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An Old Prayer Request

Byron and I arrived in Brazil in 1994.  I was 29 years old and full of thoughts of evangelizing the world.  You know how it is when you are young?  Big dreams.  But truly mine were fairly realistic.

 Whenever we started working in a new place, I would look for potential young people to encourage to go into missions.  I figured in this way my own effectiveness would be multiplied.  I would encourage choice young men and women to consider what God's will might be for their lives with lots of emphasis on missions.  I would pray specifically for those on my list of candidates.  Byron did the same!

 Over the years we had yet to see our dreams realized, completely.  I have seen many young people grow into fine adults who are active in their local churches which gives me great joy.  But I had always hoped and prayed for some girl or guy to want to be a missionary or pastor.  That was always my end prayer.  

 This December Byron and I had the privilege to participate in a missions trip with Wordless Ministries under the leadership of Joel Johnson.  Over the course of a week, Joel with a small group from Fortaleza along with the pastor here in Sobradinho and some of the local church young people spent time in evangelism and discipleship in town and in a small interior town a few hours down dirt roads.

Our roles were minimal, mostly making sure the group took the right dirt roads, but nonetheless I think our impact was important.  We had time to converse and chat with young people into the wee hours of most nights about life, God's will and missions.
Viagem missionário com Wordless Ministries, December 2019

 One of the young people named Felipe Kairon spoke a lot with Byron on the subject of missions.  After the trip he continued to ask questions about how to best prepare to serve God as a young person.  After a week of prayer and lots of discussion Felipe has started the paperwork to apply to the Peniel Bible Institute of the Ethnos 360/New Tribes Mission.  They offer a one-year Bible program designed as a primer for their full missionary course or as a stand alone program to help individuals prepare to work in the leadership of their own local church.
It's a joy to see Felipe arrive at this decision.  We have known him since he was nine years old and accepted Christ at one of our first children's retreats on the old island camp - Treasure Island back in 2011.




After that retreat, Felipe and his oldest sister who had also gone to camp and accepted Christ, both began to go to church.  Little by little they brought their whole immediate family along as well as many friends and cousins.  Many people in the Maranatha Baptist Church have been saved as a result of this brother and sister.

I remember well the day that Felipe was baptized in the Sobradinho Lake.  Next in line for baptism in the photo is one of his younger sisters.  There are five sisters, by the way.  Felipe is a quiet fellow in many ways, but faithful.  He takes care of all the music at the local church here and also helps with children's activities.

 


After so many years of praying for the Lord to send one of our own, it is incredible to see Felipe on the path to Bible college and missions.  Now my prayer is for more to follow suit and for the Lord to provide what Felipe needs to go.  Would you join me in prayer for this young man?


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