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.JPG)   Saturday night youth group Tim plays and leads music Fabiana accepted Christ in 08 and baptized in Feb 2009 |
Most current journal entry starts from top:
November 9, 2009
Greetings from Bauru, Brazil
We wanted to quickly send an update before the craziness of year end ministries kicks in (both here and there). In the next eight weeks, we have four wedding/baby showers, two weddings that Tim is performing and our children are in, meetings with our Brazilian ministry leaders, calendar planning sessions for 2010, our Christmas program already with weekly practices, and our annual family night with gift exchange. It’s going to be fun.
As means of a ministry update, I’d like to highlight one thing.
In October, Tim organized and coordinated a four day seminar to train our leaders in evangelism and discipleship. Our administrator from the U.S. and missionary colleague from NE Brazil were here with us to teach the material. Fifteen people were involved in this training and received their certificates. Even though it was exhausting to prepare for and intense to keep everything running smoothly, the outcome was extremely positive. It was amazing to see the transformation in those who so eagerly wanted to share the Gospel but didn’t know where to start. The best part was on Sunday after the last four hours of the seminar, one man went home and was preparing for church when his nephew starting watching him organize the seminar material and began to ask what the book was about. This man had the opportunity to sit down and share with his nephew the whole panoramic view of the Bible and God’s plan for man. He ended with Christ’s provision on the cross, and the nephew’s response was, “that’s just what I need.” With excitement and joy, he came to church that night to share a testimony of how he had already put into practice the tools gained through this evangelism training.
As we prepare and pray for our upcoming furlough ministry in the U.S., it’s such a blessing to see Brazilians beginning to take ownership and get involved. We have begun the process of training and equipping them to take over our current ministries and are thrilled to see them passionately applying themselves to various areas. There are still some very key ministries that we have not yet identified who God is preparing to lead them but trust that He has that taken care of.
Finally, we were able to take a trip to a local seminary to meet with the head professor of their internship program. We are eagerly beginning the process of application to receive a seminary intern to serve beside us and our colleagues in this church plant. Another positive step forward.
Pray for Tim as he meets with several men this week regarding the possibility of ministry in a local public school.
Praise be to God great things He has done. Your partners,
Tim and Andrea Blazer
October 13, 2009
Thank you to all who took the time to present our request before the Lord last week.
What an amazing opportunity and privilege Tim had to participate in this forum with over 130 students!
Tim’s presentation, poise, clarity, passion, and declaration of truth can only be explained by the divine enablement of the Holy Spirit. He boldly and “rightly divided the Word of Truth”. I literally stood in awe of the power of God’s truth as proclaimed by his faithful servant. After three solid days of nonstop studying, Tim felt well prepared for both his 30 minute presentation as well as the open forum questions and answers. Out of the four religions presented, he was the only one able to use an absolute for his base of authority and foundation of his faith. He quoted so many Scriptures throughout his presentation and answer session while not one other was able to provide a concrete base for their particular belief. The evening was a powerful example of how light shines in darkness. As Tim quoted Scripture I couldn’t help but glance at the “bishop” of the local Spiritist (extreme with animal sacrifices practiced and all) church. Buddhism had 2 representatives, and there was also a Catholic priest.
During Tim’s 30 minute presentation he traced the Redemption story from creation to the cross and applied it to today and how this affects how we live our lives. He touched on worldview, addressed the idea of absolute truth, and rejected relativism while presenting an authentic faith that radically changes lives.
When the question and answer time came there were some obvious questions intended to “bait” one of the religions against the other and while the other three presented very “wishy washy” positions that pretty much accepted all who were “seeking their own God”, Tim was clear that he believed there was only one way to the true God and that is through Jesus Christ. Even though appearing as an extremist, he was able to communicate this in love and with a conviction that I believe penetrated the hearts present.
We praise God for the honor of such an invitation, and several of our church members even mentioned that they had read about it in the paper. We pray that this may open a door into this University for further ministry opportunities. When we first came to Brazil in 2000, Tim was invited to do a weekly Bible study (approved by the Nuns) in one of the classes at this University. When the professor moved to another university, the door closed for further ministries, and finding another door into a Catholic University hasn't been easy. Pray with us that God may re-open the door to reach these students.
