The Spirit is Moving in Brazil!

The Lord has been opening doors and moving in a special way here in Brazil. In April and May, we had the opportunity to minister in multiple cities and several denominations. We also launched an evangelism team from our church. Here are the highlights from the last two months:

Snack Cart Evangelism – Dayton, OH

We had a team stateside take our snack cart out to share the Gospel on the streets of Dayton. They shared snacks and the love of Christ with many people. Many requested prayer, especially for peace in their lives. The outreach team also reported that a young man from a previous snack cart outreach has not only been sober for over a month but also gave his life to Jesus and was water baptized last Sunday. God is so good!

Women’s Event with Famílias Benditas – Vicente Pires, Brasilia

Brittany had the opportunity to share her testimony at a women’s meeting from our church. She shared some of the lessons she learned through our story. Several of the women shared about how they realized they need to let go of control so that God could have full control in their lives. It is amazing to see how God can take the biggest challenges in our lives and use them to minister to others. He has truly used our story for His glory in so many ways.

Famílias Benditas – Vicente Pires, Brasilia

We had a powerful service at Famílias Benditas. I spoke on the topic of anointing and encouraged the church to believe God for greater things and to live with a consciousness that God wants to use them. Afterwards, I gave a call for salvation and several came forward to dedicate their lives to Christ. Then, we anointed everyone with oil who wanted prayer. Several were touched in a significant way, and we trust the Lord stirred hearts that night.

ADCN (Assembleia de Deus Caldas Novas) – Caldas Novas, Goiás

We had the privilege of ministering with our good friends Pastor Junior and Gloria in Caldas Novas, a city about four hours drive from Brasilia. Abby and Claire led a couple of worship songs in Portuguese and I preached a message about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We prayed for many after the message and believed God to touch them. It was a great service.

Igreja Batista Nacional – São Luís, Maranhão

I’m so grateful for an amazing ministry trip to northeast Brazil. This was my first time ministering in the city of São Luís, which is a large city located on an island on the ocean coast. I was invited by Pastor Arly to speak at two churches in the Igreja Batista Nacional de São Luís network.

Friday Night:

My first service was at the main campus on Friday night. I spoke about the power of Jesus’ blood. Afterwards, many came forward for prayer and we ministered at the altars to all who responded. It was a great night.

Saturday Night:

On Saturday evening, we had a service with many of the network churches in attendance. I spoke a message about the importance of God’s presence above all else. I shared about Moses’ intimate relationship with God and how we have the same access as believers today. At the end, we prayed for many people who were believing for a fresh touch from God. One young man asked to pray for salvation. Glory to God!

Sunday Morning:

On Sunday morning, I was invited to minister at Pastor Airton’s church in a different part of the city. We had a powerful time of worship and I preached a message about the fire of God that fell on the mountain when Elijah offered his sacrifice. The altars were filled and the presence of God was evident.

Afterwards, we went out to enjoy a meal at a local seafood restaurant. There was a woman outside begging for money. We stopped and I asked her if she needed prayer. She shared that she had been away from the Lord for a couple of years. We encouraged her to cry out to the Lord and spent some time in prayer with her.

Sunday Night:

That night, we had our final service at Pastor Arly’s church. I spoke about the anointing of the Holy Spirit and we anointed and prayed for almost everyone in the church. The prayer time was beautiful as individuals, couples and families came forward to dedicate themselves to the Lord and His service.

Monday:

On my flight to São Luís, I flew over terrain that looked very strange to me. When I landed, the Pastor told me it was the sand dunes of Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses. On the final day of the trip, they took me there. It was close to four hours away and we met some believers at a church that is connected to their network. We then had a tour guide take us into the dunes to enjoy the lagoons and scenery. It was like entering into another planet. I was grateful for the fellowship from several of their church members and the time to enjoy God’s creation.

Flying home, I was exhausted but grateful for how the Lord moved. God had His way in São Luís!

Central da Fé Assembliea de Deus – Samambaia, Brasilia

I was invited to speak at a gathering of pastors and church leaders for the Assembleia de Deus Independente network in Samambaia. I always enjoy the opportunities I have to speak to leaders, because I know that so much of what happens in churches is impacted by the spiritual health of those who lead. I shared my testimony and some practical wisdom that I learned about how to lead in a healthy way and avoid the pitfalls that are so prevalent in church ministry. Afterwards, several came forward to receive prayer for strength and empowerment for ministry. It was a blessed morning.

Famílias Benditas Evangelism Team – Vicente Pires, Brasilia

We took our first team out to the streets from Famílias Benditas on a Thursday night. We were encouraged that so many from the church had a desire to go out and evangelize. For some, it was the first time they had done something like this. We had our Romans Road cards translated into Portuguese and a sign that read, “Free Snacks and Prayer.” Teams went out into the park, to the local stores, a bus stop and the streets to offer free food and prayer. Many people received prayer and we had opportunity to share the Gospel and encourage them to seek the Lord and fully surrender to Him.

