CASA DE MEU PAI – My Father`s House
News and prayer letter recently received from CASA DE MEU PAI – My Father`s House into the SAMS office:
More Like Jesus
Setting the scene:
Paul founded the church in Galatia – a huge Roman province. Paul insisted that
repentance and faith in Christ was all that was needed to receive this new life with God – but now some Jewish teachers were insisting that non-Jews needed to be circumcised and observe Jewish laws. Paul is not happy and suggests if that is true then why not go the whole hog and castrate yourself! (Gal 5.12)
So, Paul in chapter 5, begins a magnificent dialogue on ‘freedom in Christ’. Christ has saved us to set us free – not to live permissive, indulgent lives – but freedom to live as God’s children. Paul contrasts two lists of behaviours, the first are the result of fallen human desires. The second set are the result of faith in Christ and the impact of the Spirit upon our lives.
‘Fruit’ is an old metaphor – but one that was obvious in the agricultural setting of Israel. Jesus also spoke about ‘recognising a tree by its fruit’ (Matt 7.16).
- Which of the ‘fruits’ listed in v22 do you feel are least evident at this point in your life?
- Which of the fruits would you like to be most evident in your life right now?
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
In what sense does the Holy Spirit ‘teach us’? How does the Holy Spirit transform us? How does the Holy Spirit help us to pray? The Holy Spirits role is to make Jesus real to us and to make us like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit ‘teaches us’ by helping us to make better sense of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. This includes helping us understand the meaning of scripture but also growing through this understanding. But the Spirit can also ‘teach us’ by providing Christ-like understanding of issues and situations. The Holy Spirit transforms us by prompting and even cajoling us to become like Jesus. Negatively he makes us aware of un-Christ-like attitudes and actions but also increases our distaste for them – thus he helps us break free from those things which hold us back.
Positively he fills us with both a desire and the power to become more like Jesus, although according to 1 John 3. 2 this process is not complete in this earthly life. When it comes to prayer, the Holy Spirit helps us by awakening in us a longing to know God better, but also gives us the assurance that prayer is worthwhile because he helps us know God loves us deeply (Romans 5.5; 8. 15 -16). Sometimes the Holy Spirit shows us how to pray by giving us insight into the subject for our praying. Then again the Holy Spirit can prompt us to keep praying or give us a sense that we should leave our prayer with God.
The late John Stott observed that the Christian life is life in the Spirit and it would be impossible to be a Christian, let alone to live and grow as a Christian, without the ministry of the gracious Spirit of God. All we have and are as Christians we owe to him.
Latest News and Prayer Letters
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office:
Paul, Sarah and Sophia’s News
Dear Praying Friends,
Apologies for the delay between news for your prayers! We hope all is well with you!
When we write a prayer letter like this it is good to take time to take stock and think through what has happened and where we are heading. This time is no exception. Do please continue to join us in thanks for what God is doing here in Peru and pray for us as we continue to seek to serve God as he leads us.
A stop press prayer request. Please pray for the Youth Alpha which Paul has helped launch for the young people at the Compassion project at our church. It began on Thursday 6th June and we pray it will help many young people to know Jesus and grow in their faith in him.
Thanks for your support.
Love from us all,
Paul, Sarah and Sophia
Ali Young writes from Recife, Brazil
Hi one and all! Hope this finds you well!
I haven’t been able to send a newsletter this month because my laptop died and though I got it fixed I still have a big problem with the software, which hopefully is being sorted as I write! As soon as I can I will send out news!
However in the meantime, I just wanted to inform you of something so that you can pray!
The daily situation at Vale has suddenly turned critical, in that our financial sponsors have pulled out, leaving us completely dependent on donations of food, to feed the kids (which thank the Lord we are still able to do, all be it not necessarily healthily!) The other workers have also not received their salary for the past 2 months and we can’t see where it’s going to come from! So it’s all rather shaky, BUT we are still trusting in God and believe that he still has a plan for Vale and the lives of these incredibly vulnerable kids!
Thank you for your continued support. love ali
Mags Southern and Gwen Carlisle’s news from Paraguay is available on request.
God Bless,
Jo Hazelton MCIPD
Regional Personnel Officer (South America)
Latest News and Prayer Letters
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office:
Gwen & Mags Prayer & News June 2013
Gwen & Mags Prayer News recently received into the SAMS office:
Dear Friends,
Thankyou for praying so faithfully for us. We are aware of how much you help to support us in that role. This last month has been a very difficult time and we have been even more aware of our need of prayer in these times.
We have had a few very difficult issues to deal with in school which have resulted in us having to ask two people, in two separate incidents, to leave. These situations are never easy and we all feel the loss of a member. Even so, we know our battles are not really with flesh and blood and know that this is a spiritual battle and one that God can use for our good and also for the good of the school. These situations make us even more dependent on the Lord and our desire is that we should act fairly and with Christian principles so that the Lord can work in us making us even more like Him and so strengthening our testimony to those around us. Please continue to pray for us and the school.
