Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Phones: (49) 329-5598, 323-2356
Email:
stephen@armours.com
Friday, Sept. 21, 2002
"For
the Word of God is living and powerful..."
"Power".
When God says His Word is "powerful", what
exactly does He mean? Power seems to imply
several different things:
- Full of power to DO something
- Full of power to BE something
The first is "the ability to act upon something
or someone in an unusual or greater-than-normal way". To "alter,
change or transform it's intended target in some outstanding or unusual
way". One example of "powerful", is the bomb that apparently
erased Osama Bin Laden without a trace of him remaining! Instantly
vaporized. Pow!...suddenly he faced God the JUDGE of the dead! That was a
powerful bomb! Power can be used for both bad and good purposes. Bin
Laden used power on us, we used
power on him!
The second is "the state of being something
or someone unusual" or "standing
out from the norm". An example of that would be both
President Bush and Osama Bin Laden. Bush is the President of the most
powerful country in the world. Bin Laden was unusual in that he was
responsible for a horrid act of evil power. One is trying to use his power
for good (protection), the other for destruction.
Today, I would like to share with you folks some ways in
which God's Word has been powerfully at work. A little
history is necessary. When we started this task of putting together "video
Bible study lessons", we had no idea how God would use these tapes or to
whom He was targeting them. We began this work by faith, trusting Him to
lead and guide us as He wished. As far as I know, no one had ever done
something quite like these systematic/contextual/evangelistic studies on
video, so the road ahead was not quite clear.
Though we are still very much in the early stages of
reaching out with these tapes, some unusual and powerful
forces are already at work. We have seen a growing number of people coming
to know the Lord, either with a great deal of "heavy sin" in their past or
living in quite sordid circumstances when they start the studies. Somehow,
these tapes are going where others can't (or won't) and the Lord is
calling out a people for Himself among these lost ones, quite often
rejected by society. God loves sinners even as He hates their sin, and His
Word is reaching out to them through these tapes.
What are we talking about? What kind of sins? Prostitution,
pornography, homosexual relationships, abused and abusers. Somehow a tape
has no "social level" and barriers of culture, finances, race and
religious beliefs are laid aside in the non-threatening atmosphere of a
friend's house or in their own homes. God's Word is clearly and
powerfully taught, set before the listeners as few could do
personally. The result? Belief and trust in Christ, the great Prince of
Peace, their Sinbearer! With great power,
God's Holy Word is transforming...changing...reaching out in a
new and different (yet 2,000 year old) way .
Happenings:
- Stefanie has "returned to the nest"! She was just not ready for Peniel (looks like this "boomeranger generation" thing is really true...).
- One complete set of tapes is on it's way to Mozambique in Africa, another to Guinea Bissau on that same continent. The first, to a couple with SIL; the second to the President of the Evangelical Church of GB! He plans to use the tapes for training rural pastors.
- A request has come from the Christian owner of a TV station on Brazil's coast to air these Bible study tapes! Pray for wisdom and clear leading as to our proper response.
- Our "office expansion" of two small rooms is 90% finished and we have moved the "duplication center" from my main editing suite. I still need work tables, a good UPS, and some way to control the humidity. Plus some bodies to help do the dup's!
- I'm making some progress on the "digital tape-to-DVD disk" conversion of the tape masters. Time is always a problem!
- We are seeking God's will on doing a similar series in Spanish instead of trying to dub. We put out feelers and the general consensus was to redo the whole series in the target language and not try to dub. We will only move in that direction if the Lord clearly leads and provides others to help with the highly complicated logistics.
- Sonia and Cynthia continue to have very active outreaches in the region. Cynthia is very skilled with children as well as adults and full of good ideas. Her heart is very tender to God and she is blazing a pathway for others to follow. Sonia is very much a "shepherdess" to the many women she reaches. If she were a politician, she would win an election hands down! Her love, concern and counsel are greatly appreciated and she is a very busy woman.
- Pray for Stefanie and Lúcio (a good friend and believer) as I train them to use my cameras. My other two cameramen are leaving for the States right before we began taping the new series. Pray for patience, wisdom and skill.
- "ABE Produções, Ltda." is finally a legal reality. Now I have to really get serious about being organized! Believe me, that is not easy. It's been 30 years since I last ran a "business"...
- Our house is still not painted, but we are slowly making progress in some other necessary areas. Maybe someday we'll have some pics...
Prayer Requests:
- For strength, health, perseverence and continuing wisdom in reaching out with the "Beyond the Veil - God Revealed" series, and for many decisions needing to be made concerning the future of this tape series and others to come.
- For the salvation of many different people studying the Bible for the first time in this region and throughout Brazil. The Fire is spreading! Fan the Flames! Pray!
- For a planned 2nd phase of video tapes for new believers to be shot during Feb-March of 2003. This will be called "Beyond the Veil - Christ Revealed".
- Sonia has re-started a women's Bible study in a German town called "Homesick" (Saudades) about 75 km from Chapecó. Pray for the little group as they hear God's Word. She plans to use the tapes and add some her own information and Bible teaching as well. We plan to start another study here at home in a couple of weeks.
- Sonia's brother, Dan Templeton, is wanting to share the tape series at some large pastor's conferences later this year. Pray hard I'll be able to make a special "intro" tape to help them understand the spiritual benefits and blessings of using this approach to evangelism.
- For the twins as they look to God for their future and for Richie as he studies advanced math and Chemistry on his own! His other courses are within his homeschooling mom's helpful reach, but these last two courses are into regions not explored by either mom or dad! He seems to do quite well, so pray he can be self-taught with the good ABeka materials we have for him.
Thank you folks for your part in our ministry here!
Every day we are conscious of the fact that without those helping us by
giving and praying, we could not do what we are doing. We give thanks
every day for those that stand beside us. Praise the Lord with us for His
goodness and for the work He is doing in the hearts of men, women and
children in Brazil! God bless you as you serve our soon-returning
King.
Steve and Sonia Armour (Stefanie,
Cynthia, Richie)
"...we give thanks to God upon
every remembrance of you..."
I Tim 1:3 (NIV)