Mission Trip 2010 Video

Watch a video of the Brazil Mission Trip 2010.

Thanks to all who served and those who prayed for this mission trip.

Day 11 - Heading Home

Heading Home

Sorry not to keep the updates coming, but we have been secluded in the mountains of Minas Gerias in a small town called Rubelita for the past few days. We saw God move in a powerful way as over 100 people made decisions for Christ in this small town.

After two weeks of exciting and fruitful ministry we are heading home. We saw hundreds make decisions for Christ and the need for at least three new churches to plant based on those decisions. May God receive all the glory for His work through His people.














We are sitting in the Belo Horizonte airport waiting on our flight to Miami. Then on to the great state of Texas. Pray for safe travel and wonderful reunions with out families.

Blessings.

Jim Thomas

Day 6 - Porteirinha (Day 2)

Porteirinha- Day 2

What a hectic, but great day in Porteirinha. School is still in session (which was a surprise since students are usually on winter break when we come). Since the majority of our work occurs using the local school, this proved to be a challenge. Leading VBS with several hundred high school students wanting to talk to Americans is very difficult. Nevertheless, we felt led to embrace instead if ignore. While part of our team led in normal activities, Pastor Jim, Chris Davenport, and our worship team arranged with the school principal to host a rally with the students. We led in worship and presented the gospel to around 150 teenagers. Many of those students came back to the evening rally where we saw many people make decisions for Christ. Please pray for tomorrow as we continue to minister in Porteirinha and love people for Jesus. God bless.

Jim Thomas

Day 5 - Good Bye Sao Francisco

Good Bye Sao Francisco














In the previous blog it was mentioned that the second night in Sao Francisco (SF) was the largest evangelical rally in the 130 year history of the town. Now it is the second largest! Our final night in SF was outstanding. We saw 70 people make decisions for Christ on the second night and as many or more make decisions for Christ on the final night. As a result of the number of decisions (the town only had 30 people in the local Baptist church), the Brazilian Baptist leaders are committed to start two new churches in SF. Praise the Lord!

We held our first rally in Porteirhina tonight. Porteirhina is a city of over 30,000. The rally was held at magnificent town square. Many of the town's people came out to hear the Americans and the Brazilian team. One of our team members led two men to Christ and they in turn shared their new faith with two friends and led them to Christ.

There is a statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the town (like in Rio de Janiero). Tonight the people were encouraged that the real Jesus was looking over this town and this Jesus was not made of stone, but was risen and alive and wanted to give them new life.

Please pray for our team as we prepare to start VBS and visitation in this new city tomorrow. Also pray that many will come out to the evening rally tomorrow night to hear the gospel.

More soon. Gloria O Deus!

Jim Thomas

Day 4 - Sao Francisco, Breakthrough!

Breakthrough!

There was a spiritual breakthrough in the city of Sao Francisco yesterday (day 3 of our time here). It began that afternoon as one of the members of FBC Ft. Worth shared the gospel during an afternoon rally and many came to faith in Christ. With few from the city attending the evening service the night before, hopes were high that more would come last night. Praise the Lord that many from the town came to the service which ended up being the largest evangelical rally in the 130 year history of the town. After the message about half the crowd gave their hearts and lives to Jesus!

Tonight is the last evening rally in Sao Francisco. Pray that more would come to faith in Christ. Pray that the Word of God would be proclaimed boldly. Pray that Jesus would receive all the honor and praise. Your prayers are sustaining us and mean more than you know.

Tomorrow: On to town number 2 of 3.

Jim Thomas

Day 3 - Sao Francisco, Preach Christ!

Preach Christ!

Day 2 in Sao Francisco proved challenging as our visitation team and VBS team invested in the lives of the community. This community is a new venture for the P-70 project and the first time in far west Minas Gerais. There is a small Baptist church here of around 30 members, but the town is run by the catholic priest and those outside Catholicism are not welcome. This reality has closed some doors of ministry, but God is bigger than such things and we have already seen spiritual walls come down. Here are some highlights:

• VBS attendance grew from 75 yesterday to more than 90 children today.
• We travel to smaller neighborhoods in the afternoons. Yesterday around 200 children came out for an afternoon VBS.
• Though few from the town came to the first evening service, many have come to faith through personal visitation and the afternoon rallies.
• We were provided an hour radio broadcast where Pastor Jim preached. This is the main radio station reaching over 50,000 people. Later that morning one of the visitation teams said a girl approached them saying she had heard the Americans on the radio and wanted to receive Christ as her Savior.
  

We praise God for all he is doing. Please continue to pray that spiritual strongholds will come down and that Jesus will be glorified in this city. Pray for this evening's rally. Pray for the community to come, hear, and respond to the gospel. Pray that Christ will be preached in all we say and do! Amen and Amen!

Jim Thomas

Day 2 - Minas!

We have arrived safely in Minas Gerais Brazil. We met some of our Brazilian friends from Rio at the Belo airport and are now traveling north to Sao Francisco for the first night's rally. It seems to be mission season in Minas as we met two other US mission groups, from Miami, OK and Joplin, MO, on the flight from Dallas. We stopped for lunch at a truly Brazilian restaurant and ate till full. Wonderful meat and fruit! Pray for continued safety and a wonderful first night sharing the gospel of Jesus.

Jim Thomas

July 2010 - Off to Brazil - Day 1

Our group of 23 missionaries gathered this afternoon at DFW in departure for Minas Gerais, Brazil. After 1 1/2 hours waiting on a repair to our plane, we arrived in Miami in time to make the final boarding call for Belo Horizonte. We are scheduled to land in Belo around 8:15am before trekking toward north Minas. Everyone is good of spirit and excited with the adventure. More updates and pictures to come.

Jim Thomas