Yesterday I was reflecting on all that the Lord has done in and through Living Bread during our brief history.  It is amazing to see what he has accomplished in a relatively short period of time with very minimal resources combined with the very small faith of an insignificant couple of first generation believers.  To be sure even the faith was a gift of his grace.

     When we began LBM in early 2004 we started from scratch.  We had no partnerships, no connections in Brazil, and no money.  The first donation was literally a $50 donation from our family.  In the less than 7 and a half years that followed and with total resources of $493,000 the following has been accomplished.

• Living Bread Ministries (LBM) has been established as a mission organization planting churches focused on integral mission among the poor and needy in South America.
• Ministério Pão Vivo (MPV) has been established as a Brazilian led mission organization planting churches focused on integral mission among the poor and needy in Brazil and is building partnerships with Brazilian churches and individuals.
• In partnership with MPV we have planted 8 churches
• Hundreds of new believers
• Many marriages performed with new believers forming godly homes
• Hundreds of Bibles distributed
• Thousands of food kits distributed
• Thousands of meals served
• Medicine and medical supplies distributed
• Winter clothes distributed annually
• Blankets distributed
• Thousands of school supply kits distributed through Share Christmas
• Dozens of Pastor Libraries and many other Biblical resources for pastors and leaders distributed
• Adolescents sent to church camp
• Elderly widows and orphans being cared for
• Four Brazilian church planters on staff
• In partnership with MPV
• Bought multiple properties
• Renovated church buildings
• Building a church
• Assisting an evangelical drug rehab center
• Supporting the Hubbard family as they have lead this work from its inception

     As you can see the Lord has blessed exceedingly abundantly and much has been accomplished with minimal resources.  One of the primary reasons we accomplished so much in Brazil is because the Lord gave our family the grace to endure severe financial hardship in order to see his will done in and through us.  What a blessing it is now to look back and see the fruit of those difficult times.  By his grace we will continue to trust the Lord to do great and mighty things for his glory and the good of his kingdom.