Need $7000 for Bus Motor- Can you send $20

[Sister Alvear]

P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La 71343

Sweetest greetings to you folks in the precious name of Jesus.

I just received word that it is going to cost roughly 7,000.00 dollars to get the motor rebuilt and new block for our bus in Brazil. That may seem very expensive and it is but not for Brazil. Remember we deal with only 2 classes of people the very rich and the very poor and they as a rule do not mix so our church is made up of the very poor. Some live (merely exist) on less than 80 dollars a month in our area. I am not only asking but with tears streaming down my face in prayer I am begging you to please help these people. In our local church of over 200 members we only have one family here in Maceio that owns a car! So that means most of our people ride the old crowded bus. We do have some families that live close enough to walk but over 50 % of our people depend on the bus to get to church.

I really don’t know who to ask but in prayer about this I felt to post and ask for your prayers that God will speak to hearts to help us. Our people have no means except our bus to get to church as a bus fare for a normal family would cost a weeks salary just to come to one service. No one but those that have worked here in the north and northeast can imagine how poor our people are. The help most needed is prayer support.

Please take the time to remember us in your prayers even if you cannot give to this cause. However, anything you can afford will be very, very gratefully received Even though we were in the states for almost a month our time mostly was spent at conventions so we were really spending on hotels and food. We only visited few churches to make our expenses now tomorrow we are returning to Brazil and next week is our regional convention so there is no way we can stay to try to raise money for this need but I know God will help us.

We always make every effort to keep everyone informed of the progress made possible through financial support received from the states. If you would like our regular monthly letter please let me know and we will be glad to put you on our mailing list.

I was thinking of some scriptures that promise God’s blessings if we extend our hand to the poor. Prov 28:27 "He who gives to the poor WILL NEVER WANT..."Ps 112:5-6 "5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgement. 6 FOR HE WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN;..." Prov 19:17 "He who is gracious to the poor man LENDS TO THE LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed"
In Matt 25:40 "...Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, YOU DID IT TO ME" Deut 15:11 "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; THEREFORE I COMMAND YOU SAYING, 'YOU SHALL FREELY (LIBERALLY) OPEN YOUR HAND TO YOUR BROTHER, TO YOUR NEEDY AND POOR IN YOUR LAND"

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’
And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put you hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to
you better than light and safer than a known way.’”
Louise Haskins quoted by King George VI in his 1939 Christmas address to the nation on the eve of WWII. “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put you hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”

Many times the way has been horribly dark but our hands are in His hands and His hands join us to your hands and it is His light that shines upon our pathways so that together we can make HIM known throughout all Brazil.
May God bless each of you, our prayer partners! Without you holding us up before the Throne, we would find it difficult indeed to do everything the Lord wants done here in the northeast. We just cannot make it without your help and your prayers.

Committed to reaching the lost:

Brother and Sister Raul Alvear

[Ron]

Will be in prayer Sis Alvear!

[Sister Alvear]

Thanks so much...that is what we depend on so much...Prayer is an awesome force...

[ILG]

Praying....

[Sister Alvear]

Sometimes living by faith would be frightening if we had not experienced what prayer does.

[woodstock]

Praying for you. We never met but your dear parents used to visit my dad's church to raise support for you and Bro. Alvear.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

If 100 members of our forum sent Sis Alvear $20

20x100= $2000

This is not a large investment, and would go a long way to helping her meet this need.

[Tina]

I'm printing off this request and taking it to the head of our missions dept at church. I don't know how much they will be able to help-- but it never hurts to ask.

