It Is Happening!

 

                  Guy Time at the Family Retreat Center

                    Family Time at the Retreat Center

     Vila Church Meeting after over a year of covid restrictions.

Often, there is a sense of fear and uncertainty when you venture out on a new project, a new job, a new ministry, or a new relationship. Fear and peace are emotions that often control many of our decisions. Sometimes these feelings have rational bases, other times they misguide us in poor directions. As a student pilot, I learned early in our training that direction (heading) determines if you get to your destination safely or crash and burn. Sounds simple but at times it’s not. As you attend ground school and fly, you also learn that your compass heading must change due to variables such as weather, magnetic deviation, ATC communication, and other factors such as assigned vectors.  

 Three years ago when the idea of building a Retreat Center for families and young people started to become a possibility, fear was present. Fear that the idea may not be embraced by our local church fellowship, fear that limited funds would not suffice, and a concern that this project would not be sustained by qualified folks that follow. Though we control far less than we may realize, stability in mission projects has often been a concern.

 Not only is the first phase of the Family Retreat Center (in Portuguese O Recanto) almost complete and functioning, but it has created an interest among the brethren of our local churches to invest. More than twenty Christian businesspeople and church families have purchased lots near and around the Retreat Center from the land developer. These believers not only want their own personal “get-a-way” for sport fishing, the beaches and relaxation, but a desire to have access to Bible preaching and teaching events held at the Center… how cool is that? Now with some ease from covid fears and politics, the installations are being used every month. So, yes it is happening!           

For over a year Christian brethren in our city of Petrolina, have not been permitted to gather normally in person due to government restrictions and pandemic worries. Most of us have become saturated with online school, online church, online preachers, online relationships, online shopping, online work, texting cyber people, and watching old movies on YouTube.

 As human bearers of God’s image, we can only grow normally in loving relationships where there is healthy physical and visual contact. As a prodigal child being hugged by his father (Luke 15:20), Peter being moved by the stern and loving eye contact of Jesus (Luke 2:61), kissing whether romantic (Song of Salomon 1:2) or as a friendly greeting (II Corinthians 13:12), Jesus taking little children in his arms (Mark 10:16), to mention a few of the many Biblical examples showing the power of physical presence. To touch, to be hugged, to sense a loving friend’s physical presents, can be a part of being “touched” by God through Jesus.

 So, when we physically gathered together as a church family in the Vila Baptist auditorium a few weeks ago, It was amazing to preach once again to the heart while looking into their eyes… and yes, we snuck in some of hugs…slowly the return is happening!

 Because the US Postal Service has suspended international mail from Brazil for over a year now, many no longer can receive hardcopy mailed ministry updates. Emails, apps, and phone calls have become the only way to communicate from distance.

 So… from my electronic devise to yours, thank you for your support, for praying, and for your emails of encouragement.

Grace then peace, Tim Reiner                                     timreiner1@gmail.com

 Baptist Mid-Missions Celebrating 100 Years!

www.bmm.org | 440-826-3930  

  

                                                                                             

Another Seed Has Sprouted

There is something amazing that happens, when you take a seed that is hard, dry, old and lifeless, then place it in soil moistened with water, add light from above, and wow, life!

After more than four decades of exposing folks to Christ’s Gospel in Brazil, being a part of “planting” seven churches in this part of the Brazilian field, and now helping and seeing the eighth plant sprout, is so thrilling!

However, looking back I cannot forget how several of these churches were difficult to bear fruit, cultivated for years while experiencing little growth. At times so discouraged, quitting seemed like a viable option. I had (and still have) to be reminded that Christ’s church assembles as congregations of defective sinners, totally forgiven by God, yet we still, among other flaws, find it so hard to forgive each other. Sometimes we are like very nice “religious porcupines” that end up injuring one another.  Ephesians 4:32

This new “sprout” is on the fastest growing side of our city. Three years ago, pastor Reginaldo started a home Bible study that quickly developed into a group of believers that out grew living room space and went to rented facilities. Now their present location is no longer adequate.

After a year of prayer, planning, consultation, and vision building, it was decided to move toward building facilities that would match our faith, hopes and dreams.

Months were spent to locate a strategic piece of property on the growing side of our city. A search committee was formed and last month property was purchased through a generous donation authorized by our Baptist Mid-Missions co-workers here in NE Brazil.

If you would like to see the new property location, copy and paste these coordinates:  9°24'30.25"S   40°33'27.13"W  to search in Google Earth or just Google them; click on bottom left satellite option, and rejoice with us!

Plans have started on architecting buildings to meet the needs of this new church. Because the area has a high percentage of young couples, we want to accommodate these young families as they come to Christ and learn to live out His teachings. Because this is a band new ministry, we do not have the traditions of the past; this will allow us new opportunities and innovative ideas as how to do church forward. On March 21^st at 6 in the morning, the core group met on the newly purchased property to thank God and ask for wisdom. Will you pray for me as we work through this process of matching the facilities to a young church that needs to reach out to her community?

Because there is so much excitement, several families from our other area churches want to congregate with this new plant core group.  Co-worker Reginaldo and the leadership are putting a limit on how many from our other churches can be a part of this new group.  He said it so well “we want to plant a new church not transplant a church, into this community”.

So, for this new sprout to grow, families must be exposed to the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that are relevant. Those who hear His voice will come to Him… that is why we’re here planting on the south side of the field.

   timandvickireiner@gmail.com               http://www.bmm.org/bmm/

Family Retreat Center 2020 Update

 It started with a dream, morphed into a vision, and now a functioning reality.

 For over 30 years, our Camp Treasure Island was a place where hundreds of young people and families met on a lone island getaway from routine life. A place where campers met others, and together, learned to live-out the teachings taught in Scriptures.  During those years of camping, hundreds of friendships were formed, and many developed into marriages.  Countless committed themselves to Christ during these camping experiences and now are key leaders and pastors in our area churches.

When Treasure Island was sold, primarily due to complicated logistics and costs, a “vacuum” formed in the communal connections between our fellowshipping churches. Treasure Island, for so many years, had connected folks at so many valuable levels.

I began to share a dream of once again, developing a getaway with easier access than we had to the Island. A place where believers and friends could meet for days in an isolated place tucked back in nature. Instillations where we could meet, share, teach, and learn to live Christ’s teachings.

 Step number one was to persuade our church leaders and Christian business folks the importance of this project. Their feedback was valuable. That stared the process that developed into a vision.

 After 14,000 blocks laid, 30.8 tons of cement poured, thousands of man hours, wood, tile, plumbing doors windows, AC units, and over 25,000 miles driving to and from the Retreat construction, we are close to finishing phase one. This is has been a challenging construction because of distance, poor roads, and electrical power sources which are from our two generators, solar panels and a 500 watt wind turbine.
 Presently we are off grid. Hopefully conventional power should arrive in this area of the bush in 2021.

Though construction continues toward phase two, the Family Retreat Center is already in use. We have sponsored several men’s events, an area church leaders symposium, a small family retreat with nine young families, a Father’s Day together (Just dads and their children, no Moms) and many family getaways. 

Though construction continues toward phase two, the Family Retreat Center is already in use. We have sponsored several men’s events, an area church leaders symposium, a small family retreat with nine young families, a Father’s Day together (Just dads and their children, no Moms) and many family getaways. 

To see this dream, communicate this vision, and now touch this reality is so exciting!

 2020 has also been a difficult year for many of our brethren and friends. Transferring our meetings to online formats has been a new experience for both the production teams as well as participation via our communication devises. Illness and the loss of precious lives have hit each of our area churches. Though prayer does not take away the pain, God does guide us through the darkness. Pray for the churches that meet in Remanso, Vila Eduardo, São Gonçalo, Juazeiro,  Sobradinho, Novo Horizonte, Casa Nova and our newest work in Gurarapes.

 We thank you for your continued support.  Tim and Vicki Reiner

Baptist Mid-Missions on the web

Is Fear A Lack Of Faith?

Of our six or seven emotions that we can experience, for many, fear is the most controlling and debilitating of all. Fear can cause one to do the unimaginable or inhibit us from doing what must be done. Fear can manipulate whole nations in a direction otherwise thought impossible. Prolonged fear and anxiety has the potential to damage us beyond repair.

In response to many of you folks who have asked about the effects of the pandemic in our part of Brazil, I will share a few of our challenges. Brazil presently is not doing well with harnessing public fears and other effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Like some of you in the States: quarantine, masks, alcohol, and a commerce that is allowed to open one week then ordered to close the following week has been a part of our lives for five months. We are bombarded daily with a mix of realistic and unrealistic solutions aired every day by media outlets as well as solutions given by our confused neighbors.

Of the many ridiculous examples I could share, here are two.

The mayor of the town where we planted our first church, in a recent recorded public meeting, said that his administration was doing everything to keep the covid pandemic under control. He then proceeded to lay out what he has done to help keep everyone healthy. In his list he stated that he had authorized to have the local cemetery increased by adding another four hundred plots!

Our Family Retreat Center continues under construction. Four and sometimes five days a week I drive the 120 mile round trip hauling construction material and spend the day working and overseeing the project. This trek takes me through two towns that are battling epidemic fear. At the two entrances into town, vehicle check points with health workers have been set up. They check your temperature, see if you are wearing a mask, note your name and phone number on a clip board, then your car is sprayed with a smelly disinfectant. The tires always get an extra dose. Imagine a virus hanging on to a hot Michelin tire at 100 km/h.

Some of what we are dealing with though is not ridiculous. In our seven area fellowship of churches, all have folks who have tested positive for covid-19 and several are presently in local hospitals. 

Sabastiana was a member in the second church we help start. She was not feeling well and taken to a nearby hospital where she tested positive for corona virus. Help was too late, she and her baby died together that night. She left behind, her 2 year old son Brian and husband Vando. (names and picture used with permission)

Our local churches continue to meet almost exclusively online. Attendance and financial giving has been stable. Several of the families, now in financial need, are being helped by those who continue to have financial income. Our area pastors and church leaders are working through the dynamics of how and when we will return to our places of meetings.

 We are realizing that our previous service formats will no longer be the same. This may be a great time for innovation. I ask you to pray for wisdom as we must make changes.

The Scriptures talk a lot about fear and anxiety, more than 500 times. This last month, I have been teaching about, healthy fears vs. unhealthy fears, and some of the ways to detect the difference.

By the way, whether your fears are healthy or unhealthy, rational or irrational… if they move you toward Christ’s teaching, then that is really good news. Your fears can develop into trust. (Mark 4:40)

Social Distancing Has Brought Us Closer

Though our church’s buildings are not to be used temporarily for gatherings under State and local laws, we have come together online for all of our scheduled services.

Our area churches are connected Sundays and Wednesdays via our electronic devices to: praise, pray, and preach all in real time. This has been so meaningful to us. Whether we are at home, on the farm, in our cars, or laying in a hammock, we are staying well connected. What has been a wonderful surprise is the fellowship time after our online services. We continue linked long after our “structured meetings” to share informally the impact of this epidemic in our personal lives.

As you folks there in America, here in Brazil we are not for lack of opinions regarding how to deal with the present crises, nor what the procedures should be taken by the federal and local governments.

Secondly, our churches have come together by helping many of our friends and families financially. A food bank has been setup and many are using their reserves to help those that are now in physical need. I am humbled by some who have so little giving to those that now have even less.

So… our area churches are in this boat together on our “Sea of Galilee”. We are hoping to get to the other side before we sink to the bottom, never to come up again. The news outlets say that we are going down fast; all the visible numbers show that is true. Our economy in Brazil was still fragile and struggling from massive government corruption from the recent past. Our business friends and most of the brethren were seeing stability in there financial lives. So, some folks do question, where is Jesus?

If we could do as the disciples did that night (Mark 4:35-41) and wake Jesus up, He just might look out at our storm then look at us straight in the eyes, smile and ask “why are you afraid”?

That question is haunting and personal. A part of me does not like that question, because I know the answer.

Yet,... that is the question to ask, isn’t it?

                                                                                                               by tim reiner

http://inafarplace.blogspot.com.br/ 

Baptist Mid-Missions on the web

A Catholic Priest Is Attending Our Church... What Should We Do?

It was Sunday evening at the Vila Baptist Church. Vicki and I were seated toward the back of the nearly full auditorium. Each Sunday gathering is different and often brings delightful surprises. We were eager to see what was “in store” for us tonight.

One of our ladies has a brother, a Catholic priest, who teaches and celebrates mass at a diocese upstate. Back in August, he contracted viral encephalitis, which once discovered, left him hospitalized for a gruesome 60 days. For weeks, he teetered on the edge of life and death in the ICU. Our church, as well as a designated prayer group, kept up-to-date, and prayed for God to spare his life.

Three weeks ago, Padre Lorenço (not his real name) accompanied his sister to our Sunday evening church service. She asked to give public testimony of seeing God heal her brother and to thank the church for praying and encouraging her and her family during the past two intense months of suffering. She shared her tears and laughter as she gave details of her brother’s struggles. As she went back to her seat in the auditorium, she said, “My brother would also like to speak to the church.”

Vicki and I were still taking in what our sister and good friend had shared as her brother went up front. My heart began to race and I thought, “Oh no, should I do or say something? Should Pastor Valdir (with whom we work) step in?” My cozy Baptist church has a Catholic priest upfront who wants to say something to our congregation!

Some of you know I’m a missionary’s kid. My parents came to Brazil in the late 1940’s. In the 50’s, as a young boy in this part of Brazil, I heard stories of many Catholic priests organizing protests against evangelical Christians. My dad was confronted over and over by religious mobs. Eggs, tomatoes, and rocks were thrown at him, the new believers, and missionary coworkers. I remember my dad talking about outdoor services where military police were present to control the situations. In the interior town of Jardim, the local priest organized a mob that showed up at an evangelistic meeting in the town square. They threw rocks and manure, smashed the sound system, flipped my dad’s jeep, and slashed the canvas jeep top with knives.

Yet, on this night three weeks ago, with a voice still feeble from his illness, Padre Lorenço said, “I have come to your church tonight for two reasons. The first is to thank you personally for praying for me during the past several months. I was aware of your interest in me and my recovery. Secondly, I want each one of you to see with your own eyes the answer to your prayers.” Then, he sat down.

 Several times since then, Pastor Valdir and I have taken Padre Lorenço and his brother-in-law out to eat and talk. While on sick leave, he continues to attend our Sunday services.   Last week, Padre Lorenço and I spent the day at our Retreat Center construction site. We talked a lot. He “confessed” to me so much of his personal struggles and guilt. Repeatedly, Romans 8 and James 2 came into our conversation.

 

Up until now, we had prayed earnestly for the Padre’s physical recovery. Now our church is praying intensely for his heart to see and understand that salvation is in Christ alone.

So... from way back in the 50’s until now, the Gospel preached by my Dad and many other pioneer missionaries is the same message that has not changed. We are grateful that many people in Brazil have believed and embraced the Gospel message! Oh that we would never question the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Concrete And People

A Vision Follow-Up                                             by tim reiner

A year ago, I shared with you a Vision which now is shared by many (see August 2018 post). It is exhilarating to see this project develop into concrete and people. To be a part of what is temporary and what is eternal is why God placed Vicki and me in this part of the world. To create programs, events, and buildings, are all short-term. To invest in people with the Gospel of Christ is everlasting.

 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18

Fourth blown tire this year

Four days a week, between my weekend preaching and teaching schedule, I am hauling construction material 60 miles upriver to our new Retreat Center called Recanto Do Tesouro. Once we leave the asphalt highway, the dirt roads are brutal causing excessive wear and tear on vehicle and trailer. We have experienced: blown tires, bent wheels, bent axles and broken wheel bearings.

Concrete and People

Oops

One evening, returning home after a full workday on construction, I looked in the pick-up’s rear-view mirrors and noticed that the trailer that had been hitched on back at the building site, was gone! We did eventually find it miles back-flipped in the middle of the road.

Many of our friends and supporting churches in the States, as well as, our Christians and friends here are now partnering with us in this endeavor. Tons of building materials have been hauled out to this remote property in the bush. With no electrical power in the area, we purchased generators to operate the power tools and cement mixer. I am now also installing solar panels for all our present and future LED lighting.

We are blessed to be surrounded by so much wildlife such as a large array of birds, red-legged seriemas (in Latin - cariama cristata  
https://youtu.be/ha6Wdd8cjm4 ), burrowing owls, and for an occasional adrenaline rush, my favorite…boa  constrictors.

Ready for the tile roof

First of 5 chalets almost complete

Although we are far from completing the construction of this Family Conference Center, it is already being used on a limited basis by our area churches, pastors, and their families.

Father’s Day in Brazil is a few weeks away. Only the dads and their children from the Vila Eduardo Church, where Vicki and I work, will be spending the day at the Retreat Center. The primary purpose of this event is to teach and motivate dads to lead their children toward Christ’s teaching in purposeful, practical ways. That evening, we will all be back with our church to listen to these fathers give testimony of what they taught and what they learned from their children.

Many of you have written e-notes and posts of encouragement. Thank you so much for fueling our enthusiasm as we serve in Northeast Brazil.

timandvickireiner@gmail.com

Baptist Mid-Missions * PO Box 308011* Cleveland, OH 44130-8011
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