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