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The voice of Evangelical Action (Brazil)
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Evangelical Action (Brazil)Founded 1938
Reg. Charity No. 277235
DirectorsJohn and Elizabeth Medcraft
Associate MissionariesIvy Dyer
Philip & Gylmara MedcraftBen and Miriam Price
Latin America Address:Caixa Postal 23
PatosParaíba
58700-970Brazil
Tel/Fax: (0055) 83 3421 2656e-mail: [email protected]
UK ChairmanRoy Dyer
Tel: 02380 890796e-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer/UK OfficeMrs Beryl Gough
6 The GladeLangley
SouthamptonHants
SO45 1ZPTel: 023 8089 1021
e-mail: [email protected]
EAB Council of ReferenceMichael Rollo,
Marian Rashleigh, Mike Holmes,Vic Lambert,Tim Lockwood
Action Child UK Co-ordinatorMrs Sallie Irish
Tel. No. 023 8036 8934email: [email protected]
InTouch EditorPeter White
email: [email protected]
www.eabrazil.com
NEWS CONTACTS
8
If you would like to make a donation towardsthe work of EAB, please send your cheques,made payable to ‘Evangelical Action Brazil’, toMrs Beryl Gough, 6 The Glade, Langley,Southampton, SO45 1ZP.
Alternatively, if you want to make a directpayment from your bank, our banking detailsare:- Lloyds TSB, sort code 30-91-85, accountnumber 02385564. (If you use this option pleasee-mail [email protected] giving briefdetails of the donation). Paypal is also accepted ifyou log on to www.eabrazil.com.Any gift, no matter how small, is greatlyappreciated and will be used to further God’swork in Brazil. (If you are a UK tax payer andwould like to ‘Gift Aid’ your donation, please askBeryl for a form).
We’re taking actionWhat about you?
The Voice of Evangelical Action (Brazil)
www.eabrazil.com February 2011Edition 79
Food for thought...In the village of Olho D’Agua Seco (which means, appropriately,‘Dry Water Hole’) young women prepare food to celebrate thearrival of a new EAB well. As we recover from varying degreesof indulgence over the Christmas period, it must be hard forthose of us in the developed world to understand nothing morethan the promise of fresh, clean water being a cause for suchcelebration. Makes you think, doesn’t it? FULL STORY PAGE 4
Dear EAB friends - thank youfor financial support andprayers throughout this year.
We're deep into the countdown forChristmas now, and I thought that itwould be an appropriate time toremind you that every penny we cansend to support the work of theGospel in Brazil will help to bring thegood news of Jesus to a people whohunger and thirst after righteousness.In particular I must let you know thatthe relative weakness of the pound(against the Brazilian "Real") iscausing us real hardship in maintainingand expanding the spiritual and socialprojects which make such a difference
to those in the north-east of Brazil.Whilst we are (and remain) verythankful for donations against specificprojects, we have a specific need foradditional ongoing "general"donations which can offset bothcurrency fluctuations and theincreased cost of living in Brazil.Yours in theservice of Christ,Roy DyerChairman, EAB.
John and Elizabeth Medcraft havenot visited churches in the UK forthree years so plan to do so
between September and Novemberthis year.A special fund is now open sothat EAB can purchase their air tickets.Thus whoever feels able and willing to
contribute to the fares fund kindly sendyour gifts designated accordingly to theEAB treasurer. Some churches havealready booked their slot in the tourbut those that haven’t should kindlycontact our directors direct in Brazil toarrange a date.
A message from Roy Dyer,EAB’s chairman of the Board:
EAB Directors plan 2011 UK Tour
It’s all a questionof balance.
Ican imagine a tight-rope walker ata circus being interviewed on TVas he lies splattered on the floor
with a broken leg.“What wentwrong?” asks the reporter.“It’s all amatter of balance,” replies the artist, ashe is carried out on a stretcher!
I often compare the Christian lifeand ministry to walking a tight-rope.Is it easy and without danger? Itcertainly is not if you truly live forChrist and stand up for truth andrighteousness, but the “servant is notgreater than his master”, so trueChristians can expect a bumpy ride.
EAB/ACEV sent a representative tothe Lausanne III Conference in SouthAfrica in October, 2010, where 4,400evangelical Christians gathered from198 nations.The Micah NetworkPresident, René Padilla, warns in hispost-conference reflections of thedanger of the dominance of a “strategyfor the evangelisation of the world inthis generation (made in USA)” as feltby him, our representative and manyothers at the conference, and “the
dichotomy that influences alarge segment of
evangelicalism especially in the West:the dichotomy between evangelismand social responsibility.”
