* A closer fellowship amongst our area pastors.
* Pastor Domício as he starts his new pastorate in our area.
* Believers in our church with apathy toward a Christ-centered life.
* Senhor Arlindo’s health as aging with cancer takes its toll.
* And, please continue to pray for Vicki´s parents, Jack and Betty Dixon.
Dad spent a few weeks in a hospice care center because of intense pain
caused by what appears to be sprained ankles. He returned home unable
to walk. A hospital bed is being placed in the front room for his care.
* Pastor Domício as he starts his new pastorate in our area.
* Believers in our church with apathy toward a Christ-centered life.
* Senhor Arlindo’s health as aging with cancer takes its toll.
* And, please continue to pray for Vicki´s parents, Jack and Betty Dixon.
Dad spent a few weeks in a hospice care center because of intense pain
caused by what appears to be sprained ankles. He returned home unable
to walk. A hospital bed is being placed in the front room for his care.
| Tim & Vicki Reiner in a Far Place |
| Baptist Mid-Missions do Brasil |
| April 2010 |
| IS YOUR CHURCH ON RE-BIRTH CONTROL? |
This title may have gotten your attention making you flinch followed by the
thought, “I wish he said it a different way.” After reading a recent article by
Planned Parenthood (PPFA) and its purpose, I felt enraged at how, since its
beginnings in 1916, PPFA mushroomed into an international federation
permanently damaging millions of lives in almost 190 countries. In the name
of health and choice, lives of the helpless are snuffed out. What could have
been will never be. Its mission is clear - convenience at the cost of new life.
My convenience (well-being) at the cost of someone else’s does not have a
good ending for either of us. All of us have an intense longing for
convenience that goes far beyond a DVD remote or a wireless mouse. This
thirst can ultimately lead us to idolatry (self-worship). For those of us that
have been re-born into Christ’s family, it is good to be reminded that it will
never be convenient to live in this world again. Unlike the hymn may suggest,
this is not our Father’s World… yet. It’s inconvenient for me to talk to my
guilty neighbor that his sin can bring him to Christ; it is inconvenient for
churches to send out young couples to preach Christ in a faraway place; it is
inconvenient for your church to radically reach out to your community with
the Gospel.
I’m saddened by a recent change in one of the Brazilian churches we had
part in organizing. With the new pastor and new ideas, three evangelistic
outreach ministries were terminated. I wonder if that, too, was convenience at
the cost of new life - spiritual life.
Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus, to be a part of the Kingdom of God re-
birth must take place. Even though we do not have control over this second
birth from above, because conception is the work of the Holy Spirit, we do
have control over pointing people to Christ or not.
Embedded in many evangelical church statements of purpose or mission are
the teachings of Jesus to His disciples (Mathew 28) and Luke’s clear
message (Acts). By his very life and ministry, Paul the apostle vividly says
that those with re-born hearts are compelled to expose all races to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, individually and collectively. It still happens today just
as when Jesus seeded the kingdom of heaven over the countryside. Some
seed falls on fertile soil, new life sprouts, now they can hear, believe, and
produce fruit.
Each time your church re-thinks its outreach ministries, be careful not to use
what could be considered re-birth control. And by the way, tomorrow when
we see our thirsting neighbor, let’s not allow what’s convenient at the cost of
new life. The Gospel is wonderful news… tell him.
Study Grace - Experience Peace,
Tim Reiner
thought, “I wish he said it a different way.” After reading a recent article by
Planned Parenthood (PPFA) and its purpose, I felt enraged at how, since its
beginnings in 1916, PPFA mushroomed into an international federation
permanently damaging millions of lives in almost 190 countries. In the name
of health and choice, lives of the helpless are snuffed out. What could have
been will never be. Its mission is clear - convenience at the cost of new life.
My convenience (well-being) at the cost of someone else’s does not have a
good ending for either of us. All of us have an intense longing for
convenience that goes far beyond a DVD remote or a wireless mouse. This
thirst can ultimately lead us to idolatry (self-worship). For those of us that
have been re-born into Christ’s family, it is good to be reminded that it will
never be convenient to live in this world again. Unlike the hymn may suggest,
this is not our Father’s World… yet. It’s inconvenient for me to talk to my
guilty neighbor that his sin can bring him to Christ; it is inconvenient for
churches to send out young couples to preach Christ in a faraway place; it is
inconvenient for your church to radically reach out to your community with
the Gospel.
I’m saddened by a recent change in one of the Brazilian churches we had
part in organizing. With the new pastor and new ideas, three evangelistic
outreach ministries were terminated. I wonder if that, too, was convenience at
the cost of new life - spiritual life.
Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus, to be a part of the Kingdom of God re-
birth must take place. Even though we do not have control over this second
birth from above, because conception is the work of the Holy Spirit, we do
have control over pointing people to Christ or not.
Embedded in many evangelical church statements of purpose or mission are
the teachings of Jesus to His disciples (Mathew 28) and Luke’s clear
message (Acts). By his very life and ministry, Paul the apostle vividly says
that those with re-born hearts are compelled to expose all races to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, individually and collectively. It still happens today just
as when Jesus seeded the kingdom of heaven over the countryside. Some
seed falls on fertile soil, new life sprouts, now they can hear, believe, and
produce fruit.
Each time your church re-thinks its outreach ministries, be careful not to use
what could be considered re-birth control. And by the way, tomorrow when
we see our thirsting neighbor, let’s not allow what’s convenient at the cost of
new life. The Gospel is wonderful news… tell him.
Study Grace - Experience Peace,
Tim Reiner
To Contact Us:
Surface Mail: Tim & Vicki Reiner
C.P.111
56.302-970 Petrolina, PE
Brazil
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: www.inafarplace.com
Surface Mail: Tim & Vicki Reiner
C.P.111
56.302-970 Petrolina, PE
Brazil
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: www.inafarplace.com
| P.O. Box 308011 Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 USA (440)826-3930 Baptist Mid-Missions of Canada 187 McLaughlin Drive ٠ Moncton, NB ٠ E1A4P4 (506)386-6601 |
| Getting Acquainted with our church |
| Thank You For Your Prayers |
Project Fresh Start is a ministry of the Regular Baptist Press of Brazil.
| We do not have control over the second birth… We do have control over pointing people to Christ |
| ON THE CONSTRUCTION FRONT Tim built trusses and helped with construction of a small meeting place for Casa Nova Baptist Church´s congregation in Vila Azul. Presently, he is involved in an addition and baptistry for the believers at Vila Eduardo Baptist Church where we minister. |
Jéssica de Souza Silva
I accepted the Jesus when I was 9
years old. It has been 6 years since
Jesus Christ saved me. I thank God
for giving me the opportunity to praise
Him and to live in His Presence every
day. I am already saved, but as He
saved me I hope that He will save all of
my family. Amen.
Jéssica´s favorite verse is John 3:16.
Here it is in Portuguese, just as she
memorized it:
“Porque Deus amou ao mundo de tal
maneira que deu o seu Filho
unigênito, para que todo o que
nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida
eterna."
I accepted the Jesus when I was 9
years old. It has been 6 years since
Jesus Christ saved me. I thank God
for giving me the opportunity to praise
Him and to live in His Presence every
day. I am already saved, but as He
saved me I hope that He will save all of
my family. Amen.
Jéssica´s favorite verse is John 3:16.
Here it is in Portuguese, just as she
memorized it:
“Porque Deus amou ao mundo de tal
maneira que deu o seu Filho
unigênito, para que todo o que
nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida
eterna."
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.