CO Brazil Team Update 06-19-2007

Please take a moment to click on the image on your right to read some of the latest news from our team in Brazil.

I would especially like to point your attention to the National Staff Update from Junior! His story is power and God is using him in incredible ways!

We would also like to take this moment to thank God for the arrival of two new staff children, Nolan Lutz and Rebeka Arledge! Pray with us that God would strengthen them and give them a heart for Himself!

Thank you for your partnership and prayers! RGL

Special Request for Prayer - Happy Father's Day!

As you celebrate Father's day this weekend, please join with me to ask God to work miraculously among our dads. I am blessed with a wonderful father who loves God and loves his family. I know that that is a huge blessing and I am so thankful. I know many of you however have fathers who don't know the love and transforming power of the Lord. Let's pray together for God to work even this weekend to draw all fathers to Himself working only as He can.

My father has been fighting with several life threatening illnesses over the past year and I am so eager for my family to get to go and see him and the rest of the family. We had planned to try and come in when the entire family planned to gathered in June, but the cost of the airfare was outrageous, $9,000. So we said, unless God works miraculously, we can't even consider it. I want to share with you today that God does work miracles! Without even sharing our needs, God met them through an aunt and uncle who were able to get passes for the whole family with almost a $6,000 savings. Praise God!

If you would please pray with us that God would continue to work out the flight details for us as we will be flying stand-by with the whole family! We are seeking to fly Sunday night from Rio de Janeiro arriving in Atlanta, GA on Monday.

We hope to spend a couple of weeks with my family including one week of vacation with 35 of my immediate family. Please pray for God's presence, protection, and power! We desire to see His gospel transforming every relationship!

God's Blessings Never Cease

This past week has been a wonderful example of God's faithfulness and care. The past couple of weeks we have sought to walk with many other couples as they seek God in the midst of challenging circumstances and situations. Wendy and I have often felt that we could not stand to bear any other's problems, challenges, or sins. We have felt overwhelmed with the magnitude of the needs that surround us many times. We know God is the only one who can meet these needs, but we have felt so broken over the pain and suffering we've walked in. It has been so sweet to see God answering each situation as only he can with unconditional love and grace! Almost every issue that has been weighing on us is moving forward and transforming!

In the words of Cassiano, one of the men in our couples community, "I have cried out to God for help and he has heard my cries and has answered them with a loud response, 'I am your Lord and God! See what I will do!'"

We have seen God bring renewal, restoration, and even salvation! God is good!

Thank you for your prayres for God's sustenance, strength, and protection! We love you guys!

My Bride of Seventeen Years

June 2 Wendy and I celebrated our seventeenth wedding anniversary! Wow! I know you are all saying to yourselves, "but how can that be, they are both so young?" Well, despite how great Wendy looks those years go creeping by. In reality they have flown by.

God has blessed me so graciously through Wendy over these special years! Beyond the fact that she is my very best friend and confidant, she is my sole mate. God has used her to draw me closer to Himself, to stimulate me to grow as a father and a man. I am so thankful to God for giving me such a special partner and friend!

Together we want to say thank you to the many of you who have loved us and helped along the way to grow as a couple and a family! What a blessing it has been to have special people like you in our lives demonstrating God's love.

Please pray with us for the protection of our hearts and care of our souls. As we have been living and working in front-line evangelism and discipleship ministry for 16 years we have seen the enemy waging war to stop God's kingdom in many forms. We need your help and prayer to continue to stand firm. Praise God that His Kingdom will prevail!

CO Brazil Team Update 06-05-2007

Please celebrate with us as we thank God for all that He is doing! As you can see in our team update at right, it has been an incredibly busy few weeks as we have kicked off three Cross Cultural Project teams and a new series at the church. God is stretching us as we learn to walk with Him as He builds His body. Please take a moment to read the testimony of Alan, one of our newest Brazilian staff. We are so thankful for how God has worked in his life and family!

Click on Image at Right to See in Full Size!

Wendy and I have been very thankful for God's faithfulness and love as He continues to draw couples to Himself, always opening new doors. We are starting a new series of studies on growing in communication. It is a challenge that most couples face and no one, no matter how long you've been married, is an expert. It is an area that we continue to grow in if we desire to have a healthy intimate marriage. Pray with us for God to use these studies to help us know Him & love Him better and know and love our spouse better!

Also please pray for two of our staff families who have lost family this past week. Kent Bailey , our team leader, lost his father on Thursday and Brian Lane lost his grandfather Sunday morning. Please pray God's healing love and sustaining power upon these two families as they seek to walk with their extended families through these difficult circumstances! Pray that God would give them clear opportunities to minister to and love their families as they share their lives and hearts!