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December 2019 Prayer Letter

Dan Bennett

Dear co-laborers in the ministry,

As I sit in my office on the last night of the year, I can’t help but reflect on the goodness of God.

On Sunday, September 29, we had a special “Blue Sunday” to commemorate Deaf Awareness during the month of September.  There were 89 people in attendance, and eight deaf people made professions of faith. It was a, “Glory, Hallelujah,” kind of day!

On October 11, I received a phone call from my oldest brother, David Bennett, telling me that it would not be long before the Home-going of our earthly father.  I arrived back in Chattanooga on October 14, and me and my two brothers stood around Dad’s bedside waiting for his imminent passing.  However, as his three sons stood around talking, reminiscing, and laughing, Dad seemed to have made a slight improvement.  Within a week’s time, he was sitting up, watching football, and drinking buttermilk with cornbread (it’s a Southern thing).  Dad was a pastor for 49 years, and he would ask me to read the Bible to him, and then read some from one of his favorite commentators, finishing off with a prayer for family and loved ones.  I was able to spend some time with Dad and my two brothers while waiting for his passing, which turned out to be the most time we’ve been together since we were teenagers.  Just as I was about to return to Brazil, my father, William Edward Bennett, passed away suddenly from a cardiac arrest on Tuesday evening, November 19.  The two-hour funeral service was a blessed time of rejoicing, singing, testimonies, and challenges from the Word of God. 

I returned to Brazil on November 25, and then on November 27 we began our prophecy conference in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Bible Baptist Church for the Deaf.  Since this was the “silver” anniversary, I had invited my brother, David, to come and preach this conference, since he is the one that planted this church 25 years ago.  David preached Wednesday through Sunday, and three people made professions of faith in Jesus Christ.

December kept us busy with planning, preparing, and decorating for a Christmas dinner, and then Dan performed a wedding ceremony of a deaf couple that was saved in September.

As we start 2020, once again we want to express our sincere appreciation to all that have faithfully prayed and given financially to our ministry this past year.  We are very grateful to those that sent in a special Christmas offering, and your generosity has been overwhelming.  We are blessed to have you on our team, to partner with us here in Brazil, and we don’t take you for granted.  May the Lord grant you a fruitful, blessed, and HAPPY NEW YEAR as you enter 2020!

                                                                                                That all may “hear,”

                                                                                                Dan & Becky Bennett

July 2019 Prayer Letter

Dan Bennett

Dear ministry partners,

The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.  Psalm 126:3

We serve a mighty God Who is WORTHY of our love and worship!  

Back in January we were contacted by a fellow BIMI missionary in Jundiaí, a city about 90 minutes from our home.  He asked if we taught sign language to church groups, and if we would be willing to drive out to their church for the class.  We set aside six Saturdays in June and July to go and teach a basic sign language course for three hours each Saturday for six weeks.  On the first Saturday, we were shocked to see that practically the whole church had signed up to take the course. It was very moving to see the whole congregation singing and signing hymns and choruses that we taught in our class. There was even a man there named Santiago who only had one hand!  He told me that, even though he could not become an interpreter or very proficient in sign language, he was doing it so that his family would see his example.  What a blessing to meet a man with such a commitment to God and his family!  After six Saturdays, we had a special graduation ceremony on Sunday morning, July 21st.  We were thrilled to be able to hand out 101 diplomas to those that satisfactorily completed the course.  They are praying that God would raise up a couple that would head up this ministry.

On July 29th, Dan returned to language school, not because he needs a refresher course in Portuguese, but to interpret for a missionary deaf couple that has moved to São Paulo to learn Portuguese. This is a one-year course that will be two hours each day, Monday through Friday. Pray for Michael and Ruth Douglas as they learn Portuguese, and for Dan as he interprets and attempts to explain in Brazilian sign language the complicated verb conjugations of the Portuguese language.  Michael and Ruth have learned a good bit of the Brazilian sign language, and now they will be learning the spoken language to be able to read and understand Portuguese, and that Michael can study and prepare properly for preaching. They could use your prayers, as well.  Becky will be babysitting the Douglas’ two little girls while the parents go to language school.  