One other interesting note: Friday Tim was exhausted and really just wanted a day to rest; but he had marked to meet with the superintendent of one of our local schools. Honestly, he was almost dreading the appointment that this superintendent had been begging him to come to but despite exhaustion, he went. When he came home he was energized and excited about yet another amazing opportunity God presented. This lady invited Tim and our church to speak to an open assembly of all the students (about 1000). She gave him complete liberty to say, pray, read, whatever he wanted. She also offered for him to, as frequently as he wanted, visit individual classrooms and have the same liberty there. She was practically begging for him to reach out and be almost like an on-sight chaplain with free and complete access to the 1000 students grades 5-8. Although a huge undertaking, for our small church plant, we are fervently praying about what God would have us do or organize to reach out into this school system. At the end, she called some of her staff and teachers in to pray with Tim and ask that God do a great work in their school.
Thanks so much for praying and being an active part of this ministry. It can be physically exhausting but spiritually SO rewarding.
God Bless,
Andrea for the Blazers
October 5, 2009
August 5, 2009
Hello from Bauru, Brazil
As we've experienced an unusually cold and rainy "winter" time here, the joy of ministry has provided our warmth. God has blessed us with several very encouraging months of ministry. The month of June was focused on celebrating the church's first anniversary. We filled the month with special singing groups, bring a friend contest, special music presentations, and a carry in snack/meal at the end. We averaged 7-8 first time visitors each week of the month and gave each visitors a coffee mug with church information. Many unsaved family members, neighbors, co-workers came out for the first time. Our goal is to equip the Brazilians to reach Brazilians, so we were thrilled!
July was pastor visitation month when we personally visited members and most attendees in their homes. With three nights a week and two visits each night scheduled, it was a crazy month. Although time didn't permit for us to be in every home, the many homes that were scheduled had overwhelming positive comments. Our goal was to connect with each family to show personal interest in them as well as encourage and help evaluate their spiritual growth and how we can help or offer ministries to equip, prepare, and assist in spiritual growth. At the end of the month, we feel as if we have a much better relationship with each family because of the effort to spend one on one time with each of them.
Tim preached a series of messages on great men/women that changed their worlds and focused on one Old Testament "hero/heroine" each week. He used a more narrative style of teaching and since half of our congregation is relatively new believers, many were hearing the stories for the first time. Some of the messages were over an hour in length, and our people wanted more. It was amazing ,and the last night Tim had a time of dedication with an altar call. Twenty people went forward to re-dedicate their lives and rekindle their passion. One lady, Paula, for the first time accepted Christ as her Savior after that service. In addition, during the month we had one child in our children’s' ministry make a decision.
Also in July, we had our first Leaders Ministry Team meeting and are in the process of training and equipping this team of Brazilians to pray for, plan, oversee, train, and guide their area of ministry within the church. Each leader is recruiting a personal prayer partner who will pray daily for them, their ministry, and their team of Brazilians that they are leading and recruiting.
Flowing into August, and still so excited about what God did in our midst in June and July, Andrea made a personal visit with a mother who had been attending since May. She was able to direct the conversation to spiritual things and was able to present God's plan of salvation. Just last night, Carol, prayed with Andrea in the presence of her brother and sister in law who both gave their lives to Christ through our ministry, and Carol gave her life to Christ. At least three in the room were crying with her.....tears of joy.
SO despite the cold of Bauru and the discouraging rain, God has sent warmth, joy, and strength to continue to fight the good fight.
Upcoming events include the whole month of August as our Family month....displaying childhood pictures and wedding albums, communion celebrated in family groups, a showing of the film "Fireproof", and many other family building activities. We are hosting a four week seminar each Saturday night in August on Family and Marriage and already have a long list of families signed up to attend.
Thank you for your involvement through prayer, encouragement, and financial giving that makes our presence here possible. We greatly value each of you and pray specifically for each and the ministry that God has placed you in right where you are.
We can finish this update saying with complete certainty, "To God be the glory, great things HE has done!"
Tim and Andrea
Robert, Moriah, Julea, and Levi
May 5, 2009
Thieves, wedding, funeral, Brazilian missionaries, Easter in the Garden, yard sale, fishing and more.
It’s been a few busy months of ministry here in Bauru, Brazil. The church building was broken into, the alarm taken apart, and many things taken. We praise God that no one was in the building and no one was hurt. We rejoiced with two of our founding members as they joined in marriage, and we grieved with a young lady who became a widow at 26 yrs old. The men enjoyed a day of fishing while we all worked together to host a church wide yard sale to raise money to purchase our own piece of land.
During the month of March we hosted two Brazilian missionaries, and even though we are a church plant ourselves, we starting supporting a Brazilian reaching Brazilians. Easter we celebrated in our local botanical gardens with a sunrise service and breakfast. The youth group completed the “Share your faith without fear” evangelism program, and the whole group was diligent to memorize all the verses. We rejoice as more and more Brazilian members are coming along side and participating in all of our ministries.
Six small group discipleship studies meet each week, and just today Andrea started one for mothers of young children. God continues to bring couples to us that are seeking to honor God through their marriage, and we’re starting our fourth 8 week series of premarital counseling. A fifth couple is lined up right after this one too.
So many other exciting activities fill our days, but our focus is constantly on God’s strength to get us through and His enablement to complete the ministry He’s working in our midst. We are richly blessed to be serving such a great Savior and seeing His blessings as people continue to accept Christ, grow, mature, become equipped in ministry, and lead and reach others. Thank you for your partnership and participation in this ministry.
Pray with us for the following upcoming ministry focuses: Ladies tea for Mother’s Day outreach, “bring a friend” campaign in June with special presentations and goals each Sunday, celebration of our 1st anniversary in June, couples banquet for Brazilian Valentines Day, pastoral visitation with each member in July, “family focus” month in August, and lots of legal paperwork to finish the legalization of the church. We are also focusing on prayer for our upcoming fund raising and decisions regarding property purchase.
Your partners reaching the world with the Way, Truth, and Life,
Tim and Andrea Blazer
March 10, 2009
Greetings from Bauru, Brazil.
It’s always exciting to share highlights with our prayer and support partners.
One of the great things God enabled us to accomplish was the official and legal organization of the church. After four weeks of membership classes and extensive legal documentation, Tim led the first of three organizational meetings. That Sunday we accepted our first 48 founding members. Our web page has pictures of the group.
We have also hosted several large events these past months. The weekend of Brazil’s holiday, Carnaval, our retreat started Friday with a youth camp out here at our home. After nearly all night awake with the teens, we prepared things as the whole church joined us the next morning for an all day seminar on holiness. The retreat ended with a big treasure hunt and ice cream.
Also in February, we had a special presentation from a Child Evangelism Fellowship missionary. Several of our members were touched by his presentation and committed to a year long training program in children’s ministry. We were thrilled as our goal is to equip our members to be able to carry this ministry.
We kicked off our small group program after our Christmas break with a new emphasis on participation. Each week, we are offering 8 different opportunities to participate in a small group. After the first week back, we had 80 people attend between all the groups. This was encouraging as it represented about 75% of our attendance base. Tim’s Thursday night group has new believers studying prayer and many of them praying for the first time in a group setting. Our Friday night group is 6 married or engaged couples of which all are new believers who have committed to a 13 week intense study on knowing God. They are memorizing verses for the first time and spending a minimum of 45 minutes a day in God’s Word. Each small group is special and encouraging.
Just this week, in effort to involve the church in fund raising for our own property/building purchase, we hosted a huge garage sale with a bake sale. We advertized on the local TV station news and passed out many flyers. The donations for the sale were overwhelming, and at the end of the day we had raised about $1500 towards our own property.
In February, we also felt intense attacks from the enemy as God continued to work. The end of January and February we had a very discouraging interaction with 4 key families that could have resulted in losing all of them. In our minds it was pretty “black and white” as it was regarding the wording of a point in our proposed doctrinal statement, but the emotional struggle was discouraging. Those two weeks we also lost two personal financial supporters, and Tim’s grandfather passed away. Despite obvious attempts by the enemy to discourage; we pressed on to see what victories God had for us. Within days we received notice from a church who had voted to raise our support; and that Sunday, we met with a young couple who had attended our couples’ event and later that night both gave their lives to Christ. They shared how just days before they had walked away from their life of drug addiction seeking a new start. Praise Him.
Although there’s more to share, we’ll end by thanking you so much for your support and prayers that continue to uplift us and make this ministry possible.
Partnering to reach our world for Christ,
Tim and Andrea Blazer
January 3, 2009
Hello from Bauru. The last 45 days of every year, no matter the country, seem to be a mixture of craziness, precious moments shared, memories made, too much eaten, and non stop activities and celebrations. This year was no different.
In November we started with the first of two back to back weddings. Tim officiated both weddings and really poured his heart into a special and unique ceremony for each. It seems that here, the pastor pretty much plans and writes the order, content, etc of most of the wedding ceremony. So, Tim wrote vows for the couple, a lengthy spiritual challenge, the correct words for each part of the exchange of rings, giving of the bride, etc. He did a great job. Both ceremonies were extra special since both these couples came to Christ through our ministry, were recently baptized, and after living together decided to follow God's plan and marry. We did extensive marriage counseling with each of them and really were able to mentor them through the experience. Ministry is often more "walking through life" with people then it is preaching at them.
The second wedding was the beginning of December, and then came our Christmas cantata. Val Smallman organized this, and the choir of about 20 started practice in September. We eagerly invited hundreds of people to be present on that evening and were rejoicing when we ran out of chairs counting more than 188 present. Many there were unsaved family members and friends. Everyone just carried on about the presentation which included a pastors' trio, children's special number, other solos and duets, etc. More importantly, the Gospel was presented and many heard how this Messiah could change their lives.
After the Cantata came our Christmas family night that Tim and I planned. We started with Christmas songs and other choruses with that theme. Tim gave a message on three gifts that Christ's coming brought. There was a ton of food to eat, and after returning with plates full of food, we continued with a talent show which included our 2 year old singing and playing his guitar. His song: God is Good, All The Time. The evening finished with some games and a gift exchange. Just in case people forgot to bring a $2 gift, Andrea bought 40 extra gifts and spent that afternoon wrapping them. Good thing, since 32 of them were used for visitors and others who simply forgot to bring their gift. Along with the games and gifts, people exchanged hugs, and I even saw some tears as we finished the " family night" together.
This week, we start our membership classes for those who will be the legal founding members of this church. Tim has worked hard on writing the constitution and doctrinal statement that will be presented and accepted by these members. We will hold two different assembly legalization meetings in February, and after those we should be a legalized church (the two joined as one) and have our first joined membership roll.
And, there's going to be ANOTHER wedding. This will be the fourth since June! Another couple from our small group Bible study, has decided they will marry in February. The joke at our Christmas party was that Tim and Andrea are the "saints of marriage". ... Whatever couple touches them ends up at the altar. Despite the joke, we rejoice since every single one of these 4 couples came to know Christ because of this ministry; and as they learned more from His Word, they each discovered that living together was not God's plan for them. So, slow but sure, as we challenged each of these "newborn in Christ" couples to study and see God's plan for them, they have all chosen to obey their Savior and get married.
The end of 2008, we worked to assemble a team of 12 Brazilians to help with the planning and preparation for the monthly major events. This helps us with new ideas and helps us to be contextually appropriate and effective in their culture. In addition, many hands make light work as we strive to bring this church to independence. This helps them "own" their church and really get involved. We've already had 2 very successful meetings with this team and are so thankful for them.
Now as we start the new year, Tim is preaching the month of January on "New Things" found in Scripture. We are going to teach them a theme song and use this as a kick off for the new year. Small groups will resume again as Tim reorganizes them. We are also spending many evenings meeting with our colleagues, the Spoelhofs, to plan forward with goals and new ministries for this year. We'd like to start full time fund raising for a property purchase soon as well. So there's lots to talk and pray about.
To finish, we rejoice that another young lady, Barbara 17 yrs old, accepted Christ as her Savior a few weeks ago. The cross in our auditorium was lit in celebration of her new life.
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf and on behalf of the thousands surrounding us who still don't know Christ. Also pray for those that have started their new life in Christ that we may be used to help them grow, love and apply the Word, pray daily, walk worthy of the call, serve in the church, and reach others for Christ.
PRAYER:
Besides the continuing events and property purchase fund raising, please pray as we work hard to build from nothing an effective and life changing discipleship ministry for these numerous new believers. We still need to structure the program, assemble or write materials with little resources available, recruit and train mature believers to be involved, and challenge the new believers for a year commitment to this program. We have been blessed with SO many coming to the saving knowledge of who Christ is and what He's done; but we continued to be burdened with the need to assimilate and disciple these believers in an organized and intentional manner.
May God richly bless as you serve Him where He has placed you.
For last year's journal entries select the link for 2008