We fully share René Padilla’sconcerns and strongly believe instrategies for evangelism developedwithin each local culture and neverdominated by one nation simplybecause it funded the conference orthinks its ways can be photo-copiedand reproduced everywhere else.Wealso believe that we must believe,preach and live the whole Gospel forthe whole man and apply thisevangelical strategy in differentcultures according to local needs andrealities.
Thus balance is what EAB standsfor.We believe that churches that onlypreach the Gospel, but have no localand overseas integral missioninvolvement, are off track.We alsobelieve that churches that thinkintegral mission is equivalent to socialaction are also off track.Thus in thisedition of InTouch we hope ourreaders will not fall off the tight-rope!
The Mandacaru church plant was aclassic example of balance in 2010.The new little church already has 14members and its own local leader,Brother Sitônio, is overseen by ourPastor Valdemy and his brotherValdemar. Local initiative thought ofan abandoned school in the areawhich could possibly be transformedinto a meeting place for the growingChristian flock.The church applied tothe Council who initially turned therequest down because “governmentcannot make donations to churches”. Itherefore suggested that the brethrenshould try having the donation madeto our NGO, we presented all ourcarefully drawn up documentation,and the people rejoiced when wereceived a yes! The school has nowbeen repaired, cleaned up and paintedand once again an EAB/ACEVchurch is fast become the centre ofthe Mandacaru community. Parallel toall this we drilled a very successfulwell which produces 10,000 litres ofexcellent quality water and in thedrought people and animals havebeen coming from far and wide tosee that “the half has never beentold!”
We saw another eight studentsgraduate from our Patos BibleCollege at the end of 2010 in
what was our 10th graduationceremony at the College.This meansthat to date we have contributed tothe training of church leaders in twostates, 12 municipalities, 17denominations and 27 evangelicalchurches all round the region with atotal of 61 graduates. God is good!
I suppose one of the most movingmoments for Liz and me in 2010 wasthe end of year meeting of theHIV/AIDS project when DonaNeguinha, who is HIV positive, hadthe courage to speak to us all abouther life and how the project is sodramatically helping her.We had tearsin our eyes as this middle-agedwoman testified as to what God’s lovein practice means to her life. It wasquite clear to us that our Christiansocial worker, Marah Danielle, is reallyappreciated for her love and respectfulcare and guidance, and that the groupsee her as some sort of “angel”. Howwonderful to minister God’s love insuch needy situations.
So we thank you for your prayersand financial support for the work ofEAB.We hope and plan to be inEurope during the months ofSeptember, October and November,2011, so as to be able to sharepersonally the latest news of the workin north-eastern Brazil for Gods glory.
3
INTEGRAL MISSION
There are many ways that churchplants are started. Sometimesthey come into being because
people from established churches moveto a new area and want to pioneer anaction church, such as has happened inSão Paulo. Others come into beingafter people have been blessed with awell, or had a team come from severalchurches to bless the townsfolk throughan outreach accompanied by a dentist,social worker and the Care Centreteam. Experiencing the goodness andlove of God in practical ways makespeople realise that God does love themand they are ready to listen when theGospel is preached.
Back in the 1950s/60s EAB had asmall church in the town of SãoMamede, 14 miles east of Patos, and itwas on his way home from a servicethat Frank Dyer was attacked by ananteater and badly wounded! Thechurch folded, but 18 months ago asmall group of folks wanted to joinEAB as they wanted to get involvedwith their community and their ownchurch had folded.After a year oftalking and teaching the new churchwas inaugurated in July last year with10 members, who were supported bythe Patos and Green Pastures churches.One of the new members already runsan independent evangelical programmeon local radio, taking us to 8 townsfrom where we broadcast. It is lovely tosee things re-established and increasingyet further for the glory of God.
On my recent visit I was invited to
teach about a dozen ladies at SãoMamede to evangelise using Gospelbracelets.The plan was for me to teachthem to make the bracelets and how touse them to share the Gospel. Whenwe arrived the church was packed withmen, women and children - braceletmaking was cancelled as there was noroom to do it!
We had to hastily adapt the eveningso I gave the packs of beads out andtaught the ladies how to make and usethem.Then I preached the Gospelusing a set of dragonfly photos taken inmy garden, and John brought theevening to a close by sharing theGospel and celebrating communion.The children were not left out ofcommunion as they were served a fewgrapes at the same time as the breadwas served, a lovely touch I have notseen anywhere else.
The São Mamede church isgrowing.That night one lady spoke toJohn and became a Christian soonafterwards, followed by her son.Another two people have also come toChrist in the last few months. It isexciting to see such young churchesmaking a difference in their owncommunities and it is a challenge toEAB to keep up with all that God isdoing in the difficult north-easternregion. Our founder missionarieswouldn’t be able to believe their eyes,and we need to keep up support andprayer levels for the work as the growthrates accelerates.
