December Newsletter

To our Friends

During this Christmas season we are reminded of and celebrate the birth of a child. Jesus was God's invasion into our lives. Not only has He, personally, invaded our lives but through you He continues to do so. Thank you for staying with us and supporting us.

Quick apology--I ended up resending the Thanksgiving newsletter by mistake. Please forgive me. (Rick)
General Information

The Christmas decorations are in place. We are enjoying the beauty of the season (when it snows and doesn't rain). Christmas Day will be a little different for us. Jon and Rachel and their family will be with Jon's family for the holiday and join us before New Year's Day. Mark and Ginger and family will be with us for Christmas.
Brazil

Most of the news from Brazil these days is about the massive floods in the state of Santa Catarina. Tom Padley wrote us the following:

It's as bad as Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. in every respect. No one died in Luiz Herminio's church but three of the five pastors are homeless along with another estimated 85 thousand flooded from their homes. Hundreds and hundreds are dead or missing. All of Brazil has been sending truckloads of supplies, including the ARC and other area churches here. Billions of Reais (Brazilian currency) have been sent, but it may take years to clean up. People are starting to die of diseases already.

The MEVAM (Pastor Luiz Herminio's) church building was a little higher so now the whole church is working to house and feed over 40 families and Luiz has six families staying with him in his house which, fortunately, was not flooded out. They have served over 600 hot meals. Every radio and TV channel here in Brazil has raised food, clothing, water for drinking and bed cushions and of course a lot of money. You can see photos on www.mevam.org.br but the pictures, they say, do not fully portray the graveness of the flooding. Forty percent of the chicken and beef that are shipped from Brazil to Europe leave Itajaí. It was becoming a prosperous port for shipping a lot of Brazil's exports.

We have had prayer meetings here in Nova Lima and long and effective praying with tears for Itajaí and our churches there. We finally have had a breakthrough with the weather forecast calling for a couple of days of sunshine, praise God. If any of the churches in the U.S. want to help our brothers in Santa Catarina or especially Itajaí, ...

If you would like to send a contribution please send it to:

IAM
27301 Schady Rd.
Olmsted Twp., Ohio 44138

Put a note with it that it is for the DISASTER.

IAM is the Padley account under the ARC and contributions are tax deductible.

Joanne Writes
Thank you to all of you who take the time to read our newsletters - that in and of itself is a true blessing. I am once again amazed and grateful to our God for His gracious provision as Rick and I traveled to the East Coast late in November. We were able to fly to NH where we were met and hosted by our dear friends Dave and Ginger Wheat. Our first night of arrival included having dinner with a precious sister who was recently widowed and chose to donate her late husband's SUV to the ARC. What a tender hearted woman of God! That vehicle became our means of transportation as we continued on and completed our trip. Spending two nights with Dave and Ginger proved a great blessing as we caught up with each other about our families - especially our kids and grandkids. As we all grow older together, we find ourselves challenged by our Father and asking many of the same thought-provoking questions. As Dave and Ginger shared their lives and friends with us, we found our bonds getting even stronger. They are indeed among our special gifts!

As we left NH, we were able to meet Jim Olsen, a blessed brother, for lunch and rejoice with him in all that the Lord is doing in his life. What an incredible young man and faithful brother! We ended the day by arriving at Greg and Mary Ann Handel's home where we spent the next two nights. They are one incredible family!! Besides being our dear friends with whom we have shared much over the past years, they and their family are doing much to impact the kingdom work in their area!! We experienced much life and love with this family and are truly grateful. As we left Handel's we were able to breakfast with a faithful sister and friend, Debbie Knight from MA. We could have used a few days, but were grateful for the few hours we could spend with Debbie as we re-connected our lives face-to-face! It was great!!

We continued on in MA and the last two days found us in NJ hosted by one of my dearest friends, MaryAnne Dahmen and her husband Vinnie. Just living life with MaryAnne made life full and exciting. We have talked much over the phone, but to sit down face to face was indeed a gift - she is one of the ARC's most gifted woman leaders, and I get to call her friend. We were able to attend Lamb of God church on Sunday, and I was able to share in the women of the church's first "Sisterhood Meeting". The timing was truly a "God-thing". Our time also included the privilege of ministering with my friend on Sunday evening - not planned. Re-connecting with many of our dear brothers and sisters at Lamb of God was just plane fun!

Monday morning saw us leaving for home, arriving just in time to spend Thanksgiving with our own children and grandchildren in our new home! Thank you, Jesus!

Other News
Ireland: Garreth and Carla continue to serve in Dungannon. Currently expecting their first child in April they anticipate moving to a new home (which still has to be discovered) at about the same time. The ministry has found funding for a good part of 2009 and they celebrate that. The training staff still need to raise their funds, so keep them in your prayers.

Mexico: Mike and Becky Kuelker, in Tepic, MX (see their blog with all their info) During these last two months Mike and Becky have been delivering boxes of clothes and toys to the different churches. They are privileged to see the joy in the eyes of the children as they get their "Jesus Gift" that He has provided. In El Roble they delivered two boxes of clothes and over 50 handmade pillows for the children.

The TV Ministry is still going strong and can be viewed on YouTube in Spanish. They are in need of some new cameramen/women. ISOM ( International School of Ministry) has one school in session. They are looking forward to graduating nine newly trained pastors in March.

PUGA: An update on the Men's program.... Mike has been going out there every other Wednesday and is seeing much growth. As for the children...Becky has been working with them and is seeing some growth in numbers... but she is thinking it's because of the Pesos de Biblia (Bible Bucks) program. Becky has also helped the ladies re-establish a Coffee con Amigos ladies meeting once a month. Fellowship is the key to growth especially in a country where relationships are so natural!

PRISON Ministry: Mike has had a great impact not only on the prisoners but on the guards and even the administration of the prison. Every other week he goes in with Books and Bibles. Last week he told me that on Saturday (he is only allowed in on Wed.) when they had access to the pool that Pastor Nacho baptized five of the people that Mike has been teaching. The church inside the prison is up to about 35 faithful attendees.

Church Plants: Ekklesia, in Canton, OH. James and Tiffany are already having evening services with a full-house in their new space. They are seeing young people with no church background coming and being willing to talk. God give them wisdom.

Grace Christian Fellowship, Dayton, OH. I was with them the first weekend of December. What a great group, and they have experienced some growth. Because they minister among the poor, they are looking for some alternative funding sources. Greg's business has been a major contributor and is struggling in the new economic crisis. Pray for them all as they share God's Word in Dayton.

Turning Point Church in Findlay, OH. Steve and Kristi, Mike and Doreen, and Aaron and Shannon, the team, really have heart to reach their city. They had a great Christmas celebration on Dec 7. They are seeing some new peolple in their services. We look forward to being with them on December 21. Pray they continue to faithfully present the gospel.

Our Schedule

December
5-7 Rick in Dayton
14 Harvest Leaders at our home
21 We will be in Findlay, OH
22 DTS Planning meeting in Toledo
25 Celebrate the Incarnation
January
11 We will be in Findlay, OH

We walk into our future with great anticipation of what God is going to do--to us and through us..

May you know his love.
We love you and appreciate your prayers and support.
God Bless you.

Sincerely,


Rick and Joanne Widener
Alliance for Renewal Churches