The Gospel is Advancing Among the Poor
Thursday night we visited the community of Vila Safira. We began a church plant there last spring. It was a blessing to see the impact this young church is having on the area. Vila Safira is the most dangerous community in Porto Alegre in part due to a severe crack cocaine problem. However, there is a little church that is a flickering light in this very dark place. We spent the evening worshiping with them.
We heard stories of how the gospel has led to people being delivered from crack addiction, of families being established, and other families being reconciled. We saw the hungry being feed, the sick being cared for, and children being given a safe little corner in this neighborhood that they might come and play without fear. This is the advancement of the Kingdom of God in Vila Safira and it will continue until Christ returns to establish it in its fullness.
Our group praying in the home of a family in Vila Safira
Tonight we will ordain the pastor of the church plant in Vila Safira and tomorrow we will have the first baptism service in this young church's history. What an exciting time it will be. Please pray for these services, that Christ would be exalted. Also, pray for our team. Short term missions often is very ineffective in leading to long term change in the lives of those who go. To often people go on a trip like this only to return home and settle back into their routine and their lives have no more impact for the Kingdom than before. I pray this will not be the case. It is my deepest hope that our team members will go home changed; with a better understanding of the body of Christ and their need to minister to the poor and needy in that body.
We heard stories of how the gospel has led to people being delivered from crack addiction, of families being established, and other families being reconciled. We saw the hungry being feed, the sick being cared for, and children being given a safe little corner in this neighborhood that they might come and play without fear. This is the advancement of the Kingdom of God in Vila Safira and it will continue until Christ returns to establish it in its fullness.
Our group praying in the home of a family in Vila Safira
Tonight we will ordain the pastor of the church plant in Vila Safira and tomorrow we will have the first baptism service in this young church's history. What an exciting time it will be. Please pray for these services, that Christ would be exalted. Also, pray for our team. Short term missions often is very ineffective in leading to long term change in the lives of those who go. To often people go on a trip like this only to return home and settle back into their routine and their lives have no more impact for the Kingdom than before. I pray this will not be the case. It is my deepest hope that our team members will go home changed; with a better understanding of the body of Christ and their need to minister to the poor and needy in that body.
Posted by Patrick at 7/16/2010 4:17 PM 
Categories: Mission Trip Updates
Tags: missional Gospel global poverty Jesus hunger world hunger Brazil Christ missions church planting global missions feeding ministry
Categories: Mission Trip Updates
Tags: missional Gospel global poverty Jesus hunger world hunger Brazil Christ missions church planting global missions feeding ministry
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