[Sister Alvear]

I am weeping...thank you folks. I know I am such a bother but I do not ask for myself but for others that are our brothers and sisters. They did not ask to be born in a third world country where devil worship is on every corner. They did not ask to be born in deep poverty but even in their deep poverty they are reaching for souls.
Would you love them enough to help them get their bus fixed?
When Jesus asked Peter, "lovest thou me?" the first two times He used the expression, "Are you fond of me?" the next time He ask He said, Do you love me enough to embrace me? Jesus knew Peter would have to be more than just fond of him that he would have to embrace suffering and later death itself.
I can still hear Jesus saying today "lovest thou me, more than these?"... Jesus is looking for men and women that will embrace the cry of the lost world and move out to where they live.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

I am weeping...thank you folks. I know I am such a bother but I do not ask for myself but for others that are our brothers and sisters. They did not ask to be born in a third world country where devil worship is on every corner. They did not ask to be born in deep poverty but even in their deep poverty they are reaching for souls.
Would you love them enough to help them get their bus fixed?
When Jesus asked Peter, "lovest thou me?" the first two times He used the expression, "Are you fond of me?" the next time He ask He said, Do you love me enough to embrace me? Jesus knew Peter would have to be more than just fond of him that he would have to embrace suffering and later death itself.
I can still hear Jesus saying today "lovest thou me, more than these?"... Jesus is looking for men and women that will embrace the cry of the lost world and move out to where they live.

It costs me $12 for a fast food dinner. I believe God will return unto us.

Ok, now we need 98 more...

[Thad]

I'll send in $100

is the address posted?

[Sister Alvear]

I will never forget reading this years ago:
In the preface of a book that was written by K.S. Lee, a Chinese Christian are these words: "These pages are dedicated to the memory of my mother, who during her life time could neither read nor write one word, and she never traveled more than tem miles from her home. Born in a pagan environment, she died without the Christian faith. Whose sin was this?" "For how shall they believe n Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" There are millions of mothers all over the world today, born in pagan homes, who will die without the saving knowledge of the true God, unless you and I do our part. Whose sin is this?

As a whole the church is drunk on pleasures...While we fuss and fight among ourselves the world is dying without a savior...

I remember a sermon I once hear preached the title was: The cost of being a savior...such a sermon...

[rgcraig]

I'll send $$ also.

[Sister Alvear]

All offering may be sent to:

South American Foreign Missions
P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La. 71343

Make check payable to: South American Foreign Missions

Thanks to any that can help us on this project. Sister Alvear

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Thanks Thad and Renda.

Anyone else? We need 96 others to come on out and offer help with this Foreign Missionary need.

[Neck]

P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La 71343

Sweetest greetings to you folks in the precious name of Jesus.

I just received word that it is going to cost roughly 7,000.00 dollars to get the motor rebuilt and new block for our bus in Brazil. That may seem very expensive and it is but not for Brazil. Remember we deal with only 2 classes of people the very rich and the very poor and they as a rule do not mix so our church is made up of the very poor. Some live (merely exist) on less than 80 dollars a month in our area. I am not only asking but with tears streaming down my face in prayer I am begging you to please help these people. In our local church of over 200 members we only have one family here in Maceio that owns a car! So that means most of our people ride the old crowded bus. We do have some families that live close enough to walk but over 50 % of our people depend on the bus to get to church.

I really don’t know who to ask but in prayer about this I felt to post and ask for your prayers that God will speak to hearts to help us. Our people have no means except our bus to get to church as a bus fare for a normal family would cost a weeks salary just to come to one service. No one but those that have worked here in the north and northeast can imagine how poor our people are. The help most needed is prayer support.

Please take the time to remember us in your prayers even if you cannot give to this cause. However, anything you can afford will be very, very gratefully received Even though we were in the states for almost a month our time mostly was spent at conventions so we were really spending on hotels and food. We only visited few churches to make our expenses now tomorrow we are returning to Brazil and next week is our regional convention so there is no way we can stay to try to raise money for this need but I know God will help us.

We always make every effort to keep everyone informed of the progress made possible through financial support received from the states. If you would like our regular monthly letter please let me know and we will be glad to put you on our mailing list.

