March 1, 2007

Dear friends,

I sometimes have a hard time trying to figure out where to start when writing these monthly letters because there has been so much that has occurred. So when it comes to this entire month, I'll just say it has been AWESOME!!! Here are some of the highlights first: we had a baptismal service, an ordination service for 2 new pastors, two weddings and then to top it off, I want to tell you about a one of the visits the Pastor and I made.

The church held its first baptismal service of 2007 but unfortunately we missed it because Barbara's father, retired pastor H. W. Baker, went to be with the Lord. He was 89 years old and had a wonderful life of service for the Lord. He will be greatly missed in my life because I could always call him for the Biblical questions I needed the answers and for suggestions when I needed some help. Even as Barb and I were trying to make arrangements to get home, our Lord and Savior had it all worked out. Preacher Baker went into the hospital Sunday morning and some time around noon he had passed away. During the time he was in the hospital and we were uncertain about Preacher Baker's condition, we were able to rearrange the prior travel plans Barb had so that she could be back in Lexington the next day. Then when we received word that Preacher Baker had passed, I also needed to rearrange my tickets. Well, to make the story short, what might have taken hours on the phone and lots of hassle only took 30 minutes and both Barb and I had our flights rebooked and were able to be on our way in the air heading for the States. We arrived in Lexington, Kentucky Monday morning to be with her family. How AWESOME and wonderful the Lord is!!!!!

Right after the funeral on Wednesday, I made a quick return in order to be in Brazil for the ordination service. For the first time in the history of New Life Baptist Church, two young men who have surrendered to the gospel ministry were ordained. One was our son-in-law, Walmir Quaresma and the other was Jorge Candido. Jorge is already serving in one of our mission points approximately three hours from our town (Natividade da Serra) and Walmir is now leading our church's seminary and has charge of all our mission points, local and distant. We were blessed with several special guests from the States for this ordination service. This was a personal delight for me to have friends present for a very AWESOME event. Those friends of ours were Dr. Mark Miller and his wife Diana, Dr. Chirag Shah and his wife Sveena, Don Zimmerman, P. J. Thompson, Tony Thompson, Barry "Bear" Thompson, Oakie Smith, and Anita Mills. Four of these men sat on the council for the ordination service. Just as it was a blessing for me to have these men here sitting on the council, I know it was an equal blessing for them be part of this historical moment. Even now as I write this letter, I am planning a message for this Saturday as our Pastor, Walmir, and I are going to the interior of the state of Sao Paulo to participate in another pastoral ordination. This young man's name is Serginho. He has proved himself to be a very worthy servant. I have worked with him in Garca and he and I ministered together and started another mission work while in the city of Jacarei. It is nothing short of AWESOME to be a part of his ordination this upcoming Saturday (March 3rd).

Once again, discipleship is beginning to occur. You know this is probably one of the hardest areas in ministry to deal with, because everyone would like for someone else to do it. Well, Walmir – Mary's husband and newly ordained pastor – has begun this work and because of him others are now interested. It is awesome when you can see God's hand and guidance in so many different areas of ministry and in individual lives.

With all these things going on, construction is happening on the two mission churches here in our city. Really, I took advantage of these men while they were visiting (abused them, to be very truthful about the matter) and we accomplished a lot of work on these buildings. As a result of their help, the church building in Olaria will have its inaugural service on the 10th of March and the church building in Morro de Algodao, though not completely finished, will be able to resume having services. To re-finish this church, we lack the bathroom, floor tile, and paint. Here is an excellent area where you can help financially.

Well, the weddings have been many the past several months and I think the last two for a while happened this month. At the beginning of the month, one of our church's musicians and former student of the vocational school, Leo married his love Marcia and this past Saturday the 24th one of our church's pianists Joyce and her love Rodrigo wed. Counting from our daughter's wedding last November, that makes fuve weddings in our church. What a blessing these new couples will be in the work of our Lord.

Well, about that visit the Pastor and I had. We went to visit a family who is in regular attendance of our church. This family had two different families visiting with them (two ladies and four children). Well, we got to visit with these ladies and after talking with them awhile, we discovered both were saved but had not been baptized. They are both excited about their salvation. Though Caraguatatuba is a vacation/tourist town, these ladies said they did not know why they were here visiting there uncle but in our conversation it came out that where they live, they have no church! They explained that including themselves, there are five ladies who regularly meet together two times per week for Bible study and prayer. They also collect an offering among themselves and are putting it in a bank account. Here is the clincher (God's providence) – their concern is simple, could we help start a work there? After this monumental conversation, our plans are this: we are now planning a four-day revival in their city to check out the area and we are speaking to our church family concerning this need and praying for God to supply for this need and for God to show us our part in this endeavor. One family has expressed an interest and the husband has been in our seminary since it began three years ago.

Now, how AWESOME is the Lord we are serving!!!!!!!

Please pray for us as our church is stretched to the limit financially. Short of preaching, I think this is where faith comes in – He will provide. God truly shows where He desires us to serve Him and He directs His servants. This brought to mind Acts 16 where Paul had the vision of the Macedonian man who cried – "Come over here and help us." Through all of this we ask that you pray for us for leadership, guidance and wisdom that comes from God.

There is only one thing Barb and I can say, that is simply, "THANKS". Thanks for your prayers, especially for Barb and her family in the loss of her father. Thanks for you prayers for our ministry. Thanks for all your financial help here with our ministry, and one more time…

Thanks.

In His service,

Aj and Barbara Hensley

AWESOME!!!