The new church plant in Arujá is going well.  Our co-workers, Jon and Hannah Speights, keep us informed as to what is going on in the church there.  There have been some tremendous blessings, as well as some incredible difficulties, but through it all we sit back and say, “Praise God for what He is doing in Arujá!”

Thank you for being a part of souls being saved among the deaf and hearing in São Paulo, Brazil!

That all may “hear,”

Dan and Becky Bennett

April 2019 Prayer Letter

Dan Bennett

Dear ministry partners,

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3

We serve a GREAT God Who is WORTHY of our praise!  We are grateful to God for every one that has a part in our ministry with their prayers and financial support.  We don’t take it for granted that God’s people lift us up in prayer on a regular basis.  We understand that it is because of people like you that we can continue serving the Lord in Brazil among the Deaf.  Thank you so much!

On January 13, two more precious deaf people made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Ernando and Solange started coming a few months ago, with a desire to learn the Bible. Since Becky has been teaching an evangelistic class on Sundays an hour and a half before our worship service, she asked them to join in the class, too.  After several weeks of learning about Heaven, the consequences of sin, the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection, and the forgiveness of sin, they bowed their heads and received the gift of eternal life.

On February 17, Ewerton, the grandson of one of our deaf ladies, made a profession of faith after the children’s class.  His sister, Emily, who made a profession of faith back on September 30 of last year, shed tears of joy when her brother was saved. 

The new church plant in Arujá is going well.  Our co-workers, Jon and Hannah Speights, told us that since they began holding Sunday services in their home on October 21, 2018, twenty-one people have been saved.  On February 17, they began holding two services on Sunday and a mid-week prayer service. In addition to that, they are now holding eight individual or couples Bible studies a week in their home.

Last month was our annual BIMI All-Brazil Field Conference.  We had a wonderful time of fellowship with other missionaries that are like-minded.  Several of our missionary couples have been here for over 40 years, and it is an honor to “rub shoulders” with these faithful servants of God.  These precious people are in their late-60’s to mid-70’s.  We praise God for their faithfulness, but we would also like to see some new, young missionaries that will surrender to come over to Brazil and help us.  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.  Matthew 9:38

Thank you for being a part of souls being saved among the deaf and hearing in São Paulo, Brazil!

                                                                                                That all may “hear,”

                                                                                                Dan and Becky Bennett

January 2019 Prayer Letter

Dan Bennett

Happy New Year from São Paulo, Brazil!

I trust that you all had a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!  I apologize for the delay in getting out an update of the last quarter in 2018.  I started to write a prayer letter the first part of December, but I received a call from my oldest brother telling me that my Dad was in critical condition.  We made an unexpected trip to the USA which put our prayer letter on a “back burner.”  My Dad improved, and I am glad that I could go and see him for several days.  We also saw our three oldest children that live in the States, as well as spending several days with Becky’s family.  Becky and I got colds while in the USA, probably because of the extreme temperature changes.  When we left Brazil, it was around 90 degrees, and then arrived in Charlotte, NC to temperatures around freezing.  Even after returning to Brazil on December 31, Becky has been fighting a sinus infection with the accompanying symptoms.  I ended up taking  her to the doctor, and she is now on antibiotics.

Since our last prayer letter, we have seen the Lord working in wonderful ways.  On November 18, Dan preached a soul-searching message on Hell, and two people prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  One was a hearing boy of deaf parents, and the other was a precious deaf lady.

The following week was our Prophecy Conference, and at the end of the Conference, another young hearing boy listened well during the sermon about eternity and wanted to be saved, so after showing him the Bible verses he prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior.

On December 9, we held our annual Christmas banquet.  This is not only a time of fellowship for our church people, but also another opportunity to preach the Christmas and salvation message to visitors.  Marlene, a deaf lady that was saved back in April of last year, brought her deaf boyfriend, José, to the Christmas banquet.  After seeing the message as to why Jesus came, José responded to the invitation and asked the Lamb of God to take away his sins.

In our last prayer letter, I mentioned the start of a new church plant in Arujá.  This is a daughter church of our church in São Paulo.  Our co-workers, Jon and Hannah Speights, began holding Sunday services in their home on October 21, 2018.  Since the start of the Deaf church in Arujá, 17 people have been saved, and they have been averaging 40 people in their services.  Please continue to pray for the Speights in 2019 as they teach, preach, evangelize, and disciple the Deaf in this new church in Arujá.

