April 9, 2007
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
A Brazilian teenager plays a guitar bought contributions made
to an Extra Commitment Opportunity. Son Daniel participates
in the time of praise.
Greetings in the name of our risen Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. We began the day at an early
service with our Brazilian brothers and sisters. It’s not
a sunrise service because the sun rises about 5:30 a.m. We worshiped
and then had breakfast and enjoyed their fellowship.
Easter evening we experienced something new in our ministry in
Brazil. We had a worship service in English! It was a wonderful
experience for internationals, Brazilians who have lived or studied
in the United States, and Brazilians who want to improve their
English. It was beautiful to see a variety of countries join in
Christian worship. We were able to use the American school. The
school believes it is a service to the community that offers people
a chance to improve their English. When many Brazilians think
of Easter they think of large chocolate Easter eggs or a few days
without work. Folks attended who wanted to improve their English
skills, but who don’t know Jesus Christ as the Lord and
Savior.
The American school hosted a worship service in English, the
first we’ve ever attended in Brazil.
We have started a Bible study in the neighborhood at an apartment
complex near our apartment building. Our main Bible study is held
in a Christian school a few miles from our apartment. We meet
there during the week for a time of praise and a Bible study.
We hope to add a Sunday worship service.
Gordon is serving as the coordinator of the presbytery’s
mission projects. Our presbytery is made up of five organized
churches in the greater Recife area. New work is beginning in
three locations, and a seminary graduate is serving his internship
in a church whose pastor has retired. Gordon is helping to establish
new physical sites while he also serves as the new pastors’
spiritual counselor.
One of the new congregations is being established in the downtown
area of a suburb. The young pastor has quickly reached out to
a number of people. She has turned a rented storefront into a
church. The meeting location proudly bears the name of the Independent
Presbyterian Church of Brazil. Another pastor is also beginning
work from scratch and is finding it a huge challenge to begin
without a nucleus. We are trying to help her get started.
Recife is becoming more violent daily. Assaults happen regularly
in our neighborhood. Neighbors constantly look over their shoulders,
and Gordon doesn’t go out for his daily walk with his cell
phone, watch, or money. Some people don’t want to attend
services at night because they would rather stay in the safety
of their apartment.
Please pray for the safety of our family and our neighborhood
and that our work won’t be hindered by the violence.
In Christ,
Gordon and Dorothy Gartrell
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
41
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