September 7 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

Please pray for R. and A., church planters in a desperately poor slum on the outskirts of the city of Porto Alegre. The church plant started several years ago, and has met in homes, a public school, and rented facilities. They are currently meeting in a former grocery store. R. and his wife A. have moved into the community and immersed themselves in the struggles and day-to-day lives of the people.  Please pray that they will be able to build relationships which will enable them to share the gospel and establish a solid foundation in Christ for the work. Pray that this church plant will soon begin to birth other church plants and that R. and A. will be encouraged and stay strong and holy in the Lord.

September 6 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

Please pray for E., a young believer in the Italian community of Alto Caraá on the outskirts of the Southern Brazilian megacity of Porto Alegre. E. was won to Christ as the result of the ministry of a new church plant in a community several hours away, and was the first believer in Jesus Christ ever in his community. E. has remained faithful despite misunderstandings and persecution, and continues to learn how to reach out to his community and a nearby Indian tribe. Please pray that he will remain strong in the Lord, and that the Holy Spirit will bless his testimony and life with great fruit.

September 5 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

Praise God for what He is doing in and through the lives of F. and A. This young couple is leading the new church plant in the Menino Deus neighborhood after having planted another church on the outskirts of Porto Alegre. They have faced a series of health situations, but have persevered despite the difficulties. Please pray that God would completely heal all the members of their family and that He would use what they have gone through to help them to reach out to others.

September 4 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

Please pray for the brand new church plant in the Menino Deus neighborhood of the city of Porto Alegre. Missionaries have prayed and planned for years for a church plant in this area, but it has never taken root until now. The neighborhood is strategically located in the heart of the city and the residents have shown openness to the gospel as it is presented within the context of relationships with trusted friends. Two home groups are in place and the church will be holding its third monthly celebration service this month.  Pray that the gospel will firmly take hold and that this church will grow strong and healthy.

September 3 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

Please pray for the church planting efforts among the urban poor in the city of São Leopoldo in the Southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.  A. and T. were trained by IMB missionaries and are leading a group in their home with the principles they learned. Please pray for A. and T. as they work bi-vocationally and lead this group, and ask the Father to give them time, courage, and wisdom to know how to reach out to their unsaved neighbors. Ask God to multiply their efforts and to use both them and their church plant as an example to other leaders of how to plant new, highly reproducible churches.

September 2 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

Please pray for R. and I., who are in the beginning stages of starting a new house church in the city of São Leopoldo on the outskirts of Porto Alegre. Ask God to give them the time they need to build relationships and evangelize, even as they work and study. Ask God to lead them to people of peace and to have the wisdom to know how to disciple them and bring them to maturity in Christ.

September 1 Prayer Request for the Gáucho People

The Metropolitan Porto Alegre area of South Brazil is home to more than 5 million Urban Gaúchos, less than 1% of whom have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. September is an important month for the Gaúchos, as it marks the anniversary of their civil war against Brazil which shaped their distinct cultural pride and fierce independence. Millions of Gaúchos turn out to celebrate their culture and heritage in civil war reenactments and celebrations this month. The Month of Prayer for the Gaúcho People recognizes the spiritual significance of this month and draws together believers across geographical, cultural, and denominational lines to declare that September is a turning point when through prayer, the Gaúchos who have lived in darkness WILL see a great light, and that the gospel will take firm root and spread throughout this spiritually needy land. Pray that God would raise up more prayer warriors to stand with us and the Gaúchos before the throne of God and declare that God will raise up His church and that His light will shine brightly in Porto Alegre!