CHURCH PLANTING
Sowing the seed inthe Interior.
By Pastor John Medcraft, EAB Co Director
By MarianRashleigh
2 3
Pastor John Medcraft, EAB Co Director
One of the ways EAB seeks toreach out with God’s love isthrough the digging of wells.
On my recent visit, one very joyousoccasion was when we went to thevillage of Olho D’Agua Seco, near thetown of Tavares.Wear Valley ChristianCentre, Bishop Auckland, had donatedthe well - such a blessing and practicaldemonstration of God’s love.
While the well was dug in thelower ground of Olho D’água Secocommunity, the water is pumped 2600feet (800 metres) up a hill, and storedin water tanks. Gravity then takes thewater down to two standpipes which
supplies water to three communities;Peba, Gato and Olho D’água Seco.
For years the 300 people of thesecommunities had to walk over a mileto fetch water which is often dirty andunfit for human consumption. Manypeople become ill as a consequence,especially the younger children.
The official inauguration of the wellis taken very seriously by everyone asit marks a new beginning for thecommunities.At a traditional villagehouse the church ladies werepreparing the meal for the people whowere coming - their cooking wasbeing done on wood fires, a difficult
process when they were providingfood for about 100 people! The teambegan to put up banners and lightsaround the water taps and the concreteanimal trough that the children hadbeen using as a swimming pool!
One guest who dropped inunexpectedly was a mule, pulling acart along the road. He smelt waterand made a beeline for it much to theembarrassment of the owner whocould not restrain him, despite his bestefforts!
The people who lived in the threecommunities gathered as dusk fell –within minutes they would become
ENVIRONMENT
4 5
Watershed for ruralcommunities.
owners of the well amidst muchrejoicing as for years their plight hadbeen ignored by politicians.
Once everyone was gathered theservice began, during which I cut theribbon adorning the taps and mybrother, Ken, and I ceremonially filledthe first buckets with water to the joyof those witnessing this ‘miracle’.
The service included giving Biblesto the community leaders and theMayor of Tavares, as well asdistributing Moringa tree seeds to thelocal community to try and get themto reforest their area. Moringa trees arevery beneficial as the leaves are full of
vitamins A & C, contain 26% protein,produce high quality oil and is a waterpurifier.
After the service people relaxed attheir banquet - a simple meal ofmandioc (tapioca), chicken, beans andrice.We left the people to drive back toPatos, with their joy evident for all tosee. Now they had their own watersupply they would have better healthand better food, and be a source ofwater for those further afield in timesof drought. It also opens the door forthe Gospel.A church plant has alreadybeen started and the pastor smiled as hetold us that all four drinking houses had
closed since the Gospel had arrived!The final word has to go a mother
of five. Smiling broadly she said “I’velived here forty years and can’t countthe times I’ve queued with my kids ata distant water hole from six in theevening till two in the morning (thecoolest time) to get water to drink inthe times of drought. I’ve carriedwater on my head miles for all theseyears. It’s no wonder I feel emotionalbecause I’ve got water in my housenow thanks to EAB and God. Can youpossibly understand how I amfeeling?”
“I’ve lived hereforty years andcan’t count thetimes I’ve queuedwith my kids at adistant water holefrom six in theevening till two inthe morning”
By Marian Rashleigh
John had been reporting that thedrought was biting harder andharder as 2010 progressed. Last
rainy season all the county had was afew heavy showers as crops lay dyingin the fields, grass started withering onthe cattle ranches and people weresuffering.The drought became so badthat the Government declared it atotal crop failure – but did nothing toease this basic problem of its ownpeople. Prices rose so quickly evenbasic foods like beans and rice becametoo costly for some people.
‘Prices rose soquickly even basicfoods like beans andrice became toocostly for somepeople.’
On my recent visit I could see thedamage the drought had done to thecountryside as we made our way fromNatal airport to Patos. Cattle and goatslooked like walking skeletons, forthere was no grass or vegetation forthem to eat.All the way lakes wereeither dry or much smaller than theywould normally be.There was hardlyany colour in the countryside andtrees and bushes looked dead.Thetruth is though that this vegetation isin a kind of hibernation for as soon asit rains it will nearly all green up.However, it would need consistentrain to keep it green and allow cropsto come to maturity.
At Green Pastures Farm, because ofgood planning years ago, the lake wasstill about a third full. Here birds andinsects gathered in abundance andlivestock fully fed and watered. Manycame to our farm and took awaybowsers full of water, being pulled oncarts by a donkey, hardly able to walklet alone pull with a full load!
Our cows, sheep and goats lookedas they normally did, but just over thefence on the adjoining farm the sheepand goats looked like walkingskeletons.The owner could havecollected as much water as he neededbut he had not done so and hislivestock was suffering badly.
