Home Safely...

I am happy to report that our team is home, safe and blessed, basking in the afterglow of being used by the Lord for His work in Campo Grande, Brazil. We got extremely busy as the crusade approached and then during the weekend that there wasn’t time to bring an update. We encourage you to check out the slideshow on our website and watch the week unfold.

On Wednesday Missionary Timothy’s sister Peggy joined us from North Carolina. Then in the evening we invited the neighborhood children over for an “American meal” of french fries, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Miriam and Debbie prepared the meal and Matthew and Alissa played games with the kids, shared with them and we all laughed, sang, and had a good time in the Lord.

On Thursday, we were joined by Pastor Tim and his son Kat from Tennessee. They had previously been near Sau Paulo, Brazil, with a construction team building a church. They parted ways with their team and came to help make the crusade a success. On Thursday evening we crossed the city and joined Pastora Rose once again to minister in one of the churches she has planted in a very poor area of the city. The service was packed with half of those in attendance children. She made a large cake with icing celebrating our attendance, and the kids as well as their families were so excited to share the cake with us. Debbie gave a word of encouragement and called all the children up for prayer. They crowded around Alissa and Matthew looking to the Lord for a touch. After the prayer service we joined a family at their home for another churrasco…a Brazilian Bar-B-Que! It is great to sit and hear what the Lord is doing in the nations as all that were brought together for this one event shared their ministry experiences.

On Friday we started the work for the crusade. We walked through the town with a large banner, handing out invitations and candy to the residents and businesses along the way. We prayed around the school property and greeted the people as they came. Many of them were those that attended the Schools of Evangelism held over the past two weeks. They came with Bibles in hand, ready to minister to those that came to hear the Word of God. Alissa, Matthew and Peggy worked with the children. We repeated this on Saturday evening and Sunday evening. Only God knows the effect this crusade had on the people in the city of Campo Grande. There were souls saved as Pastors and church leaders prayed with those in the crowd at the close of each night. Children responded to the Gospel and even the school’s security guard received Jesus. It was exciting to be part of God’s work!

On Saturday afternoon all the women (Miriam, Alissa, Peggy, Virginia, and Debbie) joined Gethsemane Church and Pastor Nathanael once again as they hosted an afternoon tea for the women in the area. God brought a “now” Word for all the women through Debbie and then we had a good time in fellowship tasting their delicious treats. Then on Sunday morning the doors were opened at the school once again and the local churches came together for teaching in groups: men, women, youth, and children. Miriam ministered to the women, Alissa ministered to the youth, Pastor Tim ministered to the men, and Peggy ministered to the children.

Wow, what a great time in the Lord! There is so much more to tell, but this overview should give everyone an idea of these last two weeks of ministry and help you identify the happenings as you watch the slide show. Most of all, thank you for your prayers and for your financial support so this Crusade could take place. We are humbled that God would choose Kingdom Builders to join Him in His work in Brazil and grateful for His grace and anointing that worked in and through our team as we were obedient to His call. We look forward with great anticipation to our next assignment and will keep you posted.