Several conversations stuck out to our team. I talked to a young man who was a nominal Christian. He reasoned that talking to God once in awhile was enough. I shared my personal story of when I was backslidden and told Him that the Lord is pursuing Him and wants his whole heart. One of our team members prayed for a lady who was experiencing demonic influence in her life. We pray that the Lord touched her that night. One team prayed for a person whose vehicle wouldn’t start, and the vehicle started up after they prayed! Many seeds of the Gospel were sown for the glory of God.

ICCR (Igreja Cristã de Confissão Reformada) – Gama, Brasilia

We had a great service with Pastor Cisero and the congregation of ICCR in Gama. I spoke about the need for all of us to remove distractions from our lives that keep us from pursuing God. You could sense the presence of God as we sought His face at the end of the message. Afterwards, we were invited to eat churrasco and some traditional northeastern cuisine. The students of Pure Life Ministries came to the service and I had some time to talk to them and pray for them. It was a blessed morning.

Famílias Benditas, Pentecost Sunday – Vicente Pires, Brasilia

We had a beautiful service at Famílias Benditas for Pentecost Sunday. Before I spoke, I had the privilege to present our pastors with a Portuguese Study Bible (donated by Kettering Assembly of God). They were very grateful for the gift. I spoke about developing a Pentecostal lifestyle, giving practical examples of how to incorporate the baptism of the Holy Spirit into our daily lives. Afterwards, many came forward crying out for more of God’s Spirit and there was a special sense of God’s presence in the room.

Famílias Benditas Evangelism Team – Vicente Pires, Brasilia

We had a fantastic outreach with our team from Famílias Benditas. We went to a local park with free waters, bananas and Gospel literature and sent teams around to share the Gospel. We had the opportunity to pray for many people, as well as share testimonies and the hope of Christ. We distributed Romans Road cards, and we saw people reading the literature after they encountered our teams.

One man didn’t seem very open to talking to the group. However, once the group started to walk away, he motioned to one of them and asked him to come speak with him. He then poured out his heart and shared about his distance from God. They spoke for a long time about faith in Christ.

One family in our group had their six-year old son with them. They were thrilled when he prayed for some other kids his age in the park for the first time. What an impact evangelism can have on the next generation! We are so grateful for all that the Lord accomplished. We closed in a beautiful time of prayer and worship in the park.

ICCR (Igreja Cristã de Confissão Reformada) – Taguatinga, Brasilia

We had an impactful service with Pastor Airton and our good friends at ICCR. I shared a message from the story of King Josiah. He was a righteous king who made a conscious decision to serve God with all his heart and soul. I shared several principles from his life about how we can live a similar life. After I preached, Abigail and Claire were invited to sing a song. They chose “Nada Além do Sangue” (a Brazilian worship song “Nothing but the Blood”). The presence of God was tangible as we sought the Lord together. It was a powerful morning.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for our ministry. God is moving in a special way and we often feel the prayers of His people. You are an integral part of this ministry, and we are grateful for you!

God’s Faithfulness Continues!

February marked a big transition month for our family and ministry. We spent the first couple of weeks ministering in the States and moved mid-February to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Amid the transition, God has continued to be so faithful to minister to many lives. Here are the highlights from February and March:

Miamisburg Assembly of God- Miamisburg, OH

We had a great service at our home church. It was bittersweet, as it was the last time speaking there until we get back from Brazil. Our church’s vision this year is “GO!” so I gave some practical instruction on sharing the love of Christ with others. Several people helped me act out different scenarios so that people could see what it looks like in real-life situations. At the end, Pastor Chuck prayed for our family to send us out. We are so grateful for a church family that loves our family so well. We had a friend from the church reach out to share about a great Gospel conversation she had at a nail salon that same day due to the service that morning! God is so faithful to open doors if we will be aware and willing to take a step of faith.

New Lebanon Correctional Institution – New Lebanon, OH

We had a powerful time of ministry with the inmates at Lebanon Correctional Institution. I led worship and preached to a group of about 50 men who chose to be in chapel. After a time of rich worship, I shared my testimony and a message based on the Israelites about how to live in freedom. When I gave the call to salvation, about seven men stood up to boldly surrender their lives to Jesus! Then several stuck around to ask for prayer for different needs in their lives. One young man in his thirties asked for prayer for his son and daughter. They were both under 10 years old and their father is serving a potential life sentence. He was one of the men who stood to give his life to Jesus. Despite the challenging and dark environment, the Spirit of God is moving in prisons and setting men free.

