October 31, 2003

Dear Friends,

We plan to return to Brazil just before the end of the year.  We are praying that God would raise up leaders from among our existing churches with a burden to establish and pastor churches in these cities where so many people are turning to Christ.  Our major focus upon returning to Brazil will be to train and develop leaders for these works.  Some of these cities are located more than 6 to 8 hours away from our home in Curitiba, and we will need to travel extensively and be away for several weeks out of the month.  Please pray for our safety and success as we go about this needful ministry.

Edinei, pastor of Bible Baptist in Curitiba, is currently working with three young men in leadership training.  The stories of how each of these three young men have come to where they are in spiritual life are amazing.  Their names are Luiz, Manuel, and Valter.  Luiz started attending our church when he was an eight year old boy (he is now 18).  He attended regularly until he was 11, but soon let himself be led away by neighborhood friends.  Among those friends were Manuel and Valter.  Manuel's family was devout in the Mormon cult.  Valter's family had no religious ties.

When Edinei, the present pastor, was a youth he played professional soccer.  There is a great interest in Brazilian culture for boys to become professional soccer players.  Edinei used this as an opportunity to attract them to participate in a soccer training school with a gospel emphasis.  By this time, Luiz has nearly abandoned church attendance and spent most of his time playing "sand lot" soccer.  When Edinei started the soccer school, Luiz showed up with his two friends, Manuel and Valter.  At each practice session a portion of the time would be spent sharing the gospel and explaining the need for salvation.  It wasn't long before Luiz started returning to church services, and he would bring his friends, Manuel and Valter.  For many months they came, but Manuel's Mormon background combined with his family's ridicule almost caused him to quit.  God saw fit to use various circumstances to establish him firmly in faith in Jesus Christ.  Manuel's mother passed away and he also met a Christian girl that he started dating.  She began to attend our church with him and they have been faithful in attendance ever since.  Luiz has been encouraged in his faith and has become very active in Bible study and discipleship training.  Luiz and Manuel have been baptized and we believe their friend Valter will soon be saved and baptized also.

There are many amazing details about the lives of these young men that space won't allow to relate, but here you can see a sketch of God's persistent love and power at work to bring individuals to faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Our prayer is that these young men will follow Edinei's example and use their talents and gifts to take the gospel to many, many others.

Next month I'll share some more great news with you, but for brevity's sake we'll stop here.  Thank you all so much for your faithful prayers and support.  God has blessed and continues to do so.  We praise and thank Him!

In Christ's love,

Bobby, Charlene, Jessie and Brennen Wacaser

Bobby Wacaser discipling a new convert.