The whole situation is dire and hasa knock-on effect on every day life. InImaculada as prices of food rose,people cancelled building projects andbuilders moved to the cities to findwork.This has made it impossible forour Imaculada Church to find aprofessional builder to put up theceilings/roof on their new school, sothe children are still crammed in thesmall room at the back of the church.
In UK we think nothing of turningon a tap and having pure water cascadeout – we cannot imagine what itwould be like if we had to walk a mileor two in intense heat, queue up at awell for dirty water, and then walkhome carrying enough water for ourfamilies’ needs.We need to thank Godthat we live where we have constantpure water, and pray that the newBrazilian government will have a heartfor all her citizens and help the poor byproviding local access to water supplies.
FEATURE
6 7
GreenPastures:spring in the
desert.
Surviving the drought at GreenPastures Farm: Main picture; Onehorsepower water bowser!Right;Thanks to foresight and goodmanagement, our sheep still lookhealthy, despite the drought.Far right; Green Pastures’ lake, now justone-third full.
PHOTOS BY MARIAN RASHLEIGH
By Marian Rashleigh
Evangelical Action (Brazil)Founded 1938
Reg. Charity No. 277235
DirectorsJohn and Elizabeth Medcraft
Associate MissionariesIvy Dyer
Philip & Gylmara MedcraftBen and Miriam Price
Latin America Address:Caixa Postal 23
PatosParaíba
58700-970Brazil
Tel/Fax: (0055) 83 3421 2656e-mail: [email protected]
UK ChairmanRoy Dyer
Tel: 02380 890796e-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer/UK OfficeMrs Beryl Gough
6 The GladeLangley
SouthamptonHants
SO45 1ZPTel: 023 8089 1021
e-mail: [email protected]
EAB Council of ReferenceMichael Rollo,
Marian Rashleigh, Mike Holmes,Vic Lambert,Tim Lockwood
Action Child UK Co-ordinatorMrs Sallie Irish
Tel. No. 023 8036 8934email: [email protected]
InTouch EditorPeter White
email: [email protected]
www.eabrazil.com
NEWS CONTACTS
8
If you would like to make a donation towardsthe work of EAB, please send your cheques,made payable to ‘Evangelical Action Brazil’, toMrs Beryl Gough, 6 The Glade, Langley,Southampton, SO45 1ZP.
Alternatively, if you want to make a directpayment from your bank, our banking detailsare:- Lloyds TSB, sort code 30-91-85, accountnumber 02385564. (If you use this option pleasee-mail [email protected] giving briefdetails of the donation). Paypal is also accepted ifyou log on to www.eabrazil.com.Any gift, no matter how small, is greatlyappreciated and will be used to further God’swork in Brazil. (If you are a UK tax payer andwould like to ‘Gift Aid’ your donation, please askBeryl for a form).
We’re taking actionWhat about you?
The Voice of Evangelical Action (Brazil)
www.eabrazil.com February 2011Edition 79
Food for thought...In the village of Olho D’Agua Seco (which means, appropriately,‘Dry Water Hole’) young women prepare food to celebrate thearrival of a new EAB well. As we recover from varying degreesof indulgence over the Christmas period, it must be hard forthose of us in the developed world to understand nothing morethan the promise of fresh, clean water being a cause for suchcelebration. Makes you think, doesn’t it? FULL STORY PAGE 4
Dear EAB friends - thank youfor financial support andprayers throughout this year.
We're deep into the countdown forChristmas now, and I thought that itwould be an appropriate time toremind you that every penny we cansend to support the work of theGospel in Brazil will help to bring thegood news of Jesus to a people whohunger and thirst after righteousness.In particular I must let you know thatthe relative weakness of the pound(against the Brazilian "Real") iscausing us real hardship in maintainingand expanding the spiritual and socialprojects which make such a difference
to those in the north-east of Brazil.Whilst we are (and remain) verythankful for donations against specificprojects, we have a specific need foradditional ongoing "general"donations which can offset bothcurrency fluctuations and theincreased cost of living in Brazil.Yours in theservice of Christ,Roy DyerChairman, EAB.
John and Elizabeth Medcraft havenot visited churches in the UK forthree years so plan to do so
between September and Novemberthis year.A special fund is now open sothat EAB can purchase their air tickets.Thus whoever feels able and willing to
contribute to the fares fund kindly sendyour gifts designated accordingly to theEAB treasurer. Some churches havealready booked their slot in the tourbut those that haven’t should kindlycontact our directors direct in Brazil toarrange a date.
A message from Roy Dyer,EAB’s chairman of the Board:
EAB Directors plan 2011 UK Tour
