My Faith or My Works? by tim

A few weeks ago, my wife, Vicki, suggested, “For our next update, why don’t you be more specific about what you do?” She asked this because most of my updates to you have been either some aspect of church or mission philosophy or about what is going on with our churches in the valley. I liked her consideration and decided to go with it.

When not on the road, much of my time from Monday to Saturday, is between my office and workshop. I am either in my office preparing studies and sermons, reading and listening to messages, or in my shop, 20 yards away, welding steel trusses for another church in the bush, building boat trailers for newfound fishing buddies, working on the engine of a national pastor’s car or fixing a believer’s motorcycle.

I walk between my office and my shop many times throughout the day. Often, I am figuring out how to best apply a Bible passage to the congregation that God places before me on Sunday. And then, I wander over to the shop calculating if I should drill a 7/16 or a ½-inch hole in 2-inch steel bar stock for a certain project. Then quickly, before I forget it, I get back to my office to type out the message outline that just came to mind.

Hundreds of messages have been prepared in my office and hundreds of parts have been manufactured in my shop. Which is more important?

In my office, my faith is challenged, strengthened, and refined. In my shop, my works fix, help, and show that Christ’s mission is about people’s daily needs as well.

I love the way James 2:17 and 24 describe my office and my shop. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone…. Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

My faith in Christ is solidified in my study and my works are cut, drilled, and welded in my shop.

My ministry is not just my office or just my workshop. James says both are important. It’s not an option between the two.

The Office

    

The Shop

  

 

  

If  interested in supporting Tim & Vicki Reiner, please contact

Baptist Mid-Missions on the web

Baptist Mid-Missions

P.O. Box 308011

Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 USA

(440)826-3930

Baptist Mid-Missions of Canada

110 Garnet St. North

Regina, SK S4R 3S5
(306)775-2001

________________________________________________________________________________ 

In a far place Blog by Tim & Vicki Reiner is licensed under a 

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Should your church be more Extraverted or more Introverted?

For more than 35 years our calling has given us opportunities to visit and speak in a vast number of churches. With our radar turned on to observe each church we visit, it does not take long to perceive that, like with our children, each church has a very different and distinct personality. It is intriguing to see how God’s people who assemble for worship, instruction, repentance, and fellowship, take on qualities and traits very particular to them as a group. These traits are personal, unique and visible, especially to the outsider. Though churches’ doctrines are often the same, their personalities are not. Like you and your siblings who may have the same mom and dad, yet each is individually diverse. While growing up, brothers and sisters are sometimes instigated simply by their own personality differences. Churches do that sometimes even though they are family and have the very same Father.

The two terms extravert and introvert, when used in everyday conversation, carry a wide variety of meaning and theory. Some of the people we mingle with in the work place, members of our family, and our church friends may lean toward quietness. They may not be shy or withdrawn at all, but instead just don’t feel a need to fill the air with more conversation. Often they need quiet to “recharge their batteries” more than a busy social life. Some are comfortable with quiet, while others of us are not. Some are ok with a lull, while others become uncomfortable and need to talk. Some of us are “charged up” by conversations, projects, programs, construction, and action that is visible and measurable.

Movers and shakers can sometimes come across as obnoxious or simply social butterflies. Reflective people sometimes come across as stand-offish or wallflowers. More often than not these judgments of others are incorrect.

We can clearly see both action and quiet in the life of Jesus. He taught the multitudes (Mathew 7:28), debated with top religious leaders (Mathew 9:10), raised the dead (John 11:44), and forgave sin (Luke 7:48). This caused change; people and things moved and shook. Yet, we also see that the Son of God needed solitude and quiet time alone in the wilderness. He needed privacy in the garden to talk to our Father.

So should your church be more extraverted or more introverted? Yes, absolutely!  

