Leonard - January 2010
Dear Prayer Team,
Greetings from warm, humid south Brazil!!! It is summer vacation time here! After having our traditional family time on Christmas morning, if was so nice that we decided to celebrate the day as many Brazilians do and have a cookout/picnic. John's mother was able to be with us this year, as she is getting ready to leave for her furlough in the States beginning January 20th. Our short-termer from Grace Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa, Bekah Hendricks, was also here for Christmas and will be staying through March. She loves snow, so it was hard for her to hear about all the snow in Iowa that she was missing. We were trying to dream up ways to make her Christmas "white," (throwing popcorn in the air, spreading corn starch around...etc.), but decided against those. We think she enjoyed the picnic, though. She has made some good friends down here--in fact a couple of them are here from Fortaleza visiting her right now so we have a full house!! We are enjoying the extra visitors, as it is nice to have help with the ministry and also at home.
The last time we wrote we were gearing up for our Christmas program at Gato Preto, and we are glad to report that it went well...all except for the stormy downpour RIGHT at the end as John was wrapping up the Christmas message. Even the tarp that we had put up before the meeting did not keep the strong winds and rain from dampening the crowd, and we ended up quickly running for cover in the small home where we meet. There we enjoyed a time of refreshments, gift distribution (small sacks of candy for the kids and devotional books for the adults), and also inspirational special music with Orlando and Lourdes, a dear couple that has been helping us. Even though the program did not go as we had planned, it was a blessing to hear one lady say at the end that this was the best Christmas she had ever had! Also, since that night, a lady named Rose and her two children have not missed a meeting. She hasn't accepted Christ as her Savior, but we sense she is very close to making this decision. Please pray for her salvation.
Besides our work at Gato Preto, John has had the opportunity to speak at various churches and also at a camp for Chinese adolescents. (pictured below) How awesome it has been to see the Lord work each time He opens the Word of God!
Our prayer requests are as follows:
-For Rose and others who need to be saved.
-For a place for our group in Gato Preto to meet--our land issue was put on hold until February, but a couple other options have come up.
-For our up-coming VBS in Gato Preto. (salvation of children)
-For the Carnaval events planned (retreats, special meetings...) in February.
Thank you for your prayers!!
Sincerely in Christ,
John and Bev Leonard
Two Tragedies: The Crisis in Haiti and a Small View of God
As I mentioned this morning the crisis in Haiti has called us to think about our theology as well as our compassion. Times like 9/11, the tsunami of a few years back, Katrina, and now Haiti challenge our hearts as well as our heads. Often believers struggle giving an answer to their fellow man as to why God would allow or dictate events such as these. In truth these events often reveal not only the unbelievers small view of God, but sadly believers as well.
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A Simple Way to Pray - Martin Luther
Early in the year 1535, Peter Beskendorf, a barber and an old friend of Luther's, asked Dr. Martin Luther for suggestions concerning prayer. Luther responded with an open letter titled, How One Should Pray, for Master Peter the Barber. This letter fills the following pages.
Download Martin Luther's "A Simple Way to Pray"
A Praying Life
Paul Miller
Foreword by David Powlison
"This is as fine a book on prayer that you will ever read, but it is so much more. It is the story of our struggle to actually live like we believe that our Heavenly father really does love us. If we did, nothing could keep us from being committed to the day by day hard work of prayer. Paul exegetes our struggle in a way that is convicting, insight giving and encouraging. This is a book on prayer that actually makes you want to pray!"
- Paul David Tripp
About the Author: Paul Miller is director of seeJesus.net, a discipling mission that develops interactive Bible studies. The PrayerLife Study and Seminar, which form the basis for the book A Praying Life, is the second curriculum released by seeJesus.net. The first curriculum, called The Person of Jesus Study, centers on what Jesus is like as a person and is equally effective with both Christians and non-Christians. Paul's book Love Walked Among Us is based on The Person of Jesus Study and, similarly, is written for both Christians and non-Christians. Paul also teaches seminars that train people to lead the study with friends and neighbors.
Our Response to Earthquake in Haiti
By now most of you are hearing about the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Reports are still coming in as I write of literally tens of thousands of people confirmed dead. Haiti is by far the poorest country in the western hemisphere and only 700 miles off the tip of Florida. Probably no other country is more frequently visited by US missionaries, peace corp, etc. than Haiti.
The situation there is still in a state of panic. Governments from around the world are already responding and food supplies and water are getting there but the distribution of those supplies is still being organized. On top of that there is rubble everywhere. It is a dangerous place to be right now. The purpose of this email is three-fold. One, pray for the people of Haiti and the believers on the ground there. Secondly, be patient as we are investigating both the timing and the way in which we might help. Be warned, this is also a time where evil men will rise up in an effort to scam you of your monies. Lastly and speaking of money, no doubt many of you would like to give sooner than later toward this cause in Haiti. Therefore this Sunday night we will take up a special offering to that end. Perhaps by then we can share what ministry or agency we will funnel those monies through in our effort to make sure it gets directly to the people of Haiti.
My guess is that some of you are wondering what all this means from God's perspective. I will be sending out a Behind the Scenes later on today in regards to that question.
In Christ,
Pastor Pat