I was thinking of some scriptures that promise God’s blessings if we extend our hand to the poor. Prov 28:27 "He who gives to the poor WILL NEVER WANT..."Ps 112:5-6 "5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgement. 6 FOR HE WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN;..." Prov 19:17 "He who is gracious to the poor man LENDS TO THE LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed"
In Matt 25:40 "...Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, YOU DID IT TO ME" Deut 15:11 "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; THEREFORE I COMMAND YOU SAYING, 'YOU SHALL FREELY (LIBERALLY) OPEN YOUR HAND TO YOUR BROTHER, TO YOUR NEEDY AND POOR IN YOUR LAND"

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’
And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put you hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to
you better than light and safer than a known way.’”
Louise Haskins quoted by King George VI in his 1939 Christmas address to the nation on the eve of WWII. “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put you hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”

Many times the way has been horribly dark but our hands are in His hands and His hands join us to your hands and it is His light that shines upon our pathways so that together we can make HIM known throughout all Brazil.
May God bless each of you, our prayer partners! Without you holding us up before the Throne, we would find it difficult indeed to do everything the Lord wants done here in the northeast. We just cannot make it without your help and your prayers.

Committed to reaching the lost:

Brother and Sister Raul Alvear

Please PM me with a mailing address and how you want payment. Cash etc.

Nathan Eckstadt

God Bless!

[Sherri]

We will send money from our missions account at church.

[rgcraig]

All offering may be sent to:

South American Foreign Missions
P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La. 71343

Thanks to any that can help us on this project. Sister Alvear

Address!

[Sister Alvear]

We will send money from our missions account at church.

Hey, Sherri tomorrow is the special "Africa" service...the CD did not arrive but we went to your church site and copied your Kenya pictures and got other things off the net. Our people are so excited. I will get pictures for you and then we decided when the cd arrives we will have another presentation. They have all kinds of things prepared for tomorrow...songs, a play, slides...and to top it all off the sign choir from the catholic church is going to be in our service! We hope to bring light into their hearts and hope to impress on their hearts that God is more than a ritual...a prayer...a rosery...

Thank you all for your concern. Christian love to you all.

[Sherri]

Hey, Sherri tomorrow is the special "Africa" service...the CD did not arrive but we went to your church site and copied your Kenya pictures and got other things off the net. Our people are so excited. I will get pictures for you and then we decided when the cd arrives we will have another presentation. They have all kinds of things prepared for tomorrow...songs, a play, slides...and to top it all off the sign choir from the catholic church is going to be in our service! We hope to bring light into their hearts and hope to impress on their hearts that God is more than a ritual...a prayer...a rosery...

Thank you all for your concern. Christian love to you all.Well, I hate it that it didn't arrive in time!! I thought I had sent it in plenty of time. Oh well....maybe you can use it again.

[Tina]

Thanks Thad and Renda.

Anyone else? We need 96 others to come on out and offer help with this Foreign Missionary need.

Count me in.

[Parkbench]

Will mail a check on the way to church in the morning.

[Hoovie]

I am in. Will mail later this week.

[Sister Alvear]

Prayers here in Brazil are going up thank you folks for being God's channel to answer prayers.

[Sam]

We have an address, but to whom should the check be made payable?

[Sister Alvear]

South American Foreign Missions

May God bless you all.

[becky123abc]

you can put us down for 50.00. God Bless the Alvears!

[Sister Alvear]

Thank you very much. Checked this thread this morning so I can tell our people how God is working on their behalf. Thanks once again for sending portions to the Brazilian church.

[Sis Santos]

I want to thank you all too. Our people will be so happy to know that there are so many that care about them having a ride to be able to go to church. Our convention is next week and our old bus always brings so many people.

[Pressing-On]

All offering may be sent to:

South American Foreign Missions
P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La. 71343

Make check payable to: South American Foreign Missions

Thanks to any that can help us on this project. Sister Alvear

Count me in. I'll send a check tomorrow.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

All offering may be sent to:

South American Foreign Missions
P.O. Box 797
Jonesville, La. 71343

Make check payable to: South American Foreign Missions

Thanks to any that can help us on this project. Sister Alvear

Thank you to the 10 so far who offered to help.

Can someone else afford at least a twenty dollar donation?

[tamor]

I will send a check this week.

[Michlow]

I'll send $100

[Theresa]

count me in

[Sister Alvear]

Thanks once again. I know God blesses those who give to the poor. You folks are my real friends for most do not even know me at all and believe in me and our ministry here. Thank you for showing the Love of God...

