Chico - The Brazilian

Life is Jesus, the rest it is just a ilusion

2009-03-09T07:00:00.002-04:00

Jesus is my life!
If we are living in a hard circumstance, then we fill how life is in deed. In the desert we live for God in a greater intimacy. I am realizing that God is love. He is the one that has all power and has all solutions to our lives, but it is in HIS time.

That is pretty humbling. HIS TIME.

I am waiting for a job position since October last year. And this situation is bringing me a lot of intimacy with GOD! Alleluias!!

I hope my desert will be gone, and the loveliness of God will stay forever! God be my savior today and forever! I am yours!

Psalm 17
6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.

7 Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings

Um Novo Ano!

2009-01-07T08:43:00.001-04:00

Este ano começa como um dos mais desafiadores da minha vida. Não tenho mais o meu antigo trabalho, não tenho mais a segurança e a estabilidade que tinha. Agora preciso definir um novo rumo para meu sustento, uma nova jornada. Isso tudo é muito desafiador, especialmente por que eu tinha planos de muito longo prazo para minha antiga profissão. Nunca tinha pensando em mudar, deixar o CO. Mas Deus se revelou, me chamou para fora, me deu sinais, me deu experiencias, me mostrou que eu estava morto, sem vida espiritual, vivindo um cristianismo morno, sem paixão, sem alegria. Eu respondi, agora vem um momento dificil, um momento de liberdade em Deus mas de provação da minha fé. É fácil servir ao Senhor com um salário muito bom, é fácil servir ao Senhor com luxos e mordomias, mas como é servir o Senhor no deserto?

Creio que Deus sabe de minhas dificuldades, e que Ele vai me guiar pelo vale da sombra da morte, eu não preciso temer mau algum, Ele está comigo. O deserto tem tempo para acabar, eu peço a Deus, trata do meu carater, disciplina teu filho, mas tem misericórdia de mim.

Sei que a vida com Deus é cheia de alegria, cheia de motivação, cheia de vontade de ver o que Deus vai fazer amanhã. Deus é bom!

Na passagem de ano, tivemos muito tempo para orar, para meditar, para pedir a Deus que se revele, para louvar a Deus! Isso foi bom de mais!

Aconteceu mais uma vez que Deus não se escondeu, mas se REVELOU! Se revelou de maneira sobrenatural, de maneira incrível, Meu corpo não aguentou dançou e caiu prostrado ao chão, minhas mãos pegaram fogo, minha boca primeiro falou linguas indizíveis, gritou, e por fim, desencadeou em um riso, um riso tão forte que minha barriga se contorcia, meu corpo rolava no chão.

Não se assuste com essa descrição, Deus é amoroso, e tudo isso foi bom de mais! Muito bom mesmo. Um marco de intimidade, um marco de um novo começo, ano. Deus é SOBRENATURAL! Sim ele é!!! Não há limites para sua manifestação! Não há limites para seu amor!!! Não há nada que possa parar sua mão. ALELUIA!!!

A palavra diz que Ele se apresentaria vivo, dando muitas e infaliveis provas de que está vivo! Ele tem se revelado a mim. Vejo que estou na vontade do Senhor, Ele esta reinando em minha vida, se manifestando de forma viva e poderosa.

Oro para que este ano seja um ano de vitória, de intimidade com o Senhor. Ele é o foco da minha vida, hoje e sempre!

TEstemunho de um amigo!

2008-12-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

Escrevi meu testemunho que pretendo colocar no orkut e direcionar para que todas as pessoas que eu conheço vejam o que aconteceu em minha vida e de alguma forma também possam encontrar com Jesus , conhecer e buscar a salvação . Fui extremamente inspirado pelo dom de vida do Espírito Santo e esecrevi o que aconteceu em minha vida neste ano de 2008 para que todos que estão com alguma dúvida , seja uma pontinha de dúvida em relação ao Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo , Nosso Salvador , que se inspirem , se encorajem , pois eu estava completamente morto espiritualmente e graças a Deus renasci por intermédio de Jesus Cristo ! Hoje tenho um novo coração e sou outro Marcelo (Batata) , todos estão impressionados com minha mudança, mas isso é apenas o começo do Deus do impossível ! Glórias ao Cordeiro ! Aleluias !

Abraços do Batata !

Do Pior ao Extraordinário – Onde está a Felicidade?
Certo dia vejo meu pai com uma lágrima em seu rosto extremamente entristecido. Era o princípio de um pesadelo que pensei que jamais teria fim. Constatamos que minha mãe estava com um tumor no intestino , um tipo de câncer, um tal de linfoma malígno que jamais tinha ouvido falar e que jamais tinha tido notícias desta doença. Simplesmente fiquei apavorado , triste , chorando pelos cantos, procurando informações desta doença,enfim parecia que o mundo iria acabar ali naquele momento. Mas, eis que surge algo muito maior em minha vida pra contrariar todas as minhas razões que 2008 era o pior ano de minha vida e que este ano tinha que acabar. Às vezes trabalhamos, investimos tempo e dinheiro , fazemos um esforço tremendo, fazemos de tudo para nutrir nosso crescimento, e, às vezes não se vê nada por semanas, meses, ou anos, parece que Deus se esqueceu de nós, você que está lendo este texto agora quantas vezes já questionou Deus como eu ? Existem momentos na vida que bombardiamos os céus com o nossos questionamentos. Porque isso Senhor?Ate quando? Onde está a felicidade? A verdade é que nós somos imediatistas e muitas vezes não sabemos esperar em Deus. Infelizmente, estamos ligados a um sistema que nos leva para uma inquietação constante, cobrada por uma sociedade injusta que visa as coisas do mundo, principalmente as coisas materiais e hoje, infelizmente a felicidade momentânea já é o grande marco do século de uma sociedade infeliz que a cada dia vive em depressão, tristeza, orgulho, tribulações , fardos , violência, enfim, o mundo ainda tem vida, mas está completamente morto espiritualmente. Digo isso, pois resolvi dar um testemunho extremamente real e verdadeiro do que está acontecendo em minha vida há pouco tempo e que talvez faça você refletir de alguma forma e procurar algo muito maior do que baladas, pessoas que nunca te querem bem, relacionamentos infelizes, amizades falsas,cobiça, ganância, inveja, felicidade momentânea, etc .. é fazer você entender de alguma forma que estamos mortos e precisamos renascer para algo de propósito em nossas vidas, entendendo que somos imperfeitos e que somente Jesus Cristo é o único Salvador e é o único que através da graça manifestada por Deus pode te ofertar uma nova vida cheia de princípios de valores transformando-nos em instrumentos de amor, paz , esperança e principalmente de liberdade, agora posso dizer: Sou livre deste sistema frio, calculista e maldoso do mundo e tenho por perda todas as coisas deste mundo para ganhar o Reino do Céus!
Então eis que veio surgindo devagar, me tocando, provocando sensações de calmaria, de esperança, de amor e uma voz me dizia baixinho: Estou com você sempre, confie que sou o seu único Salvador e entregue-me sua vida, confie e farei por ti; inclusive existe até um versículo bíblico parecido, mas jamais tinha lido a Bíblia. Como poderia alguém me falar tantas vezes em meu coração e eu não saber sequer quem era e nem ter lido uma bíbla? Comecei a freqüentar o Heaven Help, um grupo de estudos bíblicos que já possuíam alguns amigos antigos e que já foram também alvo de críticas pesadas de minha parte. Queria entender o porque de várias coisas , várias decepções, felicidades momentâneas que me levavam à depressão, mas principalmente o porque do câncer de minha mãe. Entendi, não somente isso, entendi que a vida é muito maior que tudo isso e que quando comecei a desfrutar da presença de Deus em minha vida, pude encarar com muito mais força a doença dela. Vários momentos difíceis em que me encontrava e que me encontro até hoje, em nome de Jesus posso dizer que ela já foi curada, pois os médicos diziam que em sua operação para retirada do tumor quase teve morte súbita, mas agora tem grande esperança de vida,com sofrimento é verdade, mas com perspectiva de 100% de cura através da quimioterapia. Constatei o quão injusto estava sendo com Deus e percebi através do Espírito Santo que o arrependimento seria a melhor forma de confessar com Jesus minhas intimidades e trilhar um novo caminho para uma nova vida em Cristo. Tenho experimentado hoje algo que jamais experimentei em minha vida em 28 anos e declaro em nome de Jesus para todas as pessoas que terão a oportunidade de ler este meu testemunho aqui que Jesus é o único caminho , a única verdade e a única vida eterna.
Críticas da mais variadas formas estou recebendo, estão falando que fiquei doido, que surtei, que não querem me perder pra Jesus , etc... Mas te faço algumas perguntas muito simples, as mesmas que faço aos meus "amigos"que vêm me criticando: Você realmente acha que somos felizes ou sempre falta alguma coisa, algum preenchimento de algo vazio? Sempre dissemos que somos felizes, mas quantas vezes enganamos o nosso coração apenas para nos parecermos felizes para os outros? Nós sabemos sempre quando falamos mentira e quando falamos a verdade, qual te deixa mais tranqüilo, a mentira ou a verdade? E a última: as vezes nos achamos perfeitos e pensamos ser os donos da verdade e acusar o mundo, então, porque acusamos tanto as pessoas, se temos a capacidade de fazer a mesma coisa ou até pior que elas? Se você responder essas perguntas com o coração vamos perceber que somos imperfeitos , estamos vivendo na mentira, nos enganando a cada dia e que precisamos sempre de algo muito maior que nós mesmo, precisamos desesperadamente de Deus. Diante disso te convido a compartilhar comigo esta vitória, pelo menos conhecer quem é este Deus maravilhoso que é o único que tem o poder para transformar a sua vida em uma vida recheada de maravilhas e obras que jamais poderia imaginar, sem religião, doutrinas e regras, será uma busca pautada em liberdade e prazer em conhecer a palavra.
Para finalizar medite em seu dia a dia essa passagem bíblica abaixo, quem sabe um dia até mesmo você que se dizia meu amigo,e que agora me apedreja e faz duras críticas a mim, me procure, pois será muito bem recebido por mim a qualquer hora e momento de sua vida,será recebido por mim de braços abertos, mas será recebido infinitamente melhor por um amor que é verdadeiro e acima de tudo que te constrange, o amor de Cristo Jesus !
" Entrega o teu caminho ao SENHOR; confia nele, e ele o fará. " Sl 37 :5