Bryan Assembly of God- Bryan, OH

We were so blessed to have the opportunity to minister with Pastor Sam and the great congregation of Bryan First Assembly of God. Brittany shared an update on our ministry and I spoke a message about keeping the fire of God in our lives burning brightly. We could sense the Spirit of God throughout the service. Several came up for prayer, asking God to keep their fire burning and I believe the Holy Spirit ministered to many.

Rock of Grace Church- Kinsman, OH

We are grateful for the opportunity we had to share about our ministry at Rock of Grace’s Kinsman campus. We enjoyed a rich time of worship and a timely Word from Pastor Will. It was a blessing to make some new friends from their awesome congregation. We also had a chance to hang out with them that evening for an outreach they held that included worship, fellowship, games, and an altar call for salvation. It was a blessing to see what God is doing in Kinsman, Ohio.

ClearView Church- Columbia Station, OH

We had a great weekend with Pastors Donovan and Sarah at ClearView Church. On Saturday, I had the opportunity to spend time with their family and hear the amazing story of how their boys started a soap company. Their products have been sent into many countries and have been a blessing to missionaries, orphans and many others. They gave Brittany and I some soap to bring to Brazil.

On Sunday, I ministered in two services. I shared about our testimony and gave a message with practical evangelism principles. This year, their church’s vision is for every family to reach another family for Christ. It was a blessing to tie into that vision. We prayed for several people in the services. One young man prayed to receive Christ, and God ministered to him in a powerful way!

Snack Cart Outreach- Downtown Dayton

We are so grateful for the ministry that took place in downtown Dayton. The team that took our cart out reported back that they had an amazing time of ministry. They were able to pray for many people for healing and other needs, as well as share the Gospel with all who would listen. There was a group of about fifteen teenage girls who wanted to be prayed for as a group before they got their snacks. They were even able to get one person checked into a treatment facility. A few weeks later, he gave his life to Christ and entered Whole Truth Ministries to be discipled! God is so good!

Evangelism Podcast with CEBI- Brasilia, Brazil

I had the privilege of sharing about evangelism on the podcast for SEBI (Sociedade de Estudos Bíblicos Interdisciplinares) here in Brazil. It was a joy to share about the believer’s responsibility to evangelize as well as the reward of partnering with God to see souls impacted by the Gospel. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity and look forward to hearing testimonies of those who put the concepts to practice. The link to the podcast is here for those who might be interested: youtube.com/live/OnO9UGsXkBU?si=O-KCXNkwjCs2pm8g

Pure Life Ministries Brazil

We had an amazing time in the presence of God with the students at Pure Life Ministries Brazil. I shared a message about not getting too close to the world from the story of Lot. When we prayed at the end, the presence of the Holy Spirit was strong and we spent time in prayer and worship. It was evident that the Spirit of God was working on men’s hearts. We were so grateful to have the opportunity to minister there. Afterwards, they cooked a delicious meal for us and we spent time in fellowship. They sent us home with ten giant avocados from the property. Not long after, they found a diamondback rattlesnake in an office on campus close to where we were ministering. We were so grateful for God’s protection and that no one was harmed by it.

Igreja Baptista Palavra E Vida – Taguatinga, Brazil

We were blessed to minister in Taguatinga at Igreja Baptista Palavra E Vida. I spoke at their church four years ago on my first trip to Brazil. It was a blessing to connect with Pastor Marcelo and his wife again. My good friend, Fred Geerman from Pure Life Ministries Brazil, was my translator. As it was the first weekend leading into Easter week, I spoke a message about the cross. I shared that many people came to celebrate Jesus on Palm Sunday, but none of them were willing to join Him at the cross. It can be the same in modern church culture. We love the celebration of Palm Sunday and the Resurrection. But between those events is a cross that Jesus expects us all to carry according to Luke 9. It was a heavy message, but I believe the Lord used it to challenge us all in our faith.

God has been so faithful to bless the speaking opportunities during these two months. Thank you to everyone who is supporting us through their prayer and finances. We could not do what God has called us to do without you!

So blessed to serve the Lord!

It’s been an exciting season of connecting with new churches and ministries. We are so grateful for the move of the Holy Spirit in our services and events. Here are the highlights from December and January:

Wilmington Assembly of God- Wilmington, OH

We had a great service with Pastor John and the congregation of Wilmington Assembly of God. I preached a message about being intentional to engage with evangelism in our daily life. I shared many stories of how we have learned to take practical steps in this process as a family. And I encouraged the church to be willing to step out in faith to share the love of Christ to those around them. During the altar call, many came forward for various needs. I believe the Lord touched their hearts and we are grateful for the opportunity to connect with their church.

Litchfield Assembly of God- Litchfield, OH

We trudged through some snow to make our way to Litchfield Assembly of God in Ohio on the weekend of a snowstorm, but we were grateful that we did. We had a great Sunday with Pastor Andy and the congregation there. Our family shared in the adult Sunday school about our ministry. Claire gave some details about Brazil and its culture, Abby and Claire sang a song in Portuguese, Isabelle taught some Portuguese words and Brittany and I shared our vision and story.

