Prayer and Praise - January 2007
Larry & Ruth Lipka - Executive Director BGFM
Every year with our Lord is precious, and the year 2006 was no exception. So many burdens, concerns, praises, thanks, lost souls, weak believers, illnesses, ministries, legal issues, Bible studies, special services, finances, travel mercies, conferences, children, teens, adults and the list could go on and on, were remembered in prayer by all of us over the past twelve months of 2006. Join us in praising God for the privilege of prayer and His power in our lives and ministries. Let us thank Him for He hears and answers our prayers. Thank you for joining us in prayer during 2007.
Annual Field Conference
Our annual field conference will be held January 2nd through the 8th. Pray that God would use the messages in our lives and those of our MKs. Pray that in our business decisions, we might focus on the purpose God has in our being here which is to make disciples.
Ron & Ranelle Stucky
Pray for a great start to ALPHA's 2007 school year. There is much to do to prepare for classes which begin on January 25th. Pray for wisdom as we finalize our plans to be in the USA for five months in order to develop partnerships for our ministries in Brazil.
Bill & Sandi Graf - Missionaries at Large
We have a group of high school students coming to Rio Grande Bible Institute for a short visit this month. Pray that we may challenge them with the true meaning of missionary service.
Philip & Rachel Stucky
We look forward to a time of renewal and fellowship at our mission's annual field conference the 2nd through the 8th. It will be special to have our youngest son, Mark, with us from the Masters' College. After the conference Philip will be going to the states for his first doctoral residency. He would appreciate your prayers. Meanwhile, Rachel will be spending those two weeks in Fortaleza, visiting and ministering to our many Brazilian friends.
Jerry & Bev Lehrman
We praise the Lord for a new year that we are entering to serve our great God. Pray that we can be faithful in the responsibilities that He gives us in the Antioch Bible Institute and our church in Sambaiba. Pray that we can wisely use this month to prepare for the new semester that will begin the end of the month.
Dave & Sue Eldert - Medical Leave
We thank the Lord that Sue's mother is adjusting to the nursing home and Dave's mother is doing well in an assisted living home. The doctor's found a blood clot on the outside of Sue's heart when they did an MRI. She had five shots and is taking Coumadin. Pray that the clot will dissolve and that the chemo treatments will continue to do well.
Harold & Ruth Green - Finance Director BGFM
As we begin another new year, it is truly exciting to know that God is in control, and He knows the way before us. Our prayer is that we in the accounting department will be faithful stewards in the work before us as each day unfolds. We would deeply appreciate your prayers for our son, Nathan, who is not walking with the Lord. Pray that he would desire to walk in obedience to God's Word and honor Him with his life and living.
Paul & Elaine Syers
Please pray for wisdom as we look for Brazilian teachers to train for Antioch Bible Institute. The ones we help to prepare do so much better than some who study on their own. We thank the Lord for how well Evonildes taught Portuguese 1 and know she will do the same as she teaches Christian Education in 2007. She "practiced" the course on 13 to 15 students from her home church every Monday evening for two hours all last year.
Jim & Lydia Johnson - Medical Leave
Praise the Lord that Lydia's surgery went well and she is recovering well. Pray for us as we continue treatment in the States. Pray for Pastor Raimundo in Morada Nova as he continues to evangelize and reach that community for Christ.
Bruce & LeeAnn Nichols
In November our daughter-in-law's mother died in Caninde. We praise the Lord for opportunities to share the gospel at the funeral to many unsaved relatives. Pray that God would comfort those who know Him and would bring others to salvation.
Lucy Lieb
Pray as I prepare for the Priscilla School, January 15th through the 19th, and for a new semester at SIBIMA Seminary. At SIBIMA I am beginning an automation project. Pray that I will be able to effectively teach the student librarians the best way to use the software. Pray that I'll be consistent in setting goals for organizing my apartment and office area in order to be more efficient in my work.
Dan & Linda Anderson - Home Assignment
Please pray for a safe delivery of our baby this month. Pray for the children as they adjust to school. Pray that God will give us wisdom in balancing the needs of family and travel during our home assignment.
Priscilla School - Teacher Training for Women
We are thankful for the ladies that will be attending the Priscilla School in Fortaleza, January 15th through the 19th. Pray that this will be a profitable time for teachers and students. Pray for wisdom as plans are being made, teachers contacted, and students encouraged to come for the Poco Doce and Santa Quiteria schools to be held in July.