Marcelo Bastos - 03/12/2008

To all supporters!

2008-12-15T07:31:00.001-04:00

Hello from Brazil!!!

Please pray for my transitioning, It has being very hard. The economical crisis and the lack of engineering experience in my resume are making the search for a job very difficult. I have not yet found the place God wants me and my income will not more be received after December.
Pray that God will open doors for me and Cristina.

I was thinking about one opportunity that God is creating here for you as well for me as SERVANTS of HIS KINGDOM.
As I get a job as an engineer, I will support financially the ministry of HEAVEN HELP; This ministry has being created by my brothers Fernando and Gui. They will be full time at this ministry to serve the LORD. We have a passion for the poor. Our goal to go to the most poor and as we go, use this context to evangelize the wealthy (students and others), post-modern and as well to offer a real context for the believers to serve Jesus in a relevant way.
Many students that were involved in my personal ministry is involved and the Kingdom of God is growing. It is a way to keep supporting the ministry of God in Brazil, to support this poor kids, as well these laborers that will be full time with them.
We are having several small discipleship groups, made of 3 up to 4 poor kids and 2 mature Christians. Those discipleship groups will take the kids when they are around 6 years old and will go until that became Kingdom laborers and developed as humans to get a decent job. Today we are shepherding 22 groups with 80 kids.

Please pray about your involvement. I want to give you an awesome opportunity to stay involved with God´s work in BRAZIL! I will surely be!
During the coming days, I will send you quick videos for you to get to know more about this opportunity. I want you to get as excited as I am to take this opportunity.

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=k58ch7I1k6s (click or control click here and watch the clip)

with much love and thankfulness,

Francisco (Chico) and Cristina Rodrigues.
Skype account is: Chicocobrazil

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 - This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Fotos do Batismo!!! (Batism photos!!)

2008-12-15T07:27:00.003-04:00

It was awesome!!!! Deus é bom de mais!!!
Glória a Deus!!!

Veja as fotos! See the pictures!
Click in the link to see!
http://picasaweb.google.com.br/fotosheavenhelp/BATISMOHEAVEN071208

Lucas (7 Lagoas) Testimony

2008-11-27T12:38:00.000-04:00

My name is Lucas and I am an industrial engineering student at UFMG. I started a bible study with Chico almost 5 years ago; the purpose was to understand more about the gospel and how to live it. It took to me several months to start to understand that most of what I have learned in my life was not according to bible. I used to be a very selfish and materialist person; my concerns were carrier, material stuffs and free time… most of it because of the “Perfect Life” that we are submit every day watching TV and reading the newspaper. Slowly I began to understand about the relationship that God wants to create with us and step by step I started to realized how wrong I was… I was in the wrong way of Christ and worst... I thought I was right. But nothing better then the hand of God to touch our heart and lead us to right path; like a miracle I realized that we should let Christ act instead of us trying to fight alone, and again He did not gave up on me; and in every mistake He touched me and show me the way until I could see that my life was changing by His will. That doesn’t mean I did not commit mistakes but now I have a better view of my sins. I now can recognize that the spirit of Christ its with us in every second of life and we should do everything we can to not disappoint our Father. Its was hard in the begging when I started to talk to my family and friends about these changes, its still difficult but now they respect my points of view. Today the burden its light, thanks to the holy spirit that provide knowledge and strength to keep going. For those who still not convince of the God powers read the following: 1 cor 1; 18-26 and 1 cor 2; 4-6

I am doing good!!!

2008-11-09T10:00:00.002-04:00

My friends,

After so many changes, I can tell you: God is good and He is taking care of me and Cristina.
I love to spend time with God, to search for Him so intensively. My life has changed so much since I left Campus Outreach. I believe God has called me to live CO to experience more of Him!!! And I know it sound strange, but that is the way God choose to wake me up, to make me seek Him more than ever, to trust Him in my ways, to leave the comfort zone, to love my neighbors as I never had, to give me intimacy with the Holy Spirit!
Jesus said to the hungry and thirsty: COME TO ME, I will give you water, living water, and bread, which come from the heavens! And after you eat that you shall have life, abundant life!!! Eternal Life!!!
I have being longing for spiritual life! I was hungry and thirsty, and Jesus has called me to come closer to Him, to drop everything that I have being eating lately that was not HIMSELF, to give to him my idols and to turn to Him to satisfy my thirsty and my hunger. I am turning to Him! I am turning to HIM TODAY!
I need to leave Campus Outreach to have a fresh start with Jesus. I am now in a really good moment, discipline man, praying with my disciples, preaching the gospel to many, loving all!
I know God is guiding me and will keep do it, in his mercies!
Please pray for Cristina and I, as we search for a Job.

Fernando´s Update

2008-10-11T07:23:00.001-04:00

From Fernando (my Brother):

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged
me faithful, appointing me to his service. (1 Timothy 1:12)

There is no greater joy in my life than to have been chosen by Jesus Christ to be part of His ministry. When He calls, we cannot resist. Jonah tried to run away and spent 3 days in the belly of a fish; Jeremiah was prohibited by the king to speak about the Lord and he said: “If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” (Jer 20:9). Others that without any impediment or resistance followed the calling, leaving everything behind to follow the One that had promised to make them fisher of men. (Luke 5:28; Mat 4:19).

To read more click in the link:
http://www.playfilms.com.br/cliente/fernando/projetoBETA.html

Jesus is alive!!!

2008-08-29T09:44:00.001-04:00

"14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there".

2 Chronicles7

This is one of the key verses of the latest days. God is calling me to humble myself and bring me to a renew of my faith. I want to experience more, much more from GOD! I want to give Him freedom to use me as He wants. I want the power of the gospel to bring me life abundant as Jesus promises in his words.

And I am starting to receive that. ALELUIA!!!

Please pray for me as I walk these days to search his ways in all things.

With Love,

Chico and Cristina Rodrigues

Vila UP Date

2008-08-12T08:42:00.001-04:00

Mercy ministry up date

2008-08-06T11:41:00.002-04:00

Check the slide show!

Prayer request

2008-07-04T07:44:00.004-04:00

Lot´s of things are happening among us right now. Good and difficult things.

TO pastor a community is not easy; it takes so much from me. I am feeling now that to follow up many members, to walk with my team, to help solve conflicts, to walk in the truth with them, be transparent, make the right decisions, raise support, deal with the devil attacks, to receive their forgiveness (feel free from guilty), to give forgiveness is not easy.

I am being challenged in so many ways. I can´t be the leader I want to be. I can´t be the husband I want to be. I can´t live in harmony with all people. There is a burden in my back, the burden of trying to do all this things. It is not working, I can´t no more try. I am feeling so 2 CO 4.

