We have hosted more than 400 members
of PC(USA) churches who have come to visit us on travel/study
trips, and these experiences have led to long-term relationships
and partnership with us and our Uzbek and Brazilian partners.
We have been comprehensively involved in church leadership development,
the starting of new churches, and the evolution of social projects
that have witnessed to the holistic nature of evangelism—meeting
spiritual, social, and physical needs.
Upon returning from Brazil in July and in the midst of reflecting
on this adventure in ministry, something that we did not perceive
for this year began to take shape, and we sensed that now might
be a good time to transition back to the United States and seek
a ministry opportunity with a PC(USA) congregation. We believe
that our Brazilian church partner has benefited from our presence
these past seven years, and the seeds that we have helped plant
will continue to be watered and cultivated by our Brazilian colleagues
until there is a great harvest.
The search led us to five PC(USA) churches in which there was
mutual interest in a ministry relationship, but one of these stood
out to us as the best fit. The Reverend Doug Pratt was our associate
pastor at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas,
and it was his encouragement in 1989 that helped Paul make the
decision to go to seminary. It was also Doug's mission vision
that helped shape our mission vision and eventually led us to
a vocation as missionaries. For 14 years, until June 2004, Doug
was the senior pastor of Memorial Park Presbyterian Church of
Pittsburgh, and Memorial Park has been an active partner with
us in missions throughout our ministry. In June, Doug began as
senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs,
Florida. It is with great joy that Paul accepted a position as
associate pastor at this same church and began working together
in ministry with Doug in January 2005.
It would be appropriate for many of you to now be asking, “What
now happens to the work and the partnership in Northeast Brazil
and the Sertão Project?” We want to assure you that
this important work and partnership will continue. As a matter
of fact, there are four PC(USA) travel/study teams scheduled for
2005. There are yet many wonderful projects to complete in the
sertão together with our Brazilian partner, including finishing
the construction of three churches and the continuing support
of various important social projects—the literacy program,
water projects, preschools, and Habitat houses.
Please do not imagine that we no longer have interest in Northeast
Brazil. We now have the opportunity to join together with you
as a partner church in missions, and we cannot imagine that Northeast
Brazil will not be included in the mission vision of First Presbyterian
Church of Bonita Springs. This is not a letter saying “goodbye”;
it is a letter of joy in what God has done in our midst and what
God intends to do in our future.
Thank you for your friendship, your prayers, your encouragement,
and your support through the years. We pray for joy and peace
in all your relationships with family, friends, and especially
with God. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a wonderfully adventurous
New Year.
Abraços (a warm Brazilian hug of friendship),
Paul and Linda
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