged us. The conversations also were a small glimpse into the spiritual state of Sydney.
Cherrypickin’
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
We have been trying to get together with a couple in our church for months, the wife is a Christian and the husband is not. We had a bbq and had a few friends over to enjoy the beautiful day in Sydney. Conversation was on Christmas, New Year’s and the summer months. Inevitably the conversation moved to the Bible. The topic started with evolution and creation. One of the blokes there turned to our non-Christian friend and asked, “What are your thoughts on this, mate.” Everyone was expecting disagreement or even antagonism, but we all were surprised. My friend stated, “I believe that God created the world.” After a surprised pause, the guys started to ask clarifying questions and even sat down for a definition of what his views were on God. It started out encouraging and then spiraled into a fascinating, twisted, postmodern answer that had us going on for three hours on theological things. My friend went on to explain that he believed in God, respected Jesus, saw the world as God’s working hand through the tool of evolution, there is an ever after that exists for all and there is no hell, and that mankind eventually moves to a point of awareness, eventually we become gods to share in God’s existence. From that clear definition, the group had a go sharing what the Bible and what God’s word states about these points. Then he did it, he started quoting scripture. My non-Bible believing friend started coming up against their arguments with Bible passages. The passages were out of context and misapplied, but beautifully placed and it had its effect. Confusion and backpedaling by the well intentioned Christians, it quieted some of his detractors. Yet, just as Jesus did in the desert, when his word is clarified and utilised properly it is the light for the conversation.
Respectfully, it was asked of him, “Within all you have to say, what do you do with Jesus’ statement No one comes to the Father except through me.” He stated, I do not believe that portion. When asked what does he measure all of these things on, what was the standard, the measuring stick? Without any hesitation he said, “Myself and my personal study.” Things continued on for a while longer. Eventually the conversation was interrupted by darkness and exhaustion. All began to leave; my postmodern friend shook my hand and stated he had a great evening. He even text me the next day to thank us for having his family along.
Within his own definition, my friend represents a group of people, Cherry pickers. A definition that comes from the machine used to lift you to high places, usually to move where a person desires to be and to let them pick the things they desire. Cherry picking can used when considering the things of God, too. Apparatuses that lift them to heights to choose the portions of theology they like and leave the other portions to the side. If it does not fit into his basket, they throw it away.
It is fascinating that people chose to do this with God, but we would never do this with other portions of our lives. Driving: Only driving a car with the parts of the engine they prefer. Career: only do the parts of their jobs that they liked. Health: only utilize the advice of a doctor that we like for the sake of our physical existence.
If you choose to cherry pick in these portions of life, you either end up broken down on the side of the road, without a job or simply dead.
Why do people choose to do this with God? In this postmodern, western landscape, this is the mindset we see all the time. Pray that we would be able to continue with our friend and others that we come in contact with to clarify the Bible. Also, explaining that the choosing of these eternal things are not based on our own choosing, but God’s. We need to be thankful for this gift of God setting the standard.
The freed captive
The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
The next night one of our Urban Fight Club members brought a mate over for coffee. His friend had just been baptised and has only been a Christian for eleven months. He was excited about everything that had to do with God. The answers could not come fast enough to all of the questions. He had come from a life of hard living and the Lord had brought him to this point in his life. He loved the people of his church (not one our family works with, but we do know the church) and he looked forward to sharing all about his new life in Christ. The enthusiasm and desire of new Christians can be described as “just not able to get enough of God.” Then the conversation shifted to frustration, he was being mentored and was in the Bible consistently. Why was he frustrated? He loved his growth in Christ, but in the process he was being told that there was only one translation of the Bible that he should be reading. He loved this new life, but why the limitation on God’s Word? He had become a freed captive, moving into freedom in Christ, but a potential captive of legalism.
We went on to describe a recent encounter on this very subject. We had the privilege to hear a Christian archeologist speak a few years back and someone in the audience asked, “Which translation of the Bible do you read?” He smiled with a knowing look of a potential trap and stated, “The original Greek and Hebrew.” But, he did not leave the crowd hanging on that answer. He went on to say, “Read the Bible you are reading, as long as you are reading the Bible. You need to be in the God’s Word. That is the important part.”
This is the same advice we gave our new young Christian. He has just been set free in a new life in Christ. Why would we want to make him a captive again? Just getting someone to read the Bible is a huge barrier to overcome. We would hope to not put up unnecessary barriers to keep someone from growing in their love for God and His Word.
Tale of two friends…
Please be praying for our friends, one to be set free from the bondage of sin and the other to grow in his new freedom found in his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Also, for our work in the varying spiritual landscape of Sydney.
Thanks for your prayers in the journey…
Russ & Cathy Matthews
Delores Woods – December 2009
Dear Ones in our Wonderful MESSIAH,
Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving.
Praise GOD for HIS blessings here at Bet Sar Shalom. Sr. Carlos who was saved a few months ago brought a friend. His friend Fabio accepted CHRIST. Pray for Fabioand for Fulvio who will be discipling him. Last week Sr. Carlos brought his wife Cecilia. Please pray for her salvation.
Praise GOD for the special prayer meeting times we have each Tuesday evening here at Bet Sar Shalom.
Yesterday Mary and Esther came for lunch and Bible study. Mary lives out of town and is not able to come in to town very often but usually calls so that we can have Bible study. This time it worked out for Esther to come also. When Esther arrived she mentioned that her friend Sofia had just called and was going to be walking in the Mall (a half a block away) and wanted her to come. She made arrangements to go after Bible study. Sofia called again toward the end of Bible study wondering why Esther was taking so long. Mary who had been listening started to ask questions about Sofia as both have Yugoslavian background. Esther called Sofia back so that she and Mary could talk. Mary and Sofia are childhood friends whose parents were also good friends. They had not seen each other in years.
Mary could not go to the Mall as she had other things to do but we shall all be getting together one day soon. Esther was a neighbor of Sofias. When she first learned of Esther, Bet Sar Shalom, the MASHIACH and me she was very against Esther’s even coming here. I have seen Sofia several times and Esther and I have been praying for her salvation.
What fantastic things GOD does. Now Sofia has 2 Jewish friends who have accepted their MESSIAH. I went with Esther and walked with Sofia and her non Jewish friend Mina. Learning that I teach the Bible, Mina wanted to know what a Jewish person was doing teaching the Bible.
Praise God for opportunities to share HIS Word. Please pray for Mary and Esther as they grow in the LORD. Pray for Sofia and Mina’s salvation and for further contacts with them.
This afternoon I shall be visiting Eva who is a holocaust survivor.
Please pray for Dan and Val’s need for monthly support and that they may be able to return soon.
Praise GOD for each of you. May HE richly bless you as you serve HIM in 2010.
Thank you.
Serving HIM with you,
Delores Woods
