P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La 71343
Dearest Friends
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask and imagine, according to His power that is working in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -
Ephesians 3:20
This is a little information to help you understand the great magnitude of the work in Brazil and the great responsibility that lies on our shoulders. Most people have no idea how large the work is and the tremendous distances that we must travel. Brazil occupies most of the eastern part of the South American continent. The only countries in the world that are larger are Russia, Canada, China, and the United States (including Alaska). The national territory extends 4,395 kilometers from north to south and 4,319 kilometers from east to west. It spans four time zones. On Brazil's east coast, the Atlantic coastline extends 7,367 kilometers. In the west, in clockwise order from the south, Brazil has 15,719 kilometers of borders with Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
It is in this vast land God called us to be missionaries many years ago. While we rejoice that thousands have been saved we have a deep burden for those who are yet to hear this message. The utter spiritual poverty of many towns and villages is constantly before us. Certainly there are churches, and many have adherents attending on a daily basis. However, a short conversation with most people will reveal a religion of tradition over substance, and more superstition than truth. We have spent our life showing the people of Brazil how vain it is to light candles and pray to stone gods that never hear or see.
The results have been rewarding and bringing into existence a humongous work spreading all over this vast land yet much work is still before us as we stand in the sitting sun of our earthly journey. We are not as young as we once were so the question still remains, “Who will go for us?” Another question adds, “Who will train the ones who will go?” Because of the urgency of these questions we push beyond our human strength and work full speed ahead preparing our people for the days ahead.
Our monthly budget to pay all salaries and support all programs including the Bible Study Program, camps, feeding programs, correspondence work, conventions, seminars, jungle work,feeding the poor, upkeep of main central church and many other things is now over $10,000. We have 4 National missionary families working full time for the kingdom and we have our preachers that are working side by side in the gospel. We try to help them with at least an average of $200 dollars each month. We have a team of bricklayers and their helpers that work full time building churches. We need to provide extra money each month for ministerial needs. We have need for additional monthly support so we can provide some medical benefits for these families through the Brazilian Social Security plan. To do this we need an additional $50 per month for each family.
Bibles, tracts and literature are luxuries when any extra comes in! There are always people asking for bibles!
FEED A FAMILY … Each month we buy food for hungry families. We buy a pre-wrapped box that is common here that contains staples and a few other things. These pre-wrapped boxes run about 40 dollars each. You may help feed a family by earmarking your offering for feed a family.
RAISING THE WALLS CAMPAIGN.... We have need for funds to complete buildings now under construction now and for future church buildings and parsonages in areas. We have preachers that desperately need a tiny home.
We have requests from seven or more churches for building construction help! Many of those churches have their property purchased at great sacrifice and now need help to do what they cannot do.
Our goal is an extra $20, 0000 dollars this year for these needs. WE NEED YOUR SPECIAL ONE-TIME GIFT. We are in need of vehicles. Many of our churches and preachers have no van or vehicle. The ones we have are in need of major repairs or replacement. The bad roads, the long miles we travel and just mission life in general takes its toll on vehicles. Only the Lord and we know how many times the angels help us get home with worn out tires and empty gas tanks!
Our churches need resources and materials in Portuguese to effectively minister and evangelize. We are striving to raise funds to provide monthly resources for each congregation. We also work translating Bible studies from English to Portuguese.
We are looking for monthly support for our national missionaries and our outreach program in the country of Paraguay.
Is your church currently supporting our work in Brazil? If not, why not become a regular partner with us in your financial support. We can provide additional information, or possibly arrange a visit with your mission committee or church. One gift can do so much in many different ways. All gifts are tax-deductible.
You and I have a Christian heritage because someone was a missionary. We enjoy the comforts of a Godly home because someone was a missionary. Our names are written in Heaven because someone was a missionary. Shall we close our mouths of witness, our hearts of compassion or our pocketbooks of mercy? No, missions is the business of every Christian. "... Proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."
1 Chronicles 16:23-24
As we face these new challenges of opening new works, building more churches, sending out more national missionaries we ask you to hold us up before the throne. We realize what a great work God had in mind 40 years ago but He who called has been faithful to help us in every situation and we can testify of his multiplying power.
I write this not as a petition for money, but purely as a plea for prayer and to communicate the dire needs and expenses of the body of Christ here in Brazil. While money is important, it comes in a distant second to our need for your prayer support. As many know we live in a very dangerous area and we need your prayers for our protection and for our health and strength. We need prayers for wisdom to know how to reach as many possible before it is forever too late. Thank you for being our friends.
In behalf of millions who haven't heard:
Brother and Sister Raul Alvear and family
"Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him."
II Corinthians 2:14
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