Please pray that I will persevere and give all this matters to Christ. Pray that I could live the freedom as Jesus said: I will set you free!!! I want this to be true in my life. Free from every pressure of controlling people, free from pressure to perform, free from the burden to ministry or it will never happen (trusting me and my work more than in God), free from my fear of being accepted.

Please pray.

5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

read 2 Co 4
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

Official Picture from the last retreat

2008-06-29T22:00:00.000-04:00

Click on the picture to see it in the bigger format!

MORE meetings

2008-06-28T11:09:00.002-04:00

Every week we are searching for MORE!!!

How are you searching for more in your life?
Do you think we will be satisfied?
What Jesus has to do with this search?
What Jesus has to say about this search?

This is what our meetings is about. We will have our last meeting this next Thursday. About 50 people are coming all week and we are having a good time together.

End of Semester Retreat!

2008-06-28T11:03:00.003-04:00

On 4th July to 10th we will have our last and final retreat of the Semester!!!

We are so excited because we have all the Americans students with us and we hope to have so many friends that could come and learn so much from Jesus!

We are praying to have 80 people comming. Please join in prayer with us!

Please pray for us:

- Favor to see our friends coming
- Power and love to proclaim the word openly
- That all of us would come out of it transformed by Christ and his love

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! YOU GUYS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR US AS EXEMPLES OF CHRIST!!!!
ea

INVESTIGATIVE RETREAT 2008

2008-06-28T10:47:00.002-04:00

I am so excited about all GOD is doing!!!

Praise GOD!!!
Our retreat was great! That was a great retreat to see many students inviting friends and building their faith as they were doing that.

God really helped us and we get 70 people with our Community (ICEX, FACE and LAW).
21 was Americans,
5 staffs
54 students!!!! That was the biggest number we had ever had!!!

Not only the numbers was good, but also what God did in many first time contacts. We had around 20 contacts that were non Christian and that was very important for all of them to be at this retreat. GOD really moved them in their investigation process of Jesus and they had a very good time!!! This will help them to be connected to the community and get closer to Jesus more and more.

Ely – one student from economics told me that he is so excited about all we heard that he wished he could meet us before. Now he said I have more intimacy with you guys than I have with the guys I live with. Why is that? He asked. I am so interested in knowing more of Jesus!

Mateus – one student of economics told me that he never thought about these things (spiritual things) but that was a good first time.

Daniel – mechanical student that were last year told me that he starts last year thinking for the first time in spiritual issues. But only now he is really considering it relevant. He heard so many testimonies about Jesus changing people’s life that he said in the discussion group: I can see how Jesus changes so many lives over here. Now I believe that he has power to change lives and that he is a true heroes. But I have still not experience that myself. But now I believe he can do it.

Natascha – friend of Paulinha (girl that was involved last year) said to me that she will read the book Mere Christianity from CS Lewis because she wants to know more about Jesus.

Rafael B - economics students. The weekend was great!

It was awesome!!! For Sure God is using so much all the prayers and support!

Pensamentos de uma pessoa que está sendo tocada por Deus

2008-06-05T10:18:00.001-04:00

Esta semana tem sido especial. Deus tem falado com todos nós. Ele tem nos chamado a dar um passo de coragem e amor. Não caminhar no medo e na ganancia, no controle e na ansiedade. Vamos amar como Jesus amou. Não dá para viver com Jesus e permanecer o mesmo, não podemos. Isso seria negá-lo. Isso seria simplesmente falar que Ele não nos impulsiona a viver radicalmente diferente.

O testemunho do Flavio Castro tem me mostrado muito a minha falta de coragem para viver e desafiar as pessoas da comunidade. Quero ser livre para poder ser taxado do que for, perder amizades mas, viver sempre seguindo a Cristo. Não tenho feito isso muito constantemente, pelo menos acho que não. A nossa comunidade tem vivido uma vida cristã voltada para ser boas pessoas, bons alunos, bons filhos. Isso é bom, mas e o EVANGELHO, onde estamos vivendo o EVANGELHO de Cristo? Estamos simplesmente com uma faixada de cristãos, pessoas certas? Isso não é o evangelho, o evangelho é loucura para os que estão perecendo e poder para os que estão sendo salvos. Estamos sendo sensatos de mais, eticamente corretos de mais, mas não estamos sendo loucos por Cristo.

Quero mesmo dizer que temos que deixar nosso intelecto submetido a vontade de Jesus. Se nosso intelecto fala uma coisa e o Espirito fala outra, não devemos titubiar, devemos tomar a direção do Espirito bem rápido. Devemos ser mais espirituais. Eu devo ser mais espiritual.

Quero pedir a ajuda de todos para me amar e me chamar para viver o Evangelho de Cristo como Ele é. Não quero ser covarde, quero confiar minha vida, meu futuro, minha familia, TUDO nas mãos dele.

Conto com vcs para isso!

Chico

Leiam Lucas 12 e meditem neste capitulo para suas vidas.

The Cross cultural project is running!!!!

2008-06-04T09:03:00.003-04:00

WE are having a incredible time with the 21 Americans students over here. It has being a time for new friendships and for a lot of momentum in our community. Check soon the video some Brazilians students did for the CCP welcoming.

Please pray for us to have:
Capacity to Love for all
Sacrifice and service as we go to ministry Jesus for others
Joy and fulfillment in all times

From ICEX to FACE

2008-06-04T08:57:00.003-04:00

In the last month I saw how busy and excited I was with all the changes and all the new things that came in our ministry. I realized that going to the Economics building and leaving the Engineering building seems to be the right thing to do. It has being awesome with the students over there and I feel God is really moving there.
The profile of the student there is more relational and more available. This makes us feel more welcomed and loved.

Please pray:
That our new friendships will grow and God will be displayed in us there.

Up date on the Social Work

2008-05-19T19:58:00.003-04:00

Prayer request

2008-05-13T08:07:00.001-04:00

Please pray for this for me and Cristina

- Fruitful time for the CCP and for us during this next 3 months

- rest and faith for me and Cristina to do ministry

- Love and faith to be with all students (ministry to them)

-intimacy for me and Cristina (grow in our marriage)

-preparation to have a child (healthy, financial, spiritual)

In Him,

Chico

The Cross Cultural Experience is about to start!

2008-05-08T08:23:00.001-04:00

The Cross Cultural Experience is about to start!

We have 21 American students coming to live in Brazil for 9 weeks and share the most important things of their heart with Brazilians. They will be going to campus with us (national staffs) 4 times per week and participating in everything we do as a ministry. We are expecting a great impact and we hope many people will know Christ as a personal savior and Lord.

We are very glad with all the preparations and God has being very graceful with us so far. We have a house for them, phone number, cell phones, etc. All this for God´s glory!!!

Pray with us for courage, for motivation to be love, and for us to serve as Christ served us!!!

O pessoal está bombando!!!

2008-05-08T07:45:00.003-04:00

All the community is doing great. We are having fun and growing as a body. The last 8 weeks we are studying about the Law and how it relates to us today. The bottom line of the series is that God cares for obedience but it is not the way to get to a relationship to Him, but obey His law a fruit of relationship with Him. Think more and pray for us as we finish it this Friday night. Fabiana, our new staff girl, will give the study this Friday. It is her first time to do that, so please pray for her that she will be driven by the Spirit and God will speak through her.

Cristina and I were sad

2008-05-08T07:42:00.002-04:00

Cristina and I just went through a miscarriage 10 days ago. It was hard, but Rm8.28 is being a great promise for us. Now Cristina is feeling all right and we are normally moving forward.

Please pray for us as we keep our jorney of work and faith. We want to be in the center of God´s will and display His great mercy on us.

Slide Show Summer Beach Project

2008-02-15T12:52:00.000-04:00

Something inexplicable

2008-02-15T12:51:00.002-04:00

The SBP was an experience that I will never forget and that has really marked my life.

When I arrived in the SBP, I was very excited. All that structure, all those people. Most of them really interested in knowing God, all of them with one go. I found incredible to take a walk in the hotel and to see lots of people studying the bible, talking about God.

19^th of January, in this night I felt something inexplicable and very strong for me. I could feel the presence of God in my life. I could feel as if He was rescuing me, that He was forgiving my sins. In this night I could see the value of the sacrifice of the cross. How good it could be to walked with God. Another thing without explanation was the way as my faith was empowered. From this day on, I have the confidence of who God is. Another feeling that marked me very strongly was the assurance that it does not matter what can happen in my life, God will be always on my side.

Wesley Silva

Mechanical Engineering Student

O PNP foi uma experiência que eu nunca vou esquecer e que realmente marcou a minha vida.

