I had meetings with pastors yesterday in the light of the Vatican's successful interference in Brazil's internal affairs. It just goes to show the power that Rome still holds and how little most evangelicals seem to be aware of this. I personally have been predicting this for a long time. I wrote to the Anglican Bishop in Recife over a year ago about this and he didn't seem to think it would happen. I also told the RC leadership in Patos that all our negotiations about RE in schools might be over-ridden by the current line of a hawkish hardline Pope. They too said it would not happen... the fact is that it has!  We need to pray.

I had an excellent meeting with out HIV/AIDS project leader, Social Worker Marah Danielle, and it was good to see that we now have 2 support teams in place at Campina Grande and João Pessoa (which I had suggested long ago) which means people who are HIV positive and come to the Care Centre, but need to be referred to the bigger cities, will now be supported there by our extension teams. Meetings are also being set up with these treatment centres and Marah Danielle so that EAB/ACEV can have a direct link, where necessary, with the treatment centres and thus avoid dependence on councils in the interior.

Liz and I leave in the morning for Recife so as to receive Ivy and Philip on the Saturday. We will bring them back to Patos and then go and meet Marian on the Sunday in Natal. We will travel back to Patos on the Monday (DV). We are going to have a hectic few days!

Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h48 AM
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I AM ABSOLUTELY LIVID!

I have just received the horrific news that the Vatican has achieved its aim of re-introducing religious education into all Brazilian schools in the form of teaching Roman Catholic dogma "to catholics". In theory this means that evangelicals would teach evangelicals, catholics teach catholics etc. In practice it will mean that Catholics will teach everyone wherever they can, especially in this spiritually darkened region of north-eastern Brazil. The catholics are cock-a-hoop when you add to this the news of some anglican priests look like joining Rome. The latter news the catholic community is exagerating out of proportion. We will now need a lot of prayer because the writing is on the wall for a return of considerable persecution against protestants. All this and worse was expected from day one of Ratzinger becoming Pope.  May the Lord help us!

This change of direction with RE in schools has come about as a result of a proposal made by the Pope on his last visit to Brazil and this proposal has now been approved by the lower and upper houses of the Brazilian Congress.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h18 PM
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FOXY

I had a close meeting with this fox on my morning walk today. It was lovely to see it.

This afternoon I had a long telephone meeting with Pastor Wostenes, another in the office with Pastor Gersé and a third with a journalist about a variety of projects.

This evening I led the prayer meeting which only had 10 go to it. It was a nice meeting anyway.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h52 PM
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EXCELLENT SERVICE DESPITE DAMPNER

I travelled to Princesa Isabel yesterday afternoon and picked up the co-pastor at Imaculada, João George, on the way, who went with me and travelled back to Patos with me today. It was nice to have this opportunity to chat to him for hours on the road.

We arrived in Princesa Isabel to the sad news that a Town Councillor, who lived opposite the church, had been killed in a drink & drive accident that afternoon together with another man who worked for him. Hence the evening service was held inside the church rather than outside as had been planned, and the atmosphere was a bit subdued as everyone was shocked.

Nevertheless the service went well and got steadily better. The sermon I preached went very well although I almost melted at the pulpit! I slept at Pastor Manoel Jorge's house and we left a little after 7am for Patos where we arrived about 10.30am. It had been a tiring weekend but a very good one. PTL!

Ben Price was in town when I arrived and it was good to see him so encouraged as the work is really picking up speed at Ibiara and we now have 30 members there which is a 50% increase. PTL!

This afternoon I had a longish meeting of the Patos Bible College leadership as we have a big staff problem to sort out. We discussed it at length and prayed a good bit about what action to take. Unfortunately I can't give more detail but do ask for special prayer.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h41 PM
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AT THE MOMENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

I came back down the mountain from Teixeira about 11pm last night with happy Kombi load from the Patos church after a lovely service. There were about 100 there and it was good to see that the EAB-ACEV church there is doing better. PTL! The message went well and the group that went with me (Elder Perdro Guedes and his wife, Jandira and grandaughter Susan, Lila, Marian Prata, Salete, Marcia, Mada and grandaughter) was blessed and enjoyed the trip.

Tonight`s service in Patos is to be led by Vicente Junior and Vania from Imaculada is to preach. Sacha is to sing with Biba on drums (this pleases me no end). I will be preaching at Princesa Isabel so off back up the mountain shortly. Both Patos co-pastors are away. Liz will be on hand to coordinate everything. Thanks for your prayers for a very busy weekend. 

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 02h59 PM
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