Igreja Ess�ncia de Adora��o
CHURCH RETREAT
Praying Giovanna and Sophia
During Carnival in Brazil, churches commonly host a retreat for their congregation to get away. (Note: Carnival is similar to Mardi Gras in the states, but magnified 100x and is nation wide.) This is a week of revelry and sin in which pretty much everything you can think of occurs.
We had the wonderful privilege to be part of Igreja Ess�ncia de Adora��o's church retreat. Although we were not officially leading, they asked D�bora to be part of worship. What a great way to start our time back in Brazil!
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A Prophetic Word
MAKING CONNECTIONS
At the beginning of the month I read this Word and it pierced my heart. I grabbed hold of this and asked God for the gatekeepers to the city. This is what I've been praying for since we arrived in Campos and hope to establish it as a ministry base. Here's that word...
"It is time to March forward! An unexpected turn of events has come and will lead you to divine connections, favor and success. Watch and see how this all unfolds for you and your family."
Within days this happens...
1. We were at a coffee shop in Campos do Jord�o (the girls spend a lot of time there using the internet for school. Quite often the house internet fails). At the shop a man walked up to us and introduced himself as the ex-mayor of the city. He said, "I've heard about you guys, I know a lot of people here and I can help open doors for you. I also know the mayor and can arrange a meeting for you." WOW!
2. A chef introduced himself to us and we shared about the ministry of Sozo. He was so excited and said, "I know many important people in this city. I can gather them and introduce to you. I also know the heiress of one of Brazil's banks. She is from here and loves to do charity work for the children." WOW!
3. There are several other amazing connections we have made here and we could not possibly list them all, but you can get the point. For just being in this city for just over a month now we have met lawyers, realtors, dentists, pastors, veterinarians, business owners, community leaders and many local people. We see God's hand in leading our steps as He is certainly setting things up.
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Igreja Vida Nova
SUNDAY MARCH 6TH
MESSAGE PREACHED: 7 REDEMPTIVE WORKS AT THE CROSS
3 SALVATIONS & 5 RE-DEDICATIONS
This church is just 6 months old. What a blessing to come and be part of what God is doing here. The pastor truly has a heart to reach out to the prostitutes and homeless in the city.
Photo Left: People coming to Christ Photo Right: Praying victory over fear
This woman on above left photo gave her life to Jesus 1 month ago. She had not been able to bend her knees or kneel for over 4 months. She's had bone on bone contact for many years as her knees have deteriorated. What joy she had this night! The Photo on the right is her husband. This was his first time to come to church. He had rotator cup issues in his right shoulder. He had not been able to raise his arm. All pain left and he had full mobility. What's so amazing is that later on in the service he came forward and gave his life to Christ. Now, husband and wife are both healed and saved! Glory to God! I absolutely love how God does these things.
Above Photo: One of the things we try to teach in the meetings we conduct is the fact that Christ is in every believer and each person is equipped by the Holy Spirit to minister the power of the cross. In this brief moment of prayer where the people prayed for one another, several were healed by the laying on of hands. We love to see the reaction on peoples faces who get healed and the shock on the faces of those praying. It is the redemptive work of the cross, that by the stripes of Jesus we are healed.
On the way to brazil I sat next to a preacher who was from Ohio and he was going to preach at a church retreat during carnival week in Brazil. During the flight I shared with him some amazing miracles that I have seen the Lord do in Brazil. I said, "Isn't it wonderful that we have the cross to base the promises of God on and the redemptive work of healing?" He said, "Yes that means inner healing." "Not just that, its more!" I said. "Friend, the cross is more than salvation. By the stripes of Jesus you are healed." Appropriate God's work and promise toward yourself and others. BELIEVE.
This man in the above photo was on the worship team. He had a shoulder injury and also could not raise his right arm. As you can see, he was completely healed.
It was communion Sunday at this service and time was going fast. I was talking to the Lord about this, as it was already about 10 pm. We had preached on the cross, with the time it takes to interpret everything said, I feared we would have no time left to for praying for the sick. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, many will be healed during communion time, just believe. I thought to myself, this will be good! And guess what? Many were healed during communion! The testimony of this woman in the photo below is amazing.
This woman testified that she had degenerative muscle and bone disease that is hereditary in her family and that she has been suffering for many years. From the top of her head to her feet she ached and was in constant pain. She could not bend or kneel. Both of which she did tonight after 6 years of very limited movement and great pain! She was completely healed as her church family witnessed her miracle. She said, "I wake up at 5 am every Tuesday to come to the church to prepare food for the homeless people. I'm always in excruciating pain during that time but I told God that I will not stop." But this night God healed her and she was so happy that on Tuesdays she can now do what she loves without pain or limitations. PRAISE GOD! In the end, nobody left because of the time, church ended around 11 pm. It's so good to be in the Presence of the Lord. A church that seeks out for God more than the clock. |