Toda aquela estrutura, todas aquelas pessoas. O mais interessante é que todas estavam voltadas para um alvo. Eu achava incrível passear pela pousada e ver as pessoas estudando a bíblia, conversando sobre Deus.

dia 19 de janeiro. Nesta noite eu senti algo inexplicável e muito forte para mim. Eu pude sentir a presença de Deus na minha vida. Eu pude sentir como se Ele estivesse me resgatando, que Ele estava perdoando os meus pecados. Nesta noite eu pude ver o valor do sacrifício da cruz. O quão bom seria uma caminhada com Deus.

Hoje, o que eu mais quero é continuar em direção a Deus. E pela grande graça do meu Senhor, eu tenho convicção que Ele me dará forças para continuar nesta caminhada.

Wesley Silva

Mechanical Engineering Student

Finding Joy in the small things

2008-02-15T12:14:00.002-04:00

Before knowing God, I always had an emptiness in me, that was mainly the result for the lack of a love of father in my life, and I tried to fill this emptiness through drinking, using drugs, trying happiness in women, working, studying, but I did not find happiness I in none of these things. I only found true joy in God. I was in this beach project that the emptiness that existed in me was total filled by the love of God. He showed me that I can find joy in small things when they are done for God's Glory as for example to dance. The confidence that I got in God is now reflected in my relationships and I started to have true communion with other people showing the real me, and then I started to see the importance of the community in my life so that I can experience each time more the love of God.

Bruno Ribeiro

Mechanical Eng. Studet UFMG

Antes de conhecer a Deus sempre existiu um vazio em mim, provocado principalmente pela falta de um amor de pai em minha vida, e eu tentava preencher este vazio atraves de bebidas, drogas, mulheres, trabalho, faculdade, mas eu nao encontrei felicidade em nenhuma destas coisas eu só encontrei alegria verdadeira em Deus e foi neste projeto na praia que o vazio que existia em mim foi totalmente preenchido pelo amor de Deus.Ele me mostrou como posso experimentar alegria em pequenas coisas quando elas sao feitas para a sua gloria como por exemplo dancar.A confianca que obtive em Deus refletiu nos meus relacionamentos e eu passei a ter comunhao verdadeira com as pessoas mostrando o que eu realmente sinto, e entao passei a enxergar a importancia da comunidade na minha vida para que eu possa estar experimentando cada vez mais do amor de Deus.

Bruno Ribeiro

Mechanical Eng. Studet UFMG

The difference that God is making in my life!

2008-02-15T10:08:00.002-04:00

It is clear for me that God was present at all moments of my life, as He makes in the life of each human being, but there was a moment where I was convinced by the Holy Spirit of the love of God through Jesus Christ and this love was bigger and more wonderful of any another thing that I already had tried. And this Love was for me, totally for free (grace).

So I was certain that this love was enough reason to live, and was therefore moved to enjoy God´s love and to live for Him as a consequence. Then in that time I was saved and the Holy Spirit came to live inside of me. He was not anymore a mere participant but as main influence and because of these I tried to search for every day how to be his son and belong to Him. Of course it is a process, in which my mind has being transformed and I have being moving each day more form the Kingdom of the "I" to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. This happens many times in difficult way however of great value for the growth.

l In this new life the presence of other Christians guided for God has been essential to help me find direction, to grow, to motivate and to be true brothers in this journey.

I have learned more from God. I have seen the transformation in me, my dreams had changed, my way to see life had changed and life had changed.

I am so thankful for all He had made in me and for all He will make in me in the future.

Gustavo Bastos Costa

A diferença que Deus faz na minha vida!

É claro que Deus esteve presente em todos momentos de minha vida minha vida , como o faz na vida de cada ser humano , mas a partir do momento em que fui convencido pelo Santo Espírito de que o amor de Deus por meio de Jesus Cristo era maior e mais maravilhoso do que qualquer outra coisa que eu já havia experimentado,era por mim, e de graça , então tive certeza que essa era a razão pela qual valia a pena viver, e era por isso eu queria viver, então pude receber a salvação e o Santo Espírito para habitar em mim.A partir de então Deus não mais distante ,mas Pai, se fez presente de forma diferente na minha vida, não apenas como um mero participante mas como principal influência pois passei a cada dia buscar mais dele de como viver para ele e sendo filho dele.Claro que é um processo em que isso ocorre, no qual minha mente vem sendo transformada em etapas saindo do reino do "eu" e passando para o Reino do Pai , muitas vezes de maneira difícil porém de grande valia para o crescimento nessa jornada , mas repleta de alegria e esperança pois o amor de Deus e suas promessas sempre me lembram que não tenho motivos para desespero ou tristeza.Nessa nova vida tem sido essencial a presença de outros cristãos guiados por Deus para ajudar a me orientar, viver , crescer , motivar , enfim serem verdadeiros irmãos e participantes dessa jornada.Tenho aprendido mais de Deus tenho visto a transformação que vem sendo feita em mim, meus sonhos mudaram minha maneira de ver a vida e viver.Tenho muito o que aprender e experimentar estou no processo de amadurecimento da fé e sou grato ao Pai por toda diferença que ele tem feito na minha vida e pela diferença que isso fará ainda mais no porvir.

Gustavo Bastos Costa

Guilherme e Amber are in the US

2008-02-14T14:09:00.004-04:00

Hello my friends!!!

I want to tell all of you that my brother and his family (Guilherme&Amber and Samuel) are coming to US. They are raising support and will be there for one month. We as a Team decided for Guilherme to travel and to Cristina and I to stay in Brazil (We were planning to visit US). So we could lead the community here in Brazil. Guilherme will be in Birmingham from 19^th February to 2^nd March. Then He will go to Tulsa (3rd to 6th) and 7th to 16th Saint Paul.

I would like for you all to be praying for them as they travel so many days out of home and for God to provide their support.

Please if you want to see him and help him in his trip here is want you can do:

Pray for Him
Support him with any amount you want monthly
Give Gui and Amber an opportunity to meet some of your Christian friends (Sunday school class, small group friends, work friends, …) so that He can explain our ministry and get them an opportunity to think if they want to be involved. If you want to help send me and email: chico@campusoutreach.org and I will be glad to help you to help him. Or just contact him directly galbergaria@campusoutreach.org

These are essential acts for the success of this trip. Be a part of that!

Praise the Lord, because HE IS EXPANDING THE KINGDOM!

Chico

A Personal testimony of the Beach Project

2008-02-14T13:28:00.003-04:00

This project was my second as a director. I was more calm and trusting more this time. Lead is a hard task, especially if you try to do it yourself (and I tend to do this way), instead of trusting God and letting your team work with you. This year our team was a young team and we were excited but at the same time, we had some trust issues to work out. God really used the project to treat our characters and to join us as one Team. First, because He likes to works in unity, love and trust; and second because there is no way to show God as a body if we are not one. This lesson is very clear to me now and God has taught us that with our team in this Beach project.

Leading this year was more enjoyable. I think God is giving me more maturity to lead and enjoy leading instead of being stressed.

Please keep praying that God will give me all maturity in Christ to lead and to show His glory as I serve Him.

Praise the Lord! He is always teaching us how to work for Him!

Summer Beach Project

2008-02-13T14:44:00.005-04:00

What a great project we had!
Great teaching, great fellowship, great grace that was among us.
Check out some of the pictures.

My Birthday was GREAT!

2007-12-06T12:13:00.000-04:00

I was feeling tired and because of that It came in my mind “why do a birthday party? You already do so many events, so many things and now in your birthday are you doing one more event?? Why take more energy out of you???”

It was interesting that I love be with people but I am going through some hard time, as I was feeling that way. But God is the joy of my heart; He is the renewer of my strength! So went and did the party!

It was great! I loved to be around thouse who loved me! God showed me love through them. I was glad to have my family there as well as Cristina’s family too. It was a great day!
Check for more here Picasa Web Albums - Francisco

Check the pictures of our 1st pre-PNP meeting

2007-12-06T09:05:00.000-04:00

Picasa Web Albums - Francisco - Dezembro 2007...

Preparing for The Beach Project 2008

2007-12-06T05:54:00.000-04:00

I am directing the PNP 2008 (Beach Project initials in Portuguese). We are so excited with the Beach project because we have experience so much from God in the last versions of it. It is a great moment to grow in Christ and keep seeking Him hard. Last year we had 100 participants (about 80 students) and this year we are expecting more than that. Please pray for us as we prepare to invite and challenge people to go. That God could build this PNP over His name and power.

Check more at http://www.pnp2008.blogspot.com (copy this address on your browser)

Friends in USA

2007-11-28T15:36:00.000-04:00

These are some of the friends I have visited before the conference. It was a great time with them, God really renewed my vision, and gave me so much love trough them. These are the greatest models I have from what is to be a laborer for the Kingdom. God, I am so thankful You put them in my life! Cristina and I are blessed to have them as friends and supporters.