Jesus never taught us we would be known as Christians because we talk in tongues, because we might dress different BUT He did teach us we would be known as christians if we love...
Thank you for being a Christian!

[ForeverBlessed]

I just read this thread. I will mail in a check.

Blessings, Lisa

[MrsMcD]

I just noticed this thread also. I'll mail a check today.

[Sister Alvear]

How could I ever thank you my friends? Only eternity with Him could ever repay your kindness for foreign missions...

[Sam]

I mailed my check today.
In it I mentioned my name here on AFF and my name on GNC and the fact that I had seen you listed as a missionary on the UACoJC (United Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ) http://www.uac-jc.org/home.php web site.

[Sister Alvear]

I really do not hold a card with them but they are my friends of many years. Such sweet people. Thank you so much for your help. I do not hold a card with anyone that way I can fellowship everyone that we feel are God's people! Blessings to you and thank you so much my friend.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

OOOOOOOOOOOOook,

I was wrong. I thought we would be able to see 100 responses.

So far about 15.

Sigh. At least I tried.

[Esther]

I will make a contribution as well.

Need to pray about the amount.

[Sister Alvear]

We are really praying ans I know God has a ways and means committee...thank you folks for being a part of it.

[Sam]

Thanks once again. I know God blesses those who give to the poor. ...

Proverbs 19:17 says, "He who is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord; and He will repay him for his good deed."

"If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account."
St. Basil the Great (329-379 AD)

In Galatians chapters 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul was defending what he had been preaching by revelation and he declared that it was the same thing the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem had been teaching. He tells about the time he went up to Jerusalem "by revelation." He says this was "14 years after." I assume it was 14 years after his conversion. The traditional date for his conversion on the Damascus Road is January 25, AD 32. Fourteen years after that would coincide with his trip to Jerusalem recorded in Acts 11:27-30. Paul had been part of the church in Antioch, which had many Gentiles in it. Some prophets came down from Jerusalem and one of them named Agabus prophesied a famine. This was probably 43/44 AD. There was a poor harvest in AD 45 and a failed harvest in AD 46 and the Antioch church gathered together to send help to the Jerusalem church. Barnabas and Saul took the offering up and while there Saul had some private time with James (the Lord's brother), Peter, and John. They found out that they were all preaching the same message and they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship and did not require that Titus be circumcised. Then the leadership at Jerusalem reiterated the call of Jesus and recommended that Paul take the Gospel to the Gentiles, and they emphasized that part of his ministry should be to remember the poor, which Paul was already eager to do. Helping the poor was an important part in Judaism and was carried over into Christianity and was addressed by Jesus in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:1-4)

[Sister Alvear]

Jesus said, 'He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:11





{If you were to trade places with your fellow Christians that were born in 3rd world countries, what would you want wealthier Christians to do for you? (Matt. 25:34-46 and Matt. 7:12) If you can perceive this concept, you will grasp that Christ was teaching (Matt. 7:12-27) a summary of the whole Law and the Prophets--charitable and gracious words are not only meaningless without aligned actions (behavior) but it also determines your status in eternity. He who once stood by the treasury still stands by it today noticing our gifts to further the gospel.}



Yesterday evening was one of the most exciting services I have been in, here in northeast Brazil. In south Brazil when we lived and worked for many years we had raised up a home and foreign missions departments in many of our churches but since things have been so hard here in the northeast we at times have received a home missions offering but never a foreign missions offering. We have been feeling to tell our people to reach out to others and God will reach out to them. So almost 2 months ago our people started talking about Africa and set the date for a special “Africa” service.

What was the service like? It really begin with an all night prayer meeting on Saturday night and fasting on Sunday until 1 PM. then a small “African type cornmeal” cake with a little meat on it. By 4 most of us were already in the church preparing for the 5 O’clock service. Everything was beautiful. A huge “world” hung at the front of our church and the word MISSIONS wrote above it.