Ellie Driesenga
Praise the Lord for the opportunity to teach at the Priscilla School January 15th through the 19th on the book of Ruth. Please pray that each of the students would meditate on these lessons and apply them to their lives after they return home. Also pray for opportunities to share the gospel with my English students Elivan, Capistrano and their wives and for their salvation.
Joe & Jeanie Stucky
Pray that we would have meaningful visits in the homes of ALPHA students in the beginning weeks of the new school year. Pray that we would be instrumental in starting several evangelistic home Bible studies and as we train others in our church to become involved in this ministry.
David & Connie Johnson
Praise the Lord with us for our first baptism and communion services. Pray for the continued spiritual growth of the ten who were baptized. Pray for wisdom regarding a meeting place. Pray for funds to purchase land for a church building. Pray for us as we teach at the Priscilla School this month. We would also appreciate your prayers for our January VBS.
Wendell & Florence Ann Hayden - Retired
We're thankful for the blessings of sharing Christmas with our family. Now we look forward to getting back to our Good News Club at Voy-Spears Elementary School (public school) when the second semester begins. Our group of children has been very small. Please pray with us that more children might hear about the club and become a part of it.
Nancy Lieb - Home Assignment
Praise the Lord with me for the special time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Pray for safety in travel during January and February as I visit supporting churches and friends. Pray for wisdom as I contact new churches and individuals to raise the additional support necessary to return to Brazil in July.
Dale & Carol Johnson
Praise the Lord for Dale's work in transition radio ministry as he updates and edits messages, adds music from tapes of previous years, and then puts this onto CDs. These are made available to Brazilian pastors in out of the way places where help is needed and appreciated.
John 14:13
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Jonathan & Denielle Johnson - Appointees
We praise God for the many relationships we have been able to make and renew over the last few months. We also praise God for those who have committed to partner with us. God has opened the door for us to take a short term trip to Brazil this month. Pray that we would have wisdom to minster effectively and that God would use this trip to further encourage and challenge us as we look towards full time service in Brazil.
Brazilian Pastor's Conference
January 23rd through the 26th will be the annual pastor's Conference at Silver Lake Bible Camp. Pastor Lindemberg along with Jonathan Nichols will be speaking on family relationships. Pray that God would use this to equip our pastors.
Gerald & Amy Bergen - Retired
We praise the Lord for the opportunity to minister for three months beginning January 24th both at Antioch Bible Institute located in the interior of Ceara, Brazil and at the mission guest house in the capital city of Fortaleza. Please pray for continued health and Spirit filled lives as Gerald ministers in national leadership training and we both minister to the Brazilian people and fellow missionaries alike.
Ron & Nancy Johnson - Home Assignment
Praise the Lord with us for good visits with friends and supporters on a trip to Pensacola, Florida to visit our daughter, Rosie. Praise for gifts that have come in recently. Thank the Lord with us for the salvation of Capistrano, a young man from the outstation of Butija. Pray for wisdom as Pastor Vicente will be discipling him. Pray for Pastor Mauro, of the Jereisatti Church who has stepped out by faith to pastor full time and that the church will be able to support him. Pray that we might see our support level increase to the mission recommended level.
1 Chronicles 16:8-9
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.”
Pedra Branca Bible Church
Thank you for praying for Pastor Manuel as he pastors the church and directs the Christian school in Pedra Branca. Pray that he would continue to be faithful to the truth of God's Word as he serves the Lord in that community. Praise the Lord also for a good number of students and for an excellent teaching staff at the school.
Joel & Melissa Johnson - Missionaries at Large
Praise God for the short term trips we were able to make last year. We were involved with eye and dental clinics, having VBS in public schools, teaching, preaching, passing out food baskets to needy families, leading youth rallies, and helping with construction at our church in Lagoa Rendonda. Praise God for these ministries and the impact they have had on American lives as well as Brazilians.
Roger & Crystal Johansen - Home Assignment
Pray for Pastor Eriomar to be encouraged in the ministry. Pray for wisdom and God's direction for Marcelino, regarding working with another church plant in Maceio.
National Pastor - Pastor Jose Henrique
Thank you for praying for Pastor Henrique as he serves the Lord in a new church plant in the town of Ibicua. God is blessing this ministry and believers are growing in the Lord. Pray that they would soon be able to purchase property for a church building.
Leaders in Preparation
February is the beginning of a new school year at both Antioch Bible Institute and SIBIMA Seminary. Thank the Lord with us for each student and their desire to serve the Lord. Pray also for the teachers as they minister in various ways to the students.
