Hello everyone!
We are navigating through a season of limitations in ministry but God is still at work and doing great things for His glory.
Starting in March we had to stop our in–person services all over again because of new Covid related restrictions for the State of Sao Paulo. So we went back to online Zoom Meeting and lots of Youtube Videos and video editing.
As of now, the situation is pretty much the same, but we are testing a new idea: a small in-person Sunday Service (with a max capacity of 25 people only) combined with a Zoom Virtual Meeting for the rest of the congregation. The idea is to provide church for those that cannot have access to the internet and at the same time keep our virtual meetings going while the Covid restrictions are still strong through May, and possibly beyond.
Please keep praying for the Covid situation in Brazil. Many hospitals are at full capacity and we hear more and more about people around us with Covid symptoms. There is this new Brazilian variant of Covid circulating and it seems to be more contagious and target younger people.
BUT in the midst of this difficult season, that in part “looks and feels like 2020 all over again”, we have many blessings to share:
Responses to the videos of sermons and devotionals have been really great. The congregation at Good News BC either participate online or they watch the videos on their own time. It is satisfying to know that people have been spiritually fed in this pandemic.
Kids are also being fed with a virtual Bible School tailored specifically for their age. Cynthia is leading this and has a group of ladies that are helping. They are really dedicated to weekly engage the kids in online only classes. 2 weeks ago, a little boy gave his life to Jesus during one of those classes. 14 kids are participating every Saturday in average. We are thrilled that the kids are excitedly participating and that their parents are making this time a priority by helping them log on, helping them with the weekly Bible reading and activities.
We are focusing on three people that we are weekly discipling/counseling at the moment – we praise the Lord as things are advancing well regarding those people’s walk with God even though our time with them has been more “virtual” now.
Good News BC received a donation of a very good camera from our Ministry Funds thanks to YOU. This camera will be used to record services and much more. Thank you for supporting this ministry through prayers and financial givings.
David is doing well and growing fast. He does not have many kids around him, which is hard (because of the normal isolation that we need to have and the church being more virtual now). But he enjoys every opportunity interacting with other kids and he is learning some Portuguese words, too. He loves music and has learned to sing several Bible School songs in Portuguese. He especially enjoys kidding Odir mom’s poor English skills- she laughs, and they understand and love each other that way.
Cynthia’s mom, Barb, moved away from Columbus, OH, to live in Danville, Virginia. It was/is a huge change in her life. The decision was hard, but all the family felt this would be better for her. She had a farewell at our sending church and she was able to sell her house pretty quickly and for a great price. Now she is living at Trisha’s house (Cynthia’s sister), but soon she will be purchasing a house there near Trisha. Please pray for this big transition and that she can find a house that she really loves as well as a lovely church community to belong there. We changed our mailing address to Virginia, but regardless we still want to keep Ohio as our base for furloughs in the future since most of our churches are there.
Lastly, just a reminder: you can follow us on Instagram or Facebook Page. The links are listed below. If you reading this as a printed letter, you can search for @ocbrandao on Instagram or Brandãos in Brazil on Facebook. Also, let us know if you need our WhatsApp numbers (an app that we use on our phones to text and talk for free from Brazil).
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/brandaos
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocbrandao
We thank you for your many prayers! Enjoy a glance into our life in Brazil through our pictures below.
Association of Baptists for World Evangelism
PO Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585
www.abwe.org
Sending Church:
Hope Baptist Church
Galloway, Ohio