Our projector showed scenes of Africa. We had probably 10 or more songs about missions and Africa. Some of the songs they acted out. It was so touching and so well planned. They started at 5pm and we finally got out around 9:30. You could feel the presence of God as missions is the closest thing to His heart.
Close to the end we received a missionary offering. It was so touching to see many who are so poor giving their bread money so a good offering could be received. I stood by the offering box with tears streaming down my face watching our people give. I am always touched by the real move of God.

They took the offering and counted it. They came smiling at me informing me that 186 reais had come in. A record offering for this area of Brazil! That was over 90 dollars in your money. They had sold cakes and different things to help. I thought how they were reaching out in their deep poverty to others. What a sign of Christian love. Here, they need help to get their bus fixed and they were so willingly helping others.

The Catholic deaf and dumb choir came with their instructor. They had never been in a Christian service before! Through the instructor one of the girls told us that she thought she could hear the music and in her soul she felt something she did not know how to describe. We explained to her she felt Jesus. It was so awesome as each one of them told what they felt deep inside even though they could not hear one word we said. "For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water..." (Isaiah 35:6-7).
There is no God like our God. We are continually reminded of God's goodness, and His bigness, and His faithfulness as we see His dealings with us earth creatures.
Missions must be at the heart of the Church and the Christian Life. In fact, a church without missions isn’t a church at all. Through missions the reign of God is made real and tangible in our broken world. We process all the pieces to their scattered puzzle. We have the answer to their situation. We have the cure for their wounds. We cannot sit comfortable in our fine homes and fashionable clothes while the world rushes to hell. We must come OUT of our castles and realize we are in war.
In our quest for souls we ask that you especially remember us this weekend as we will be conducting our regional national convention. Please pray that Brother Alvear and I will be faithful and true guides to our people. Bach wrote “To the glory of God” on every work he penned, yet that glory wafts past us and we perceive it not. While I am painfully aware of my own weaknesses and have absolutely no confidence in my ability to do anything of value in the Kingdom on my own, I am keenly aware of the life of Christ within me; knowing who I am in Him and who He is in me.
To deny who He created me to be; to deny His gifts, His calling, and His authority on my life is in effect to deny Him, and this I cannot do!
My confidence lies not in who I am, but in He who lives within me!
So, amidst poverty, despair, trash filled streets and people begging on street corners, God's goodness is shining through and people are coming to know their Savior for the first time in their lives. Thank you for being involved in this great project. Thank you for caring and giving. Thank you for praying and praying again.
It is the church against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. Thank you for being a part of this great church!

Your friends in Brazil Missions

Brother and Sister Raul Alvear and family




If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Thank you again all who pledged for this need.

[Sister Alvear]

Thanks to all our missions family here. Slowly the miracle is coming to pass. I know the Lord will provide it all for it is His work and His little ones that need help. Blessings to all.

[Tina]

OOOOOOOOOOOOook,

I was wrong. I thought we would be able to see 100 responses.

So far about 15.

Sigh. At least I tried.

It's sad that more haven't responded. :(

Have you considered doing a bulk email to all members making them aware of the need? I'm willing to guess that probably 2/3 of the members haven't even read this thread because there's not a fight about standards, etc involved. :(

[Sister Alvear]

Well, that is probably true but to those that have responded blessings will come and who knows more will read. God is good and He will direct His children and I am sure at least one is sending more than 20 dollars because they e mailed me so God is answering. The bus place offered to let us pay in 3 payments. So let's keep praying.

[Sister Alvear]

God is working. Sometimes not as fast as we want Him to but work He will...

[Hoovie]

Bump!

Sending this out in the morning.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Bump!

Sending this out in the morning.

Thank you!

I was going to bump this myself this evening....

[Sister Alvear]

Slowly it is coming in. God is helping us through His people. Blessings to all.

[BrotherEastman]

Sister Alvear, I'll send something this week, God bless you!

[J-Roc]

Looks like we could use Ronzo to motivate people for this thread....he has done such a fine job raising money for the airfare to Brazil thread...come on down, Ronzo....do your thing!