There have been some good moments too! We have continued to celebrate the decades and the top primary classes depicted the 80’s with a fantastic show which was enjoyed by all. This next week we move to the 90’s with the new century coming a few weeks later!!
As part of our celebrations we want to redo the bathrooms for the children in the Annexe school which are as they were built 40 years ago. We had a jumble sale at the beginning of the month and despite the rain raised over a thousand pounds.
Mags has once more been to the sports camp in Brazil, this time with the younger secondary pupils. They took over 50 pupils to play sports with some Brazilian schools. Amazingly they won quite a lot of their matches! They had a fantastic time and returned to school this week. The 9th Grade boys even beat the monitors in Basketball.
The primary and secondary pupils are now coming to the end of exam time and now reports are due! Gwen is pleased with the way her infant class are progressing and enjoys her hour a day there. She also takes a 6th grade group on Tuesday afternoons. This will increase a little in this new month as Rachel Rudman is going to England to get married before returning with her new, Paraguayan, ex pupil, husband!
Mags is busy with her maths classes and very thankful for the help of Sarah Clarkson who, somehow, arrived in Paraguay at just the right time!!
Preparations are well under way for our 50th anniversary celebrations. The children are all practising marching for our school’s march down the main street in town on June 22nd. It seemed an odd idea to us but something people here do! Anyway, we hope to use it as a time of witness with singing and then a talk. This coming Friday we are all going to our sports ground to practise marching and this time it will be the whole school and staff!!!!!
Our big school supper will be on June 28th in the evening. This will be a big event and there will be room for over a thousand people including ex pupils, parents and staff and some of the older pupils. Some of the ex pupils who are parents are organizing this for us. Please pray that our celebrations will be honouring to God and might reach out to others. During the week of June 22 to 28th we will have other events too like an ex pupils’ service where we hope Bishop Greg will speak, a school service where Bishop Ken Clarke from SAMS Ireland will speak, the supper where Bishop Peter will speak and also a Gala night.
Thankyou once again for your prayers. We are planning to come to England at the end of the year and hope to visit some of our link churches in January. If you would like us to visit please get in touch with us via e mail. We won’t make it to everyone but hope to see as many as possible.
God Bless and Lots of love,
Gwen and Mags xx
Beryl Baker Update
Beryl Baker Update recently received into the SAMS office:
Prayer News from Claire
Prayer News from Claire recently received into the SAMS office:
G8 : Awareness – Focus – Prayer
All of the world’s eyes will be on Co. Fermanagh during this month. As representatives of the Body of Christ SAMS wants to encourage you to be aware of the significance of this gathering, focus during the month of June on this gathering and pray. We along with the whole of the church across the nations have a responsibility to pray for all those who are in authority over nations and this is a clear opportunity and privilege to do so.
Why do we need to pray for the G8 Summit?
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 2:1–4).
These Heads of State each carry enormous responsibilities and huge pressures of the world, its difficulties and its problems on their shoulders. So, we are calling you, as a member of the Body of Christ across the nations to stand together at this time and pray in the months coming up to, during the G8 itself and in the days after.
Regardless of denomination or background, God has called us to pray for our leaders so please stand with us in unity and pray for the G8.
Please follow this 8 Day Prayer Guide and join us as we pray:
- That as leaders come into Northern Ireland they would come into the presence of God, receive God’s help and be blessed
- For God’s protection, that everyone will be kept safe and well throughout their stay
- That they will receive wisdom and insight from God
- That God’s will is done as they discuss issues that are of global importance
- For their families and personal lives
This is a moment in history, a great opportunity. As they gather we should pray for God’s will to be done – ‘for justice to roll like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream’ (Amos 5:24) and for God’s Kingdom values and purposes to be expressed through their decisions.
Please us the prayer guide for the month of June pre, during and post the G8 itself.
Background
G8 stands for the ‘Group of Eight’. First held in 1975 in France and has since become the annual summer summit of Heads of States of 8 Nations. These nations include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK and USA. Originally established to overview global economic developments, it has extended itself to cover almost all of global affairs.
- Between them, the 8 Heads of State, although only 14% of the world population:
- Represent the majority of the Un Security Council. Represent about 51% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011.
- Are the main financial givers to the World Bank and IMF. Control 96% of the world’s nuclear weapons
Members
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, USA and the EU.
Each one of the eight nations holds the presidency of the G8 for a year, 2013 is the year of the United Kingdom’s presidency. The Presidency is responsible for hosting the G8 and also for setting the agenda for the Summit. David Cameron has already set the agenda for 2013 and he aims to use the Presidency to ‘help generate growth, jobs and prosperity for the long term…(by) focus on open economies, open governments and open societies to support free trade, tackle tax evasion and encourage greater transparency and accountability’.