                                                                                                                                              by Tim

If  interested in supporting Tim & Vicki Reiner, please contact

Baptist Mid-Missions on the web

Baptist Mid-Missions

P.O. Box 308011

Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 USA

(440)826-3930

Baptist Mid-Missions of Canada

110 Garnet St. North

Regina, SK S4R 3S5

(306)775-2001

_____________________________________________________________________________

In a far place Blog by Tim & Vicki Reiner is licensed under a 

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

About Us

We were approved for serving as missionaries to Brazil with Baptist Mid-Missions, Cleveland, OH in 1976. Our commissioning church was First Baptist Church, Norwalk, IA where we had worked in youth ministry while studying at Faith Baptist Bible College (FBBC), Ankeny, IA. Vicki grew up in Kansas and Colorado, while Tim grew up in Brazil as a missionary kid. Tim placed his faith in Christ as Savior at the age of thirteen and became a member of First Baptist Church, Hamburg, NY (where our membership is at present). At sixteen, Vicki professed her faith in Christ and was baptized into membership at Cherrelyn Baptist Church, Englewood, CO (now South Holly Baptist Church, Centennial, CO). Both decided to go to FBBC for ministry preparation and we met, fell in love, and were married before starting deputation. 

We are grateful for the many years God has given us to serve Him in various ministries and capacities touching many lives for His glory. This came to be through a call we both heard and heeded as young people many years ago. We persevere through the study of the Bible, the interaction and fellowship of God's saints around the world who are brothers and sisters, colleagues and friends, leaders and congregants, and the guidance of God's Holy Spirit. Although we are determined and have worked hard to be productive, we do not claim to have done anything on our own for we are part of a vast organism that Scripture calls Christ's Body, the Church. It is through and by this group that we have prospered and given of ourselves and our sustenance to a portion of the family of God in Brazil. 

God gave us three children. Raised in Brazil with a few years in the U.S., they have grown to be wise and mature, loving friends to each other and to us. Two are married and pursuing full-time careers. God took one to heaven as a teenager and we suspect that he is awaiting or prepping for a place of leadership during Christ's Millennial rule. We anticipate with joy every opportunity to be together, both with our children and their spouses, as well as with friends and family.

In the meantime, Tim enjoys serving as joint-pastor of the Villa Baptist Church in Petrolina with Pastor Valdir Ligo, who is also pastor of the deaf. It is our desire to see the construction of a building for the hearing group of our congregation. Tim also speaks on the radio program on Sunday afternoon and serves on the Board of Cariri Valley Theological Seminary. He is also using one of his hobbies to supplement our income (mainly to take care of dental work) by building sand rails for interested clients - so far there are seven in Northeast Brazil! Here is the link to see one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWsS1FsZIEc He also builds boat trailers for his fishermen-friends. Besides other things, Vicki is speaking once a month to our ladies' group using material she is writing. She also has completed the requirements for her Masters Degree in Human Services.

Thanks again for your interest and constant support both financially and prayerfully.

One of the major challenges we face on the field is administering a de-valued U.S. Dollar.

Visit site for a U.S. Dollar vs. Brazilian Real comparison for recent years: USD/BRL

Click on link to see U.S. Dollar to Brazilian Real Exchange Rate: Convert USD to BRL

Includes a graph of the rate of exchange for up to 5 years.

If  interested in supporting Tim & Vicki Reiner, please contact

Baptist Mid-Missions on the web

Baptist Mid-Missions

P.O. Box 308011

Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 USA

(440)826-3930

Baptist Mid-Missions of Canada

110 Garnet St. North

Regina, SK S4R 3S5
(306)775-2001

________________________________________________________________________________  

In a far place Blog by Tim & Vicki Reiner is licensed under a 

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Making Life Simpler

Our website has been active since 2008. It has been a fun learning experience. Now it is time to simplify. We want to stay in touch to let you know that we remain actively involved in ministries in Brazil. You are a part of this when you come to read about it, pray for us, pray for our co-laborers, and give when you can. We appreciate the encouragement and support. We praise the LORD for you as you serve Him and His work around the world. Thank you for all you do and have done for us and for our family.

Tim and Vicki Reiner

Missionaries with Baptist Mid-Missions

Cleveland, OH USA

New Email Address: timandvickireiner@gmail.com
Baptist Mid-Missions online: https://www.bmm.org

______________________________________________________________________________

In a far place Blog by Tim & Vicki Reiner is licensed under a 

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.