Ministry in Quarantine

Just like churches in the States, Anápolis had to quickly adapt to online ministry, and online ministry without the team of missionaries that had been there for two years. Pr Marcos, Pra Ericléia, and the church leaders didn’t hesitate to continue to move forward trusting God isn’t done with them yet. Here's a quick overview of what quarantine ministry has looked like in Anápolis!

Post-Encounter Classes

After attending an Encounter with God retreat, the participants (new Christians and new church members) attend four sessions of what's called Spiritual Warfare training (prayer, Bible reading, obedience, holiness), six sessions of Bible basics and the Nazarene articles of faith, and six sessions of leadership training. 


Church Services

The church was able to continue both its Sunday and midweek services, which for a long time consisted of Pr Marcos, Pra Ericléia, and Alexsandra singing and preaching in an empty room and broadcasting live on Instagram (@nazareno_anapolis) and Facebook (Igreja do Nazareno Anapolis).


My Disciples 

I meet with each of my three lovely disciples either weekly or biweekly. Each has a very different personality, background, and relationship with God, and it has been so amazing to see them continue to grow emotionally and spiritually during these months of global turmoil. We don't have a set Bible reading plan. It's whatever keeps them in the Word and challenges them, but is still doable for their situation. Every time I meet with them we read some scripture, discuss life and what they are learning, and pray together. I don't have a picture of Elaine because I didn't think to take screenshots until recently. She has been moving and is very pregnant. I'm sure she would appreciate your prayers. Her sweet little Elena could come at any time!

Neia

Amanda
Our House

We had to leave in such a hurry that the pastors ended up having to clean and sort and get rid of and move most of the contents of our house. Some of it is still in storage waiting for Aline and I to return, and some of it is going to be used in the new church building. It was a ton of work, and the pastors are true heroes for taking care of all of it. Shortly after we left, a canal in a nearby neighborhood overflowed its banks and flooded several homes. We were able to donate some of our furniture to them, a huge help to them and to us. 

The truck full of bunk beds, dressers, and a couch on their way to be donated.
Discipleship

The ideal for discipleship is that people are being discipled and discipling others. In the same way that Neia, Amanda, and Elaine are my disciples, I am Pra Ericléia's disciple, and we are all disciples of Christ. Pastora has ten disciples that are committed leaders in the church. We study scripture on our own and then meet together biweekly to discuss what we have studied, pray together and also plan events in the church. Last month we studied Daniel and Judges. This month is Nehemiah and Proverbs. During the quarantine we focused on praying for our families, our disciples, and our church. Now that Anápolis is no longer in quarantine, they are planning events for this weekend and the coming months. 


Worship Team

Several church members had been practicing with the worship team for a while before we left, but they had never led worship on their own without the missionaries. Since the quarantine ended, they have been practicing twice a week. They have grown and grown in confidence and truly made it their own, to God's glory!

Church Services in Person

The church started have in-person services about a month ago. They still stream the Sunday service and have an online only service on Thursdays. It's hard not being able to hug each other, but everyone has been respectful about wearing masks, keeping their distance, and staying safe.

Preaching in the States

Since being home, I've had the opportunity to preach three times on my home district; twice from my living room and once at my home church. Preaching in my first language is very different from preaching in my third, and I know this practice has made me a better preacher. It's comforting and emboldening to see how God uses all these situations to make me, and us, stronger and more prepared for His kingdom work. 


Upcoming Events

It is winter in Brazil and nights can get pretty cold. The church members have been collecting coats and blankets to distribute to homeless people near the church this Saturday. They will also serve breakfast and spend some time loving on people. (Our disciples are doing this big, wonderful thing!) They would appreciate your prayer support for the event, for the people they will meet, and for everyone's health.

I had purchased a ticket to fly back to Brazil on June 24th. Flights between the States and Brazil have since been cancelled until August. If everything opens up on time, I will be returning to Anápolis on August 18th. Until then, I will continue in my two online classes through NNU and spend as much time as I can in-person with family. Online ministry is not ideal, but it is an important reminder that God is the one who does the ministry of saving and transforming lives, and He does that however He wants. He's just so good that way. Thanks for reading!

We tried the houseparty app as a family,
but in-person with these crazies is just so much better!


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