Nilton in front, after baptism in Renascer
Lago Grande (literally, Big Lake) is an area north and west of Santarém where the Amazon River forms a huge lake. There are approximately 75 communities around Lago Grande; approximately 45 have a PAZ church. Nilton Cordeiro is the PAZ church planter who oversees the work in Lago Grande. Nilton is a hard worker and fruitful church planter. He oversees more than 80 PAZ churches in the interior of the Amazon River Basin, including the churches in Lago Grande. The largest