After the Conference!!

2007-11-28T07:15:00.000-04:00

I have arrived and the tasks of being the director of our Beach Project just hit me very strongly! Every one of you has being asking where is Chico? Or where is RODRIGUES (my surname)?
I have being in a hard time of work, since I came from the conference in US. I am so sorry for not being faithful to communicate to you all, my supporters and friends. I am sorry.
Pray for me. Pray for rest in Christ.
I am taking 2 days of prayer this week as I have being full of stress. I want my heart back! Jesus I want to feel you, to be restored by You! I want to love as you loved and to walked as you

Lunch on Tuesdays

2007-11-28T07:02:00.000-04:00

Our Lunches on Tuesdays are going great! We are having fun and this relax enviroment is helping everyone of us get more close to each other! Keep praying for all of us, that God will build strong friendships so we can share our lives with oneanother.

Prayer request

2007-10-14T13:58:00.000-04:00

As we prepare to go I have also other concerns, our community leadership, my discipleship group, the leadership and development of the Beach Project and many other things that I think is essential for our MOVEMENT.

At the same time I think this will be a great opportunity to see God building laborers for the Kingdom. Equip and challenge our leaders and disciples to a next level of responsibility.

Pray for Laborers. Pray for Leaders. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be here with us!

Cristina and I

2007-10-14T13:55:00.000-04:00

Today I am preparing to my trip to US. It is not comfortable to go and leave Cristina home. I know this is the best thing but I feel the distance weigh in our hearts.

Please pray for us as we prepare to be 11 days far from each other. It is our first time married that we will be so many days far way from each other.

Preparing to go to US soon

2007-10-05T08:46:00.000-04:00

I am going o a conference in US - ATLANTA. you can check more from the conferece here at http://global.campusoutreach.org to check often to see profiles of the participantes and as well understands more what we are about to do there. But just to say in few words, it is a global strategy meeting. How can we have a global strategy to take the Gospel to the ends of the WORLD!

Pray as I prepare to go.
Pray for safety and for my wife, Cristina, she will stay alone here in BRazil while I go to the conference. This will be our first time separed after the marrige (about 10-12 days)

Team Up date

2007-10-05T07:13:00.000-04:00

Click on the picture to read it (bigger image)

Staff Stimulus

2007-10-02T09:07:00.000-04:00

We have had a great stimulus. I felt this was a great retreat as all staff came together to mold our vision, to get excited about it and to worship HIM who is alone our King and Savior. All of this was great, but the worship was the best part of it. I felt the Holy Spirit so strongly as a special touch. We also had a prayer time during our last worship moment that was incredible. We didn’t want to stop praying!!! That was incredible! What a encouragement it was for me!

Keep praying for our Team, for oneness (john 17), for guidance from the Holy Spirit (John 16).

STAFF SITMULUS

2007-09-19T07:07:00.000-04:00

Our whole team is going today to our Satff Stimulus. For 4 days we will talk about our vision, our personal struggles, and get motivated to go forward with JESUS in our ministry.

Please pray that God will do that in our hearts.

We are about to sign the contract to rent a house

2007-09-19T06:56:00.000-04:00

AS some of you know, we started a lunch on every Tuesdays on a ministry house and it has being very good. About 35-40 students are coming and this is helping our community to connect with other students and have a great community time.

BUT everything is not as easy as we wanted. We lost the house we were using and now we are about to rent another one. We have 2 community lunches there every week (veterinary students and engineering students) and some of our single staff are going to live there.

Please pray that God will confirm this place for us and that we will have the money to pay for it. (It cost about a 1000 dollars each month and we have are sharing costs with some staff in our Team.)
If you would be interested in donate for this house, please send me an email (chico@campusoutreach.org) and I will be very happy with that. (Just one more opportunity to serve the Kingdom! and to get connected to our ministry)

Thank you so much!

Cristina and I went to the park

2007-09-05T07:44:00.000-04:00

Cristina is discipling a group of girls from the slam. It has being a great opportunity for us to serve and we are so happy with God and what he is doing in these kids’ lives. Check the pictures at the park.

Prayer request

2007-09-05T07:21:00.000-04:00

In the last week we had a bad news. The place we use for our community lunch will not be more available to us. The owner asked if we could leave, because he wants to sell the house. NOW WE NEED A NEW PLACE.

Yesterday we looked a house and the owner said no to us. It was very frustrating.
Today we will look another house and we hope this will be God's house for us.

Please pray with us for that.

Our Lunch on Tuesdays!!!

2007-08-30T09:27:00.000-04:00

It has being a great time! Many students are coming and we are having a great time of friendship and this is creating many good opportunities! Keep praying that God will establish many key friendships for the growth of the Kingdom.

Até o mais fortes duvidam - Even the strogest also have doubts

2007-08-25T08:40:00.000-04:00

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who has been put on the “fast track” to sainthood, was so tormented by doubts about her faith that she felt “a hypocrite,” it has emerged from a book of her letters to friends and confessors.

Shortly after beginning her work in the slums of Calcutta, she wrote: “Where is my faith? Even deep down there is nothing but emptiness and darkness. If there be a God — please forgive me.”

In letters eight years later she was still expressing “such deep longing for God,” adding that she felt “repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal.”

Her smile to the world from her familiar weather-beaten face was a “mask” or a “cloak,” she said. “What do I labor for? If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true.”

check for more http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415,00.html

Os textos tratam de vários assuntos, mas os que devem causar mais polêmica são os que constam do que a editora chamou de "cartas sombrias".

"Por favor reze especialmente por mim para que não estrague a obra d'Ele e que Nossa Senhor possa se mostrar - pois há uma escuridão tão terrível dentro de mim, como se tudo estivesse morto", escreveu ela em 1953. "Tem sido assim mais ou menos desde que dei início à ''obra''."

Em 1956: "Tão profunda ânsia por Deus - e ... repulsa - vazio - sem fé - sem amor - sem fervor. (Salvar) almas não atrai - O céu não significa nada - reze por mim para que eu continue sorrindo para Ele apesar de tudo."

E em 1959: "Se não houver Deus - não pode haver alma - se não houver alma então, Jesus - Você também não é real."

Às vezes ela tinha dificuldade em rezar. "Digo palavras de orações comunitárias - e faço de tudo para tirar de cada palavra a doçura que ela tem de transmitir - mas minha oração de união já não existe - não rezo mais."

God is answering our prayers!

2007-08-20T08:40:00.000-04:00

At church things were great! God really used my talk to touch so many hearts! I am really grateful that God really used this talk to change my heart and to challenge me to trust Him more!

Trust in the Lord, and receive His PEACE! (hebrews 4)
Be like this cat that don’t fear the dog but trust his owner!!!

The conversation with the student Girl was difficult but very good. God brought us all to brokenness in the end, almost 1 am and we all asked for help, help to help, help to believe, help to understand the reality. So please keep praying that we will walk in the trust!

Prayer request

2007-08-19T11:35:00.000-04:00

Hello every body!

Please pray for us:

For tonight:

In a few hours I am preaching at my church and I would like for you all to be praying for me, that the Holy Spirit will guide me and speak through me. That the Church will hear and the Word of God will go deeper in the hearts and set them free from all bondage that they have that make them not to trust Jesus in a daily bases. The key texts are Jo14.27, Jo16.33, Hebrews 4, Ephesians 2.13-21

I and other 6 leaders of our community will have a important conversation with a girl from our community about her participation with our ministry. This will be a very key conversation for for her life and our community. Please pray for us to be sensitive to the Spirit and for her to be broken to God’s will.

For our first lunch of the semester – next Tuesday @11am

We as a community are starting to have our weekly lunch close to the campus. It was very good last semester when the Americans students did with us and we hope that God will keep using it that same way to build community, friendship, and raise many opportunity to share the Gospel. Please pray for that

We still need some financial support for that, as we want to offer a good food for a cheaper price. We need to pay also a rent for the place we are having the lunch. Please pray that God will provide everything necessary

For our first weekly meeting of the semester- next Wednesday @7pm

The Jesus you have never known before!!!

This will be our new series, and we will develop that through all the semester. WE think that many students that have being prepared last semester to hear the Gospel will have the opportunity to get deeper and deeper in the knowledge of Christ. Pray that Jesus will break all barriers to let the unbelievers to see Him as they never saw before.

Thank you so much for your partnership!

We are together a body!!!

