Thank you so very much!

Thanks to all who prayed so faithfully during the 2008 September Month of Prayer for the Gaúcho People!!

Please remember these beautiful folks during the rest of the year also.

As for the blog, see you in 2009!

September 30

Pray and thank God for the victories He has given during this month and for the many victories ahead in the coming year. Thank you for your prayers and for your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

September 29

Pray for Revival. Pray that the leaders, churches, pastors, missionaries, and all other believers will have an experience with the Lord that is so deep that it will revolutionize the work of winning the state for Jesus and that thousands will come to know the Lord Jesus.

September 28

Pray for the cities where new works are planned in the next year: Pejuçara, Rio Grande, Uruguaiana, Passo Fundo, Caxias do Sul, Santa Maria, and other locations as the Lord opens the doors.

September 27

Pray for stability in the churches of Rio Grande do Sul. In the last two years, there have been close to thirty pastoral changes in the region. This many not seem like a large number but when there are only 60 churches it is extremely high. Pray that the churches and pastors will find unity in the Lord’s will and will begin to work together in the advance of the kingdom of God in Rio Grande do Sul.

September 26

Pray for unity among the Christians of Rio Grande do Sul. In the interior there have been many conflicts of personalities and different visions that have left many of our churches weak and with few resources to expand the work. Pray that the people will be convicted of the wrong attitudes and will be known for their love for one another.

September 25

Steve and Michelle Riddle write, "Pray for our trip to the United States and the many opportunities we will have to share about God’s work in Rio Grande do Sul. Pray that this will be a time of spiritual renewal and a new commitment to the task that He has for us. Pray that more people will catch the vision to reach the Gaúchos and all the peoples of the world."

September 24

Today, Steve and Michelle Riddle will be beginning their journey to return to the United States for our Stateside Assignment. They ask, "Please pray for the work in Rio Grande do Sul. We know it does not and can not depend on us. Pray that the leaders and workers will trust and follow the Lord and that many great advances will occur as the people and churches are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ."

September 23

Many people over the years have moved to the capital in order to find work and other opportunities. Now, we are seeing a shift to the other cities because people dislike the maddening traffic and high crime associated with the largest cities. This will be a great opportunity for urban missions in the mid-sized cities of Rio Grande do Sul such as Caxias do Sul, Santa Maria, and Pelotas. Pray that we will discover how to reach these thousands of people who are searching for a better and safer life and have opportunities to show them the joy and victory that is found in Jesus.

September 22

As was mentioned earlier in these requests, the Frontier Region is the heart of the Gaúcho culture. Although the number of true Gaúchos, those who actually work on the ranches and tend cattle is small, the impact of their traditions stretches across South America with between 20 and 30 million people claiming to be Gaúchos. Pray that the heartland of the Gaúchos will experience an awakening and that the light of Jesus in Revival fires will spread to all the Gaúchos in all of South America.

September 21

One of the great obstacles to the work has been traditionalism. Traditions are important because they teach us where we have come from and help to point us in the direction to go. But traditions can also stop us from seeing the new opportunities and the greater things of the future. Pray that the Gaúchos will not lose the lessons of the past but will find the renewal that only comes from being in Jesus Christ.

September 20

Today is an important holiday for the people of Rio Grande do Sul. It marks the start of the revolution between the Gaúchos and the imperial government of Brazil. Ten years of warfare that left a lot of hurt and bitterness. The war was fought for independence and self-determination. Both of these are strong characteristics of the Gaúcho. Pray that this force of character would be changed to be used by the Lord in winning the Gaúchos to His love and grace. Pray that the Gaúchos would find true freedom in Christ.

September 19

One of the great challenges has been to reach the large number of University students in our state. Rio Grande do Sul has the highest number, per capita, of college graduates of all the states in Brazil but there is practically no outreach to the students on the campuses. Pray that a means to reach this very important group will be found and that the future leaders of Brazil will be guided by wisdom that comes from God.

September 18

The Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul is a beautiful part of the state famous for its farmlands and for its small cities of German and Italian tradition. Still, the region has not been truly open to the changing power of the Lord Jesus Christ. A few strong churches can be found in the region but new works have been rare. Pray that the churches will gain a vision for reaching the region for Christ through the creation of new and vibrant churches. Pray as we consider asking for new or transfer missionaries to work in this region.

September 17

Robert and Kerri Hamilton ask prayer for themselves and their children in language and culture learning. They will be in Riberão Preto, São Paulo, working on this extremely important part of the ministry. Pray that they will have patience and understanding and will not become frustrated in “coisas insignificantes” (little things!)

September 16

The North Region of the State is majority Italian with the close knit families that mark the culture. For many years the efforts to reach the communities has been slow. In the past few years, there has been a turning and young people are coming to know the Lord and seeking to serve Him. New works are being developed in Erechim and in Passo Fundo. Other cities are being investigated but there is a need for workers and for wisdom to know where to start. Pray that the leaders will be open to God’s direction.

September 15

Pray for leadership of local churches and the new church starts throughout the state. Many skilled workers are afraid to begin new work because they lack seminary or formal training. Pray that they will see that the only ability God requires is availability. He will gift the people according to the need and the opportunity.

