Living Bread Ministries
Planting Churches Among the Desperately Poor
Sponsor a Teen for Youth Camp!
Instead, we require that every student who wants to go to camp passes the school year. Additionally, they must participate in local fund raising efforts with their churches. Granted, the amount of money they are able to raise is minuscule, but it does teach them the satisfaction of working toward a goal.
Another blessing about camp is that we send the youth from all of our churches to the same camp at the same time. This is exciting because they are the future leaders of their churches and communities. At camp they build friendships that will hopefully lead to strong bonds between the church plants.
Are you able to help send one of our youth to camp? The cost is $90 per person. Your help with a full or partial sponsorship will be a blessing for them and will help us train future leaders.
Social Justice in the Old Testament
Social Justice has become a hot topic in the media recently. A quick online search will produce a myriad of definitions; which are based on one's view of politics, religion, and philosophy.The current main stream interpretation of social justice is a forced redistribution of wealth, similar to socialist and communist programs.
Social justice is however, discussed very clearly in the Bible. Chapter 58 of the book of Isaiah refers to it as part of true religion and love for God: "I tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives" (v 6-7). Chapter 59 clearly condemns social injustice: "All you think about is sin; you leave ruin and destruction wherever you go. You don't know how to live in peace or to bear with others. The roads you make are crooked; your followers cannot find peace" (v 7b-8).
There are over 2,100 verses of Scripture dealing with poverty and justice. The Lord God loves the poor and He blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Caring for the poor and needy are conditions of our blessings. Isaiah chapter 58 verses 9-14 gives a list of "if…then" statements from the Lord, making clear the types of religious practices that are pleasing to Him and worthy of His blessing.
If the church, the body of Christ, is obedient to do what Scripture teaches about caring for the poor and needy, then there will not be a need for government agencies and other humanitarian agencies (good as they may be) to care for them. God calls us to humble ourselves and "share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house…" (Isa 58:5, 7). In his commentary on the book of Isaiah, John Calvin states that "uprightness and righteousness are divided into two parts; first, that we should injure nobody; and secondly, that we should bestow our wealth and abundance on the poor and needy. And these two ought to be joined together…."¹
It is clear from Scripture that social justice is not about a forced redistribution of wealth. It is about loving God and your neighbor as yourself. It is about living as citizens of the Kingdom of God,surrendered to the lordship of Christ, with a passion to see God's Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
For more content from Barbara Hubbard visit her blog Walking with the Poor.
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¹ John Calvin, Commentary On The Book of The Prophet Isaiah, vol. 8
(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009), 233.
Land Dedication in Vila Safira
Children from Vila Safira Singing Praise
It is a great blessing for the church to have this property. They have cleaned it up and fenced it in on their own. Now they are gathering for worship at the property regularly.
To learn more about LBM and read testimonies of God's grace among the poor and needy check out our current newsletter.
A Glimpse of the Kingdom
Jussania was an alcoholic who lives in Vila Safira. After beginning a church plant there 18 months ago Pastor Jocelito started visiting her. Jocelito has a heart for addicts as he once was one. He was especially drawn to Jussania because she was alone. Her addiction had lead to her estrangement from her family and neighbors. This is one of the primary difficulties of poverty, broken relationships.
Jussania
Imagine you are an aging widow in a majority world slum. Your addiction has destroyed years of your life. Your behavior has resulted in everyone turning their backs on you. You can’t work because of the alcohol, but in reality you have no education, can’t read, and have no marketable skills; all of which contributed to your hopelessness and eventual alcohol addiction to begin with. With no Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, etc. your situation would become progressively more drastic as you aged and were unable to even collect recyclables for income.
As a result of the gospel witness of Pastor Jocelito and the church plant, through both word and deed, Jussania has been reconciled to God. As a result she has received victory over her addiction. She is now part of a kingdom community and has been reconciled with her family. This is a huge blessing for a widow in a majority world slum.
Since she is close to retirement age and has little hope of finding employment the church has decided to pay (out of their own resources) into the Brazilian version of Social Security for her. While this will not provide a huge income it will allow her to draw a small pension that should keep her from going hungry. In addition, when the time comes, her children are now willing to take her in and help care for her.
