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