Thank you for being a part of souls being saved among the deaf and hearing in São Paulo, Brazil!

                                                                                                That all may “hear,”

                                                                                                Dan and Becky Bennett

October 2017 Ministry Report

Dan Bennett

October 31, 2017

Dear co-laborers in the Lord’s service,

Please join with us in praise to our great God, “that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Since our last prayer letter, we have seen God do some wonderful things in our monthly Bible studies in Arujá.  On September 16, we saw three deaf people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ.

In September, special recognition is given to the Deaf community around Brazil with a theme entitled, “Blue September”.  To coincide with Deaf awareness, we had the first-ever “Blue Sunday” in our church on September 24.  We had 64 in attendance, 6 first-time visitors, and 11 total visitors. One of the first-time visitors was a young deaf lady by the name of Jéssica, who Becky led to the Lord after the service. Jéssica said that no one had ever taught her how to be saved.

In October, we had the privilege of having our pastor and his wife, Dr. Kenneth and Christine Walters (Becky’s parents) here with us in Brazil.  Pr. and Mrs. Walters are from Southside Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC.  It was a pleasure to have them here.  Dan asked Pastor Walters to preach the service in Arujá on October 14.  Dan translated as the Gospel was given, and a deaf couple, Aloísio and Avani, put their trust in Jesus Christ after the service.  Also, Becky was able to lead Guilherme to the Lord, a six-year-old hearing boy of Luiz and Rafaela, the deaf couple that was saved back in April.  The three pictured here are the ones that were saved in October’s meeting.  The deaf couple is showing their free Bibles they received that were printed at the First Baptist Church in Milford, OH, and donated by a dear couple in Woodruff, SC.

Every month, the deaf people in Arujá that go to the Bible studies beg us to start a church out there.  Please continue to pray that God would send forth laborers in the needy harvest field of São Paulo.

In our last prayer letter, I mentioned the need for a newer vehicle, and some have generously responded.  Our pastor also sent out a letter to some of his church contacts, and even suggested that churches take up a special offering for a Thanksgiving or Christmas project.  For that reason, our pastor suggested that we wait to purchase a vehicle until all special offerings have been received, so we will wait until January to purchase the right vehicle.  Please keep praying that God would provide the finances for us to be able to purchase the right vehicle at the right price, and that God would give us wisdom in making this decision.

We greatly appreciate every church and individual that invests in the Lord’s work in São Paulo.  We pray God’s blessings on you for your love and generosity to your missionary representatives in Brazil.

That all may “hear,”

Dan and Becky Bennett

Teaching the Deaf to Read

Dan Bennett

I grew up in DeBary, Florida, a small city in central Florida.  My father was the pastor of the First Baptist Church, a small church consisting mainly of retired people.  My parents loved missions, and taught the church people to love missionaries, too.

Approximately 20 miles away was located a “Boot Camp” for New Tribes Mission in Oviedo.  They had chapel services each Tuesday night, and many times throughout the year my Dad would load up the family to go to Boot Camp.  Our whole family loved going out there and meeting those pioneer missionaries that had given their lives to reach the unreached.  They sacrificed a whole lot more than most missionaries in that they were preparing to embark on a difficult, and often dangerous, task of going into tribal areas, learning how to build huts and thatch rooves, kill and prepare wild animals of all sizes, and at the same time maintaining a friendly relationship with the “savage” indians.

However, what fascinated me more than anything was that these missionaries were preparing to go to unreached tribes that had no written language, and attempt to learn their tribal dialect.  They wanted to phonetically learn the language so that they could translate a Bible into the tribal dialect, and teach them the Word of God, and teach them to read in their own language.  Having to spend many hours doing this type of arduous work to teach them the Word of God required dedication, sacrifice, and commitment.  Having the ability to read and write is something that most people take for granted.

In some ways, this is very similar to reaching the Deaf.  In Brazil, the only language that many deaf people know is Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS).  Many have not been taught and have not learned to read and write the Portuguese language.