This is a great illustration of how making disciples transforms communities. Jussania has repented of her sin and trusted in Christ. The personal transformation resulting from being reconciled to God has led to reconciliation to her children and neighbors. It has also lead to her entrance into a local body of believers that is being taught to obey all that Christ has commanded. As a result of this they are reaching out to the widows among them and helping to care for them, but this is not a one sided equation. Jussania is now faithfully serving in the church. Every week she helps to prepare the bread they serve to the children on Sunday mornings. She also helps care for other women and children in the church.
Church planting in essential among all people groups especially the poor and needy. The type of transformation we see above cannot be accomplished by government or humanitarian work alone. It can only be done by the grace of God through the advancement of the Kingdom of God. This is primarily the work of the local church.
Two New Blogs
My blog is Blessed are the Poor: Reflections on the Kingdom of God . Among other things I will be reflecting on Scripture, doing book reviews, posting content about global missions, and sharing insights on life and ministry.
Barbara's blog is Walking with the Poor: Reflections on Missions Among the Poor and Needy. Among other topics she will be posting insights on life and ministry among the poor. She will also be providing training and insights regarding short term missions.
If you are interested we would love for you to follow these blogs in addition to the LBM blog. You can subscribe and have the posts delivered via email.
Church Plant has Outgrown its Shanty
Worship Service in Vila Safira
This is the case in Vila Safira. We have long since outgrown the home we are meeting in. We literally have people standing outside worshiping through the doorway and window. This is a problem especially in the winter season when it is rainy and in the temperature is in the 30s.
We have found a piece of land near our current location; in an area where 1200 families are being relocated. The church has given what they can and other partners in Brazil have provided the remaining 50% of the cost. We need partners to give the remaining $3,400.00 to purchase this lot. This will allow us to build a small church that will not only meet the needs for worship but will allow the believers to expand the existing feeding ministries the church is offering in the community.
If you would like more info email info@livingbread.org or you can give online below.
From Murder Suicide to Hope in Christ
In his desperation Oraci decided that he would poison his family and kill himself. By God's grace his wife came to our church plant seeking help. She told the pastor and his wife about their situation and her husband's plan. The church immediately mobilized to help this family. They provided them with food for their immediate need and Pastor Magioli began ministering to the family.
Oraci, Salete, and Rafael
As a result Oraci and his wife Salete have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Their son Rafael has also received Christ. They have found the hope that comes in being reconciled to God through Christ Jesus! Pray for their remaining children who have not visited the church yet.
This is a perfect example of the need for church planting among the poor and needy. It also illustrates why it is essential that the local church be able to minister incarnationally among the poor. Humanitarian ministry among the poor is not enough; our missions efforts must be centered on church planting. I shutter to think what might have happened to Oraci and his family if Christ was not building His church in Vila Nova. It is a joy to be a part of the Lord's plan of redemption for the 1 billion urban squatters in the majority world. To learn more about our church planting efforts among the them visit www.livingbread.org.
Wealth and Poverty and the Uniqueness of the Mosaic Law
Wealth & Poverty & the Uniqueness of the Mosaic Law
Building the Church Among Women and Children
Two girls from the church plant in Capao
To learn more about the church in Capao and see other testimonies please read our current newsletter. You will be blessed by how the Lord is moving among the poor and needy.
The Forgotten People Group
According to Grigg the squatters among the urban poor in the majority world make up this people group. They share a common economic system and history. They have universal cultural and religious characteristics. However, being Animists they are generally more responsive to the Gospel than people who practice high religions; like Muslims and Hindus.
Why has one of the largest and most responsive people groups in the world fallen through the cracks of global evangelism? Part of the problem has been in the shift of mission focus. Areas like Latin America have been pronounced reached and resources have been diverted to other regions. However, in much of the majority world the small evangelical church that exists has no vision for reaching the slum dwellers. Limited resources are not allocated nor are workers sent into the slums. The reasons for this are many; of which financial, cultural, and class issues are just a few.
I want to be clear, in no way am I advocating a reduction in resources (financial or human) among the 10/40 window or the Muslim and Hindu people groups. We need more not less! However, can we not at the same time become advocates for 15% of the world's population, especially when they are generally more receptive? Shouldn't missions leaders, and prominent pastors who are so vocal on behalf of the nations work to develop and set in motion a comprehensive plan for reaching these people? Shouldn't we come alongside our brothers and sisters in the majority world and assist them in developing and implementing a plan to reach the urban squatters among their own people? This is exactly what LBM is doing. We have a plan in place and are actively working alongside our majority world brothers to plant churches among urban squatters.