September 14

The Missions Region is the northwest corner of the state and has been the most evangelized portion of Rio Grande do Sul. Still, with less than 10% claiming to be born-again, it is a great challenge for us. Pray for the new works that have been started and that more will have a vision to start churches. Pray especially for Augusto Pestana, Salto do Jacuí, São Martinho, and the city of Ijuí where new churches are beginning.

September 13

The state Baptist camp in Itaara, just north of Santa Maria, has been a location where hundreds of people have accepted Christ or renewed their commitment to Him. In the past couple of years, thanks to the work of Volunteer teams from the United States and from the local churches, the camp has been greatly improved and is being used as an effective site for the training of workers for the ministry. Pray that this vision of teaching, training, and reaching will be carried throughout the state and beyond.

September 12

The City of Pelotas has been a tremendous challenge for the work. A community that is strongly spiritist with a large number of atheists has often been hostile to the Gospel. In the past year, the First Baptist Church and the Fragata Baptist Church have been planting new works and revitalizing old ones. The change has been dramatic with dozens of persons accepting Christ and at least five works being started or reopened. The challenge remains great and the enemy remains strong but the victory is the Lord’s!

September 11

The Gaúchos are extremely hospitable people but are slow to develop friendships. Mike and Donna Wilson are asking for prayer that they will be able to develop deep and lasting friendships. It is through friendship that we can demonstrate the love and peace of Christ. This will open the door to the sharing of the hope in Jesus!

September 10

Pray for the Frontier Region of Rio Grande do Sul. This is the heartland of the Gaúcho culture and is one of the great barriers to the expansion of the Gospel. The strong tie to their traditions has blocked the people from hearing the life-changing message of Jesus as Lord and Savior. This is the least populated region of the state with many people living on ranches and small farms or in scattered cities. It covers an area as large as the state of Maryland and yet has only ten congregations to reach the close to 800,000 people.

September 9

Pray that the visa process will go well for the Hamiltons. Many missionaries and workers have been delayed due to confusion and bureaucratic mix-ups. They have worked hard and submitted all the correct forms on time. Pray that all will go well and quickly as they wait for the return of the documents. These need to be in hand before they can travel to Brazil next month.

September 8

Pray for the Faculdade Batista Pioneira (the Pioneer Baptist Seminary in Ijuí) and the students who study there. While many schools and seminary have left their confidence in the Bible and are teaching only academic faith, the FBP has worked to maintain a high quality education based on the Word of God and every person being a minister for the glory of Christ. During the past fourteen years, Steve and Michelle Riddle, and other missionaries visiting in the classes, have helped hundreds of young ministers to be better equipped to share Jesus and disciple believers.

Pray also for the Camobi Church in Santa Maria. This has been one of the most innovative churches and has grown tremendously over the years. Presently meeting in a remodeled warehouse, they are looking to buy property and build a ministry center for more effective teaching, training, and worship. Pray that the vision to reach the thousands of people in the university and surrounding community will be fulfilled and they will stay on the Lord’s timetable.

September 7

September 7th is Independence Day for Brazil. Pray that the believers of Brazil will have the courage and strength to present Jesus so more people will know the freedom and joy that comes from the forgiveness of sin.

September 6

Pray for the new church in Bento Gonçalves (pop. 90,000+), Rio Grande do Sul that is officially being founded today. This strongly traditional Italian city has been slow to respond to the Gospel message but we are excited that there now exists Second Baptist Church. Pray for the pastor of the First Baptist Church, Carlos Pinheiro, and the lay-leadership which is working in this new church start.

September 5

Many of the people groups in the interior are difficult to reach because of the strong family ties. Family is so important to all of us and our missionaries who are in the moving and learning processes realize this. But many of the peoples in the interior use family as an excuse not to accept the Gospel. Pray that we will share the truth of Jesus and that we can show that God wants to win the whole family and make it stronger.

September 4: Introducting Robert and Kerri Hamilton

Pray for Robert and Kerri Hamilton and their children, Katherine, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Samuel, who will be arriving in Brazil by the end of October. Pray that all travel documents will arrive and that they will have a smooth transition from ministry in the United States to the process of learning a new language and several new cultures. They will be working with the Italian speaking people group in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul after the time at language school.

September 3

The state of Rio Grande do Sul is a mixture of many different groups that are generally called Gaúchos. There are Germans, Italians, Ukrainians, Poles, Spaniards, more than a dozen distinct groups with cultures as varied as the national origins. Please pray that the Christians that live and work in the region will have a greater understanding of the peoples so that we may better present the Lord Jesus Christ.

September 2 -- Introducing Mike and Donna Wilson

Pray for Mike and Donna Wilson, and their children Mathew and Hannah, as they are in the moving process. After a six week delay they finally have an apartment and are looking forward to the move and settling into the ministry. They will be developing a plan to reach the urban area of Greater Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, and its more than 600,000 people.

September 1

Labor Day is that transition day from Summer and vacations to a new time of work and challenge. It is a great day to pray for a greater vision and a greater commitment for those working to reach the Gaúcho Peoples. Close to 7,000,000 live in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul and less than 5% claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. Pray for an awakening that will see people accepting the Lord and churches being planted.