We tell the church members that they need to read the Bible, but that is like arriving in a remote, unreached tribal village, handing the tribesmen a King James Version of the Bible, and telling them they need to read it.  They must first be taught to read, before they can read the Bible.

My wife has a burden for the Deaf, and a desire to teach the Deaf how to read, so that they can read and understand the Bible.  This afternoon she started a “Portuguese Class” for those interested in   learning how to read, beginning with the “A,B,C’s.”   This is quite an undertaking, but if just one deaf person can learn to read the Bible, then it will be worth it.

I know that Becky would be most grateful if you would pray for her as she teaches Portuguese to our deaf people, with some being in their 70’s, and one deaf lady in her 80’s.

Thank you, and God bless!

Pray for Laborers

Dan Bennett

It is recorded in Matthew 9:37 and 38 that Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Two thousand years have passed since Jesus said these words.  The harvest is still truly plenteous, and the laborers are still too few.  However, there’s not a lack of laborers because I haven’t prayed for them.  Are there still too few laborers because YOU are not praying to the Lord of the harvest and asking, or rather, BEGGING Him to send more laborers?

Please, pray with us that God will send more laborers in the needy harvest fields around the world.

Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Dan Bennett

Dear faithful co-laborers,

“Only one life twill soon be past – only what’s done for Christ will last.”  (Missionary Charles T. Studd)

As I sit here and begin to write this ministry report, it’s hard to know just where to begin.  God has been so good to us, and has blessed us with many spiritual blessings.

Since our return to Brazil on December 30, 2016, we have been going “full throttle” in the work of the ministry.  The theme of our church for 2017 is “Revival of Prayer,” and so we began in January to have a separate Bible study for the men, and for the ladies on one Saturday of the month.  Dan is teaching the men, Becky is teaching the ladies, and we both are teaching on the subject of prayer.

We also have another evangelistic Bible study one Saturday a month in the home of Ademir and Rita, a faithful deaf couple who are members of our church.  They have been coming to our church for many years by public transportation over two hours each way.  They invited their deaf friends in their neighborhood to church, but it was too far away, and no one came to church with them.  In September of last year, Ademir and Rita began to open their home and invited their deaf friends to the Bible study.  After the very first Bible study, one young hard-of-hearing man named Luciano trusted Christ as his personal Savior.  In November, another deaf man, Robert, made a profession of faith after the Bible study.  A couple of weeks ago, Gabriely, a deaf lady wept for joy as Becky led her to the Lord on March 18th.  Ademir has a small, five-passenger car, so he makes three trips to bring the deaf to his house for the Bible study.  The deaf out in the city of Arujá are hungry to learn to Word of God, and even after preaching for 90 minutes, they beg me to keep on going.  I have been asked several times, “When are you going to start a church out here?”  Our co-workers, Jon and Hannah Speights, are leaving for furlough next week, so the start of a new congregation may have to wait until they get back.  Please pray with us about the logistics of starting a new church out in Arujá.

We have begun to use Facebook Live to be able to live-stream our Sunday worship service.  On the very first Sunday, a Brazilian deaf lady that lives in Switzerland watched the sermon, and was thrilled because there is not a good church where she lives that preaches in Portuguese sign language.  Imagine that!

There is much work to be done among the Deaf in the greater São Paulo area, but the fact remains as it did some two thousand years ago when Jesus stated it so well in Matthew 9:37.  Jesus told His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”  He then went on to say in verse 38, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”  We are praying for TWO FAMILIES that would surrender their lives to come over into São Paulo and help us reach the deaf.  Would you please add this prayer request on your prayer list, and join us in prayer for these two families?

As I mentioned earlier, our co-workers over the past three and a half years will be going on furlough next week.  Jon and Hannah have been a tremendous help and blessing to us in the work, and they will be greatly missed.  Please pray for them as they travel, report to supporting churches, and raise additional support.

We understand the importance of each person that gives to missions, and prays for us.  We could not do what we do without you.  THANK YOU!

That all may “hear,”

Dan & Becky Bennett

August 2016 Prayer Letter

Dan Bennett

Dear faithful ministry partners,

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for us as we travel around the country on furlough! We have been on the road quite a bit these past few months, with little time to slow down and catch our breath. We are thankful for the opportunities that we have had to visit in some of our supporting churches that have partnered with us for many years, and also to be able to visit some new churches.

On May 4th, we had a wonderful time in California celebrating our daughter, Anna’s, graduation from West Coast Baptist College. On August 25th, Anna will be married to a fine young man out in California by the name of Ryan Rodgers. He has a wonderful Christian testimony, a good work ethic, is a soul-winner, and is studying for the ministry. Please keep Ryan and Anna in your prayers, especially for the next few weeks, that everything would all come together nicely. Of course, Anna’s parents could use your prayers, too! We look forward to seeing how God is going to use them in the days and years ahead.

As I mentioned in our last prayer letter, our schedule is pretty full until close to Thanksgiving. We have three Missions Conferences coming up in Iowa, Louisiana, and Rhode Island. We will be back in South Carolina and North Carolina for November and December.

Since our last prayer letter, we have received some sad news by our colleagues back in Brazil. Brother Jon Speights had been taking time each week to disciple the young deaf man that had shown an interest in becoming a pastor. Unfortunately, a deaf lady that made a profession of faith a few months ago has managed to lure the young man away from church with her enticing ways, and now neither one of them is going to our church. Please pray that God would get a hold of their hearts.

We praise the Lord that another young deaf man made a profession of faith on Saturday, July 30th. Rafael has visited the church on several occasions, but it was at a birthday party that Pastor Jon was able to lead Rafael to the Lord. That is a huge answer to prayer, and we rejoice in his salvation!

We are still planning to return to Brazil, either the end of December, or the first part of January. Within the next few weeks, we will be searching for some good ticket prices. There are still many miles for us to travel before our furlough is over, so we covet your continued prayers for us.

While it is not possible to visit each one of our supporting churches during this furlough, we would be glad to send you a DVD of our ministry report. Please let us know if you would like to have one. We appreciate each one of you that has a part in our ministry.

Your representatives to Brazil,

Dan & Becky Bennett

April 2016 Prayer Letter

Dan Bennett

Dear faithful co-laborers in the ministry,

And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them. (Acts 14:27a) We returned to the USA for our third furlough on January 29, and we hit the ground running. We are thankful for our home church for the work they did in getting a place ready for us to stay in while we are on furlough. We were able to spend a little time in Ohio with our adult children for Joseph’s birthday in February. We then traveled down to Georgia to celebrate the 85th birthday of Dan’s dad.

We have been busy visiting supporting churches so far, and have even been able to get into some new churches and schedule some upcoming meetings. We will be traveling to Virginia the end of April, then out to California next month for Anna’s graduation from West Coast Baptist College on May 4. We will travel back to Ohio, then on to upstate New York and Connecticut before heading back to South Carolina on May 24. And this is just within the next five weeks!

Our schedule is pretty full up until close to Thanksgiving. We will not only be in South Carolina in June, but also in Georgia and Pennsylvania as we head into July. We will be back in Ohio, Georgia, and then Tennessee as July ends. In August, our daughter, Anna, will be married to a fine young man out in California by the name of Ryan Rodgers. In September, we return to Ohio for my nephew’s wedding, and then finish the month in Iowa. October will take us to Georgia (again), then to two mission conferences in Louisiana and Rhode Island. We will be back in South Carolina for November and December. With great excitement we will plan to return to Brazil, either the end of December, or the first part of January. We still have many churches to visit, and many miles to travel before our furlough is over, so we covet your prayers.

Our colleagues back in Brazil, Jon and Hannah Speights, are doing well in our absence. Jon told me that one of our deaf men lead another deaf man to the Lord and brought him to church. Jon is continuing the discipleship of Wellington, and has also begun other Bible studies with some more deaf that have a desire to study the Bible. We also just heard that Hannah and another one of our deaf ladies were able to lead another deaf lady to the Lord several days ago. We praise the Lord that, although we are not there, the work continues, people are being saved, and the deaf are growing in the Lord.

While it is not possible to visit all of our supporting churches during this furlough, we would be glad to send you a DVD of our ministry report if you would let us know that you would like to have one. We appreciate each one of you that has a part in our ministry.

Your representatives to Brazil,

Dan & Becky Bennett