During the service, I preached a message about Jesus being Savior, Healer and Deliverer. At the end, a young man came forward to give his life to Christ. Several others came for prayer and we had a great time in His presence. It was worth it all to be at the altar when that young man was praying to ask Jesus for a brand new life. God is so good!

Liberty Assembly of God- Girard, OH

We had a great service with Pastor Patrick and the folks at Liberty Assembly of God. Brittany gave an update on the ministry and our plans for Brazil. Then I preached a message about removing all obstacles in our lives that get in the way of our intimacy with God. Several came forward to pray at the altar and seek the Lord for more of Him. It was a beautiful morning and we were thankful to be a part of it.

Bethel Christian Assembly of God- Beavercreek, OH

Men’s Discipleship Group

Pastor Dan invited me to share with a men’s discipleship group that he meets with on a regular basis. I had time to share my testimony with the guys and then shared some thoughts from Scripture about leaving our regrets behind and pressing forward from Philippians 3. We had a good time of discussion and I think the men were encouraged in their faith that morning.

Sunday Service

Even though several inches of snow caused our service with Bethel Christian Assembly of God to be cancelled, Pastor Dan asked us to shoot a short video service with our family and send it to them to post for Sunday morning. Here’s the link for those who want to watch it. Abby and I led a couple of worship songs, we provided a ministry update and I shared a brief word from 2 Corinthians.

El Camino Church (Spanish Service)- Columbus, Ohio

I spoke at El Camino Assembly of God in Columbus, Ohio. This is a Spanish speaking congregation and after a time of vibrant worship, I spoke about believing God for the supernatural in our lives. I gave a salvation call, and several came forward. Then we prayed for many who responded to experience more of God. It was a great morning in the presence of God.

Columbus AG (Portuguese Service)- Columbus, OH

I preached in a Brazilian church called Columbus AD. They have their service in Portuguese, and it was a blessing to reconnect with Pastor Gileade and the congregation. Our family enjoyed worship in Portuguese as we have been studying the language for several months. I preached about believing God for the miraculous, and the altars were filled with people coming forward to cry out for more of God in their lives. I’m certain that many lives were touched that Sunday, and I’m grateful for how the Holy Spirit moved.

Oklahoma Trip

Our hearts are filled of gratitude for a great week of services at Fletcher Assembly of God in Oklahoma. It was such a blessing to be back with Pastor Carper and his congregation. This time, Brittany and the girls were able to join me and minister in the services.

On Sunday morning, I preached a message about keeping our intimacy with God a priority in our lives. We had a rich time of seeking the Lord at the altars as people cried out for more of Him. We also prayed for many who needed a healing touch. One of the women we prayed for said her stomach was feeling better two days after we prayed, which was the longest relief she had since the problem had started. Praise the Lord!

That evening, I shared a message about taking a step of faith into the deeper things of God. I spoke about the need to keep growing spiritually and to take risk in our Christian walk. We sought the Lord together that evening and it was a great end to a beautiful day of ministry.

On Monday evening, Abby and Claire sang a worship song in English and Portuguese and Brittany shared a message about how to get through hard times with the Lord’s help. She shared her side of our testimony and what God had taught her through our biggest trial. Several requested prayer for situations they were walking through and many came forward to seek the Lord.

On Tuesday evening, I preached about developing a stronger relationship with the Holy Spirit. We gathered everyone together at the altars and prayed for specific needs as people felt moved on their hearts to pray. We lingered at the altars as we prayed for one another and closed with a corporate prayer for unity. It was a great night.

The final service was on Wednesday night. I shared a message about making evangelism a priority with examples about how to step out to share Jesus with others. I told the church that this is the main purpose of coming and having time set aside to seek the Lord. We receive from Him in church so we can go out and be a blessing to the world around us.

It was a great week and we were so blessed to see God moving in the lives of the congregation. We had sweet fellowship, many great conversations and rich times of prayer and worship. We believe the Holy Spirit had His way in our midst.

Homeschool Group- Williamstown, KY

Our family had a great time sharing about missions and our plans for Brazil to a homeschool coop group in Williamstown, Kentucky. We spoke to three age groups from kindergarten to middle school. Claire shared facts about Brazil, Brittany spoke on being a disciple, I taught some Portuguese phrases and Abby taught them a Brazilian game. Then they all tried acai and cookies from Brazil. It was a great day and we enjoyed pouring into the next generation and hoping to inspire them to support and engage with missions.

Thank you for all who have been praying for ministry opportunities like these. God has been so faithful, and we are very grateful for what He is doing. Please continue to intercede for our ministry and family. Thanks in advance for your prayers!