Prayer Letter - Dec 2010



CHRISTMAS 2010

Micah 5:2 “And You, Bethlehem, Ephrata, are not the least of the cities of Judah, but out of you shall come one to rule Israel and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father, David:”

In the hospital the other day, I heard a lady say she has a neighbor that does not like Christmas. It reminds her of close family ties that have been broken over the years, and how people’s busy lives now don’t have time for one another. “It’s just too hard,” she said, “to see the good among so much bad in the world.” I could feel that she watches or hears too much bad news. But remember that the news of the coming of the Christ Child was the “good tidings of great joy, to all people,” as the Bible says. That gives us new hope for mankind and a future for all saved people with the Lord. But oh, how so many are preparing for this big holiday here in the Amazon, without the Christ of Christmas!

CRIANÇA FELIZ (Happy Children Club!) This ongoing ministry for 14 years celebrated a special CHRIST´S birthday program with visitors and special guests. This remote location along the Urubu River has become a regular ministry of our Philadelphia Church in Itacoatiara. This week there were three saved and the Christmas theme brought many good memories of the last years. A temporary recess will bring us to February, after the Maranatha Camps. In February we are planning a Five Day Bible Club using some seminary students from Manaus.

PHILADELPHIA CHURCH IN ITACOATIARA We thank you for special offerings and being able to finish the construction and new floor recently. Now we are setting an inauguration date later in January for this beautiful new building. Pray for effective ministry in this growing area of our city, and the new

Families to be reached.

Camp Maranatha 2011 It will soon be here! Special dates and programs are set and even campaigns are planned in the Churches. Pray for preparations and upgrades on the buildings and for an effective camping season!

We want many young people to hear the VOICE of God! We have received some scholarships and want to share with you how the young people are working on a Bible study program to earn the scholarships for next year´s camp. Maybe some of you would like to sponsor young people for camp next year. We are offering $20,00 scholarships to as many as we can to encourage them in their spiritual growth a Camp Maranatha.

Have a Great Christmas and wonderful New Year!

We praise the Lord for your faithful prayers and support for the work here in Brazil, during 2010!

You are important to Him, and to us. We appreciate those who contact us by e-mail and regular mail. We always enjoy hearing from you. It is great to hear how the Lord is working in your lives and churches, too.

KNOWING AND SERVING THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS,

Bob and Damaris

Prayer Letter Aug-Oct 2010

AUG - OCT 2010

Romans 15:4 says:

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Dear Praying Friends,

SEEING GOD´S ANSWER TO PRAYER!

MOUNT ZION BAPTIST - “This is a real answer to prayer” These words were spoken by Pastor Edenildo’s wife, Socorro, at the Mount Zion Church in Itacoatiara. Several years ago Children of the MCBAIN BAPTIST CHURCH in Michigan began to fill up baby food jars with their offerings to pour the footings for a new church in Brasil. Another couple gave an offering to buy the property and house next to the church. So the church began to pray that God would send someone to help them continue the building of their new church.

The BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH in Oxford, PA was the answer to those prayers. The Lord laid upon the hearts of 8 men and women to “come over into Macedonia (Amazonia) and help us.”  So, they came and jumped right in to frame and pour columns, and brick up the walls of this church in October.  As friendships were made and communication gaps were overcome (Portuguese) it was an exciting time for both the Mount Zion Church folks, and Beulah Baptist members, working at the construction site.  At the closing service before the group left for the States, hearts were broken and many shed tears as the time came to say, “good-bye.” E-mail addresses were exchanged with the promise that both groups would keep in contact with each other.  We thank the Lord, too, for our Baptist Mid-Mission´s family that helped in different ways with the Beulah Church, and for the many answers to prayers those days.  Again we saw God’s goodness and Grace among us.

MARANATHA - Damaris and I, and John and Robin Proios are setting up for camping programs next year, contacting pastors and workers and reviewing some plans for improvements on the camp property.  We also have material from the Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center in Rosman, NC.  They recently developed  the Camps Abroad program (www.campsabroad.org) with Matt and Ken Collier as a dream of Dr. Kenneth Hay.  Training materials are being prepared in Portuguese, and an effective and vibrant camping program is being planned for early next year.  Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will give us a great and safe camping ministry next year here at the Urubú River.  Also there is the possibility of some helpers from the US, too.  You may pray and contact us or Baptist Mid Missions.

Again, we are grateful to you for your support and prayers.  Thank you for participating with us in these ministries here in Brazil.  

 

Sincerely in Christ for the Amazon,

    Bob and Damaris Lankford 

Ministering in the Amazon with Baptist Mid Missions, PO Box 308011  Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 Phone: (440) 826-3930 - www.bmm.orga