Brazil Ministry Update

Oopah! Greetings from Marilha! Apparaently we had some translation/communications "oops" in my understanding of where Marilha is. It is not in the city of São Paolo, after all! It is however in the State of São Paolo :-). The city of Londrina is about 2/3 of the size of Indianapolis, and Marilha is about 2/3 the size of Londrina. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive northeast of Londrina and lies approximately 5 hours west of the city of São Paolo. That said, I am working here specifically with the First Baptist Church of Marilha. My interpreter is an American, David, who has lived here for more than 20 years, so the message for the church last night flowed beautifully, praise God! In our time of sharing before our first message, I shared with him the vision the Lord gave me in 2004 for Brazil to become a leader among the Western nations in sending out missionaries to the rest of the world, and I also shared my burden to be used of God to strengthen the Spiritual and Biblical Foundations of this up and coming generation of adolescents and young adults.

In David's sharing with me, in response to my questions about this church and its involvemnt with misisons, he shared that they were heavily involved with missions in many countries already with additonal plans to expand their missions outreach to Japan and Iraq. I asked him why he thought Pastor Enoc of Londrina would have so strongly recommended that I would come to this church inasmuch as they already have an ongoing misisons program here. David shared that he thought the timing of my coming to share with them is definitely of the Lord for two reasons.

First, the dimension that I am bringing to the congregation and to its pastor and leaders is a different approach, i.e. sending forth members of their own congregation in addition to their support for misisons through their denomination. This really touched his heart, and he quickly saw the increased dimension of power in prayer and support for those who are sent out when it is "our sons and daughters, our fathers and mothers, etc." Second, he said that there is almost an undercurrent of the assumption that this is an "adult" calling. The fact that I have a burden for the teens and young adults is a dimension that he felt was (a) much needed and (b) would receive a very powerful response.

I shared with him concerning my encouragement for young people, wo are so called, to complete their graduate stdudies and gain employment with international companies that would pay for them to go into countries as engineers, doctors, chemist, et. al.. These young professionals will be warmly received by those countries who need their skills, although these same nations would refuse them entry into the country if they attempted to come as self- identified Christian missionaries. These "undercover agents for the gospel," can perform the duties for their emplyers and the host counttries, and, at the same time, can begin the work of evangelism to start new underground church movements. David said that he knew this was the Word of the Lord for these young people at this time.

I truly thank the Lord for this confirmation and for David's encouragement. We are laying all of this on the altar before the Lord for His perfect will to be accomplished through these messages. Thank for your continuing prayer support. Praise God, I am in good health in almost every area, and when I am under His anointing to deliver His Word, "I feel no pain!" ~ Hallelujah!! Deus abencoes, Amados! (God Bless you, Beloved Ones!)

In the Lamb ~ Bob Preston In Brasil
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His works." ~ John 4:34