2007-08-14T19:29:00.000-04:00

Lucas, Hugo, Gustavo Costa, Bruno and I went to my father's farm! It was a great time of rest and good preparation for our beginner of semester. All this guys are studying the Bible with me and we are growing a lot in fellowship. This fellowship in Christ is transforming our lives each day as God challenge each one of us daily. It is good not to be alone in our journey to know Christ better. And Christ is giving us grace to live our lives in real community.
Praise God for that!

Team UPdate

2007-08-14T08:50:00.000-04:00

Please click on the picture to see it in a cleaerer and bigger way.

July is ending...

2007-07-19T10:49:00.001-04:00

The semester in UFMG is over. Students are in vacations and we staff feel very tired. It has being a great semester! God has shown us HIMSELF in a great way.

First our staff team has grown so much. Guilherme and Teo our two new staffs are facing their first challenges to share their lives with the students and adapting very well. Jimmy Lutz is also facing some new challenges as times goes and a new baby boy has being born. Cristina my wife is very present in the campus and working a lot to see the Kingdom come in the Engineering area in UFMG. So this is great news, a bigger team to reach and pastor many students. Pray as we grow as a team, that the holly Spirit will make us humble and servants of one another. That any barrier will be destroyed and that we will get that oneness that Jesus talked about in John 17.

Cross Cultural Experience (CCE) is over. Thirteen Americans were laboring side by side with us Brazilians at the campus of UFMG in the Engineering area. Many students heard and get closer to the Gospel (probably over than 50). We are excited about that and our Brazilian community has grown so much with this experience. Now we are preparing to follow-up all contacts so they can really know and trust their lives to Christ. Pray that Jesus will give us wisdom, capacity and pure motivation of love to relate to these students and really help them to trust Christ through testifying Jesus powerfully in us.

In my personal relationship with Christ I saw how much is difficult to trust him in that all things is under His hand. I tend to stress me out with all details and work that some times I can’t experience God’s love, grace, and peace in my heart. I have the tendency to control things, thinking that all success comes from a work that is well done. I want to do my best but put all my reliance in Him and no t in my effort. Grace is not opposite to effort but the merit. Pray that I will pray and put everything before God and His peace will abound in me.

ALL glory to HIM alone!

Thank you for your prayers!!!

2007-07-15T12:22:00.000-04:00

Cross Cultural Experience- 2007
Last retreat was a great miracle of God!
We had more than 60 students passing by the retreat and more than 20 non-Christians were there. We were able by God's grace to share the Gospel with all of them and almost every one wants to keep investigating what is Jesus message for them! Let's keep praying for these students. See the video and enjoy God's work!!!
God is good!!! ALL THE TIME!!!

CHECK THE VIDEO HERE

Area Retreat - Cabeçudos

2007-07-06T10:11:00.000-04:00

It was so much fun! Take a look and enjoy what God is doing among us. Thank you for your prayers and support!
It has being a wonderful time to see these all of us getting to know more about the Gospel!

Please pray for us

2007-07-05T19:02:00.000-04:00

We are having our last retreat of the semester this weekend with 13 the americans students and as well more 50 brazilians. It is a area retreat and we are having a lot of work to prepare. So please pray that GOD will bring people a desire of atraction to HIm, so people will search for Him and He will be found by them. It will be there 25 or so that are trying to figure out what a relationship with Jesus look like. Please pray for them!

JULY Team Update

2007-07-05T18:58:00.000-04:00

CLick on the picture to see it better!

Originals???

2007-07-04T10:02:00.000-04:00

For 9 weeks we are having our Originals meeting every Wednesday night! It has being a great chance for all students come, feel a nice environment, hear a good talk and meet interesting people.About 45 to 70 students are comming and participating with us. We have being talking about our lives! How we all are searching for originality, that we all a because of this with a identity crises and that in the end we all want to be originals but we are following something or some body! Isn’t that interesting???
So do you think that has ever exist someone original? Yes I think so! JESUS was very original. He had his identity very clear for him, he shared very original teaching and his life, death and resurrection was incredibly original. Have you though about this before?
So if we are following something or somebody anyway, why not investigate Jesus as someone to follow???

Sharing with the poor

2007-06-25T10:25:00.000-04:00

Jesus sent us to the World because that is a need! Not only spiritual but as well a material need! WE had the chance to share with many poor kids and we were very blessed by this opportunity. God really is changing us through these kids.

Team UPdate

2007-06-20T07:28:00.000-04:00

Click on the picture to see it in a bigger way!

Behind the Music

2007-06-16T10:19:00.000-04:00

Have you seen it? What is behind U2 lyrics?
We can think and discuss about it! This was a excited weekend with 200 students at a nice place called Dom Bosco! There we asked lots of questions to stimulate everyone to rethink about their life. Are you concerned about the eternal things? Are you wanting to consider that Jesus had a life that is worthy of investigating? What are your prejudices against Jesus?

God is good!

2007-06-09T10:29:00.000-04:00

What a nice place!!!

Festa Junina

2007-06-02T10:22:00.000-04:00

This is a country party from BRazil. It is called Festa Junina! Check how the Americans students had so much fun!

Jean is a new man!!!

2007-05-27T13:28:00.000-04:00

Jean has being a friend since July 2005. I am sharing with him since then and asking God to reveal Himself to him because no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3). So in our walk we had so many differences and hard steps, but love, that cover all sins, came upon us and we kept perceiving Jesus more and more.
The last week Jesus had make a great thing in Jean life, He has revealed Himself to Him as the only God and his personal Savior! That is fantastic for me! What a great God Jesus is. A God of the incredible! A God of every people and every nation! He change hearts and minds, He is a God of wonder and majesty! I adore HIM for all He is doing among our lives!

Thank you for your prayers. And Keep praying that God will give us more of Him, more vision, more love and more power to break every bondage that hold us from knowing and living Jesus!

Las Casas saying how much Jesus transformed him!

2007-05-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

Take a look at this video.
Las Casas Testemony -Google Video
Las Casas is a disciple of Guilherme. It is awesome what God is doing in his life!

Some pictures from the Churrasco!

2007-05-25T17:38:00.001-04:00

Our Churrasco (cook out) was great!

2007-05-25T17:15:00.000-04:00

We have had about 70 people in our Churrasco! It was great. A band of friends was playing and many good conversations were happening! The americans students were very glad to meet all the brazilians students. We have eaten very good meat and some rice, vinagrete and farofa.

(see the picture that I took from a restaurante web site, our churrasco was close to this!!!)

Check on this link videos from the churrasco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGYsxMd3mJU

Americans Students in BRAZIL!!!

2007-05-25T16:30:00.000-04:00

From the 40 Americans’ students, 11 students and 1 couple are in the Engineering area ministering side by side with Cristina, Jimmy, Teo, Gui and I. We are having a lot of fun and building a lot of friendships. God has being faithful to give us a beautiful house and all the logistic were done to make this a very excited experience for the students and all Brazilians that will make part.

Keep praying that we will have love for all people

And the Brazilians students will have eyes to the see.

About my Father

2007-05-25T16:18:00.000-04:00

As some of you now, my father had a heart surgery the past month. It was a very hard moment for me and my family. My grandmother died while my father was in the catheterism exam. It was a shock to my mom and all of us. My mom sad “God don’t take my mom and my husband at the same time, I can not handle that”.
But God was graceful and let the surgery goes well. My father is now recovering very well and already at his home.
During the surgery time and the next 10 days we all were very humble to God’s will and praying a lot to Him to give my father more years of life. My own father has grown a lot in his faith through this surgery and I am sure he will never be the same!
Thank you for your prayers, emails, phone calls, etcs.

I love the way God do his things. It is incredible!

Up Date May 2007

2007-05-15T22:20:00.000-04:00

Click on the up date below to see it clear.

Dinner at my house Friday night!

2007-03-28T10:52:00.000-04:00

Chad Mary, CO INDIANA, was in Brazil for a pre-field visit. It was a great time for every one of us. Our team in ICEX was very glad to have him here and our community too. We are very excited about the CCP (Cross Cultural Project) coming in one and a haft month and this is just a preparation. There will be 11 Students from Indiana in our city for 8 weeks. they will enjoy Brazil and join us in our life experience to get to know Jesus. This will be awesome way to build vision for the world and build a community that is bigger than nationality.Cristina did a incredible dinner for a mans night last Friday. Check the pictures.

Fifteen days ago, our Monday discussion was great!

2007-03-28T10:41:00.000-04:00

We had some great things we have learned with one another and I was very glad about the things I came back with.

But something very interesting happened, we got a visitor. I was sited on the floor and 6 feets behind me there was a very dangerous insect, a scorpion. But a lizard was there to defend me. This lizard has attack the scorpion and kill it. I was glad for that. I have seen it only after the lizard has killed it. I felt that God was protecing me in that time! Thanks God!

Have you already taken some time to reflect over the person of Jesus?

2007-03-28T10:31:00.000-04:00

Five friends of mine, Teo and I are meeting every Monday after lunch time to discuss about the most influential people that has ever lived, JESUS CHRIST. It is amazing how we became ignorant about that. Jesus has lived in this earth and made incredible things, set some incredible thoughts and all this is powerful enough to change lives even in our days. We are reading the gospel of John and trying to get to know what Jesus said, why and how all this are important to us today!
Dare you to look closely to what Jesus said?
Dare you to see the implications that this bring to your life?

Cristina birthday!!!

2007-03-19T16:29:00.000-04:00

Cristina is one more year old! This time is different, she is married!

I got the chance to give her flowers.

I wrote on the card:

Cristina,

You are more beatiful than roses
You are more desired than diamonds
that is the way I love you,
Chico

Let´s take a ride on the horses!!

2007-03-14T07:55:00.000-04:00

I and other 6 (Ryan, Bruno, Flavio, Alberto (osama), Guilherme, Teo) guys from the campus went on a trip for 3 days on the farm. It was awesome! Good conversations, lot´s of fun!

Check the pictures at Fotos (click on the link).

My younger brother is now a father!

2007-03-08T16:54:00.000-04:00

I am astonished to see my younger brother holding his own baby. He is a father!!!
Wow! I am very happy and confident that God will give him, Amber and Samuel all they need to spread the biggest miracle ever: God became a baby, lived with us and died for us so we would have eternal life with Him.

Looking back and being thankful for all He has done for us!

2007-02-12T09:32:00.000-04:00

The Beach Project has finished. God has taught me so much through this time of preparation, execution and evaluation. The project was without a doubt a moment that God used to challenge me in new ways. It was also to equip me, to help me to understand more about leadership in the Gospel as I had the chance to be the director. But this position of director left me in a very dependent position towards God and I was confident that only God could make this project to happen successfully.

And He made it a great project! Not only in the structure side of it, that was excellent but also the more important, we had a project filled with His presence. Alleluias!!

The project was a project of opportunities of faith! It was a project where I was leading and doing that for the first time. Almost all leaders were leading in a position of challenge and of newness. This gave to all a broken heart that could be felt invading the project.

In this project we felt great intimacy with God as a team, in vulnerability, confidence, service and love. God has built this project with Wide Opened Arms, with great power. I have being praying that the people could be touched, and they could not only hear new things about God but they could experience God in their lives as something very real for them. And it happened!!! The SPIRIT has moved!!! God touched lives; people had been invaded by love and had been marked by the rest n of their lives. They had been marked by the sacrificial love of Christ in each person there, not only in the leaders but in every one that was there.

I am now receiving a lot of emails with lot’s of students telling me how great was there experience with God in this project and how life changing it has being for them. They were touched by God’s word, by His love through all people that were there, the community.

Thank you Lord for all you have done for us!

Francisco & Cristina Rodrigues - 13th February 2007
Campus Outreach Brazil

Check out this video from Beach Project

2007-02-12T08:10:00.000-04:00

Lucas did a small vídeo to show what has happend in the Beach project CLICK here and watch

Check what Lucas said about the Project

2007-02-12T08:06:00.000-04:00

Lucas(in blue) and his SBP roomates

It was 18 days that has looked like 30. It was a awesome time!!! It was a great time to grow in our relationship with God and other people. Intimacy that reflected God’s glory. My heart was more broken than before. Now with WIDE OPEN ARMS I am. Thank you Lord for this opportunity. We can’t live with indifference, the Gospel is powerful!

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55: 8-9

Check what Hugo said about he Beach Project

2007-02-12T07:39:00.000-04:00

The beach project was really good. I think that the power of God and His Spirit were overflowing in people's lives. So many people could learn about Jesus and His love, and really experience that He's a good God.
After two weeks of the end of the Beach Project I can see a lot what God has done during the project and what He's still doing. So many people are getting to understand the Gospel, and the love of Christ. Now they can understand that Jesus died on the cross, to save every each one of us. It's really good to see the greater miracle, people surrendering their lives to God.
It was an awesome experience to lead my roommates. I feel that God has given us an amazing opportunity to relate, even after the project and grow in our faith.
Albert, a good friend of mine who I'm discipling also went to the project. Man, God is revealing His glory a lot to this guy. He's very excited about knowing God more and following Christ.
These are only few examples of what God did, He blessed us with much more.
For me it was amazing to grow in my faith, and to learn more about Jesus and his power. I could talk to peolpe and go deep in my relationship with some friends.
LET'S OPEN OUR ARMS TO CHRIST, SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE GLORY OF HIS OPENED ARMS FOR US.
Hugo Albergaria

It was awesome!!!

2007-02-02T12:57:00.000-04:00

Click on the link and check some pictures from the beach project - WIDE OPEN ARMS
PhotoAlbum from Summer Beach Project

This is one of the many nice pictures we have from the Beach Project. Eduardo e Ana were coming to give some love to this old man at the nursing home. God is awesome!

Beach Project 2007 - WIDE OPEN ARMS

2007-01-20T12:52:00.000-04:00

Hello from RIO - BRAZIL!!! We are all here in Rio (more than 100 people) for our Summer Beach Project!!! It has being great for all the staff, and students. God has being doing an amazing project for our lives. Today is our rest day, I am here at the city to see my emails and send some news. We are learning so much and having a great experience with God’s love. Today in the talk Demps teached us about rest and how rest is not the absence of something (work) but the presence of GOD in our lives. Let’s put our life in perspective of the great God we have!!!

Please keep praying for us!!!

Chico

Last Up date!!!

2007-01-07T20:12:00.000-04:00

Click in the picture and check the last news about our project and Team.

I am going today to RIO and I may be out of range for these days.

Our community had a Christmas party!

2006-12-22T15:13:00.000-04:00

Take a look and see how fun it was our Christmas party. We have talked about grace and how Jesus presented us a new way to live, through grace by faith. That is a great message that touches our Christmas. Are you living a life of grace?

Who said there is no girls in the engineering?

Click here and see some more pictures
Our community pictures

We are almost finishing the studies for this Beach Project

2006-12-22T11:07:00.000-04:00

Today we are giving our final versions on the studies we have made for the beach project. It was very hard to do it! But as always God worked so much in our Team and we are finishing with a closer relationship to Him and to one another.

Praise God!
Thank you for your prayers!
Keep praying as we make the corrections (that may occur) and make the several plans that are still on going for this project.

One more Team Up Date

2006-12-20T13:26:00.000-04:00

Please click on the picture to see it in a better way.

Writing to studies to the Beach Project

2006-12-18T05:43:00.000-04:00

This week a team will write the studies for our Beach Project- Arms wide open. We are a team of 10 staffs.
We will take this whole week to finish.

Please pray for us!

Jesus made himself poor for us!

2006-12-17T15:44:00.000-04:00

As some of you know, we have a mercy ministry side by side with our campus ministry. This year has been a great year for the mercy ministry. We have several discipleship groups that are happening with a lot of kids. This kids are really poor and normally don’t have a family structure that would allow them to grow as normal citizens. We hope that God will raise them as laborers for the Kingdom and they will bear much fruit, despite their lack of family structure or any other thing.

More pictures from the christmas party: Fotos

The link from our mercy ministry: Life on Life

We had a trainnig for the beach project leaders this weekend

2006-12-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

Take a look at the picture of the leaders of this year beach project!
It was a great time. We met on Friday afternoon and the entire Saturday. We talked about the calling God has for each one of us, the power to fulfill this calling and the principles to follow it on a practical bases.

God was there Himself to help everybody understand!
Hehehehe :)

UP DATE Dezember 2006

2006-12-07T06:30:00.000-04:00

Click on the picture to see it bigger.

See here my birthday party pictures

2006-12-06T17:57:00.000-04:00

Click in the link above and see my album of pictures from my birthdayparty

http://chicobrasileiro.spaces.live.com/?_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaHandler=TWljcm9zb2Z0LlNwYWNlcy5XZWIuUGFydHMuUGhvdG9BbGJ1bS5GdWxsTW9kZUNvbnRyb2xsZXI%24&_c11_PhotoAlbum_spaFolderID=cns!9D9960C8573E63D!148&_c11_PhotoAlbum_startingImageIndex=1&_c11_PhotoAlbum_commentsExpand=0&_c11_PhotoAlbum_addCommentExpand=0&_c11_PhotoAlbum_addCommentFocus=0&_c=PhotoAlbum

These last days

2006-12-06T07:33:00.000-04:00

These last days has being incredible busy! I am so busy preparing for the Beach Project (being the director this year), leading the community of the engineering students and being on campus to disciple and share the Gospel with the students.

Why is that? Why I am doing all these things and felling so busy?

One is that I have a passion! One passion that God will be know in the campus of UFMG, in my city, in Brazil and in the World! I want to give all I have and all I can to make this happened. Of course, I don’t think I can do it by myself although I sometimes act this way.

The other reason is that I feel and suffer the lack of labores here in Brazil. It is very sad to walk on the campus and feel that these students have maybe no other chance to hear the Gospel but if you go and talk to them about it.

So for has being challenging to follow the Spirit and rest on HIM to accomplish all He has already prepared for me to do (Ef2.10). I can not rest but the same time I can’t do by myself. Isn’t that interesting???

I finish praying, “ God be my center. Be my piece, Be my guide, Be my strength to do all you want and call me to do! I don’t want to loose the best of following you, to be with you! Be with me, bring me intimacy with you through all I do. Let every thing that I do to be for you!”

We had vitsitors from EUA! It was awesome!

2006-12-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

Brian and Ashley were here and have spent 5 days in Brazil. They were here for Jon and Thati weeding and it was great. I was touched by their spontaneous way and their love to live Christ.
Cristina and I haved loved to share our lives with them.

We've got visitors....

2006-11-18T17:43:00.000-04:00

It was so plesant to quit a little bit to recharge and thing about what is going on in our lives and about the relationship with our heavenly father. That should be the fuel of our spiritual jorney, the fuel of the discipleship....Jim Downing has spent some days in Brazil with us. It was very touching for me cause he is 93 years old and he was one of the men who got the Navigators started. Navigators is a organization that started in the U.S. navy. Where they re-discover the discipleship idea of 2TIM2:2. This idea of teaching men that will teach other men. Jim Downing was at Pearl Harbor and has 70 years of experience of teaching and training other men. I was amazed with his heart for God and his love for the great commission. I'm so greatfull for him and his impact...We also welcomed Ken and Teresa. This beatiful couple that works with CO Mineapolis. They both became Christians in college and came to the missions field. They have a lot of stories to tell, not as many as Jim. They have a family with 5 kids and the ministry in Mineapolis is a result of a conection with Jonh Piper, the pastor of Betleham Church. This church is the partner of CO Minesota. Cristina and I had such a great time of reavaluation, thinking and rest... we loved to have visitors...

Did you already experience this?

2006-11-09T05:34:00.000-04:00

Today I was challenged to do what this text says! What a incredible way God chooses!!! Pray for your enemies, who is your enemy today? Who is the one that is against your plans? Who is the one that makes you suffer? Who is this one?
Pray for him! Pray now!

You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.Matthew 5:42-44 (in Context)
Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew The Message (MSG)"

Você busca alguma coisa? Do you search for something?

2006-10-26T08:36:00.000-04:00

Falamos sobre nossa incessante busca em nossas carreiras profissionais, buscando mais poder, mais realização e mais satisfação. Estamos sempre buscando incessantemente por estas coisas. Estamos buscando mais, sempre mais.

A superação pessoal, a busca por sucesso, realização, o constante pensamento de que alguém vai nos completar perfeitamente através de um relacionamento amoroso perfeito (um namorado (a)) ou até mesmo o simples desejo de ter prazer eterno, sem fim, em coisas passageiras como ir em uma festa e degustar da alegria de reencontrar um amigo, desfrutar de amizades, gozar do êxtase do álcool, do sexo, das drogas ou a adrenalina de um pulo de band junp são evidências de que BUSCAMOS e que nossa busca é MAIOR, nossa busca é ESPIRITUAL. Uma busca espiritual é uma busca por algo extraordinário, sobrenatural, uma busca que vai além de nossas experiências. Vejo por exemplo o significado destas palavras: extraordinário, sobrenatural. Com certeza estas palavras já nos dizem a respeito do caráter dessa busca.

No intimo todos nós buscamos no palpável, no comum, no ordinário algo que só o não palpável, o sobrenatural, o extraordinário vivido com o palpável, o ordinário pode nos oferecer.

Queremos com certeza mais do que o natural pode nos oferecer. Nunca estamos satisfeitos com o que alcançamos, nunca dizemos: “posso parar de viver, tenho tudo o que busco, estou completamente satisfeito, posso morrer agora, não tenho mais nada a realizar, morrerei feliz”.

Bem, se existe busca em nossas vidas, podemos ver a necessidade de entrar em uma JORNADA ESPIRITUAL.

A Computer translation (I am so sorry that this translation is not the best one)
We speak on our incessant search in our professional careers, searching more power, more accomplishment and more satisfaction. We are always searching incessantly for these things. We are searching more, always more.
The personal overcoming, the search for success, accomplishment, the constant thought of that somebody goes in them to complete perfectly through a perfect loving relationship (a boyfriend (a)) or even though the simple desire to have perpetual pleasure, without end, in things passengers as to go in a party and to degustar of the joy of reencontrar a friend, enjoying of friendships, to enjoy of the ecstasy of the alcohol, the sex, the drugs or the adrenalin of a pull of band junp is evidences of that WE SEARCH and that ours it searchs is GREATER, ours searchs is SPIRITUAL. A search spiritual is extraordinary, supernatural a search for something, a search that goes beyond our experiences. I see for example the meaning of these words: extraordinary, supernatural. With certainty these words already in say them regarding the character of this search.
In it I summon all we we search in the concrete one, in the common one, the ordinary something that only the not concrete one, the supernatural one, the extraordinary one lived with the concrete one, the ordinary can in offering them.
We want more than with certainty what the natural one can in offering them. We are never satisfied with what we reach, we never say: “I can stop of living, I have everything what I search, I am completely satisfied, I can die now, I do not have more nothing to carry through, I will die happy”.
Well, if search in our lives exists, can see the necessity to enter in an SPIRITUAL JORNEY.

Turning the evil for the good? Could this be possible?

2006-10-24T07:25:00.000-04:00

Today is Tuesday, October 24, 2006.

After a very tuff week I am back on thinking on the project and retreats I have to prepare for this weekend and for January. It was incredible what God did in me this last week.
I had a great challange but during the week, God worked in many hearts and the chalange was actually a perfect platform to work my character, my faith and He did the same in many other lives that were related to the issue.

What a great God we have and follow!!!
He works with the evil, for our good!
Praise Him! Praise our great God and Savior!!
He is good! All the time, He is good!!!

Faça aos outros o que voce quer que eles te façam!

2006-10-23T07:49:00.000-04:00

Como quereis que vos façam, assim fazei-o vós também a eles. Mt6.21

Realmente eu penso em me poupar, em me proteger, em mim primeiro. Quero mesmo ver Deus sendo minha vida, meu provedor, meu doador de vida para que eu posso me doar, amar meu próximo como a mim mesmo.

Ser generoso, justo, correr para a justiça de Deus e para o futuro que Ele quer me dar.
Isso eu quero fazer e para isso preciso da graça e misericórdia de Deus, Cristo Jesus em mim.

Deus faça de mim um servo que te serve sem medo, medo de me fazer bobo, idiota, pobre, ... quero ser o que o Senhor quiser que eu seja para sua honra e glória.

Building a movement! Are you part of this?

2006-10-22T18:36:00.000-04:00

We are meeting so we can build a movement for the cause of Christ. We had a excelletn meeting with some students and we have studied the calling of the disciples in LC 5.

It was great to see God calling us to do much more than we can imagine!
By faith through grace!
This is the only way!

Have you already felt incapable?

2006-10-03T09:03:00.000-04:00

Have you already felt incapable?
Have you felt anxious about something?
Have you already felt that GOD was not present?

I was asking all this last questions.
And I was feeling incapable and anxious.
I can say that God is mysterious and I can not predict His actions and His way!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[a] knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"[b] "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"[c]

I can’t tell what God has in mind, but one thing I know; He is good, all the time.

I faced a big challenge to find a place for our beach project this year. We had a very small budget and we wanted a very good place. Find this place looked very, very hard. I needed a miracle; I needed a open door that could come only from God.
And in the end of the process I have learned that God is present all the time, even when I don’t feel Him. He worked through the process, He was doing the very best, but I couldn’t see. I was watching with my natural eyes. HE wants me to look with HIS eyes.
Please God, let me know You, let me know your ways and trust you and not my understanding. Let me see with Your eyes, let me preserver when suffering comes, when my circumstances are difficult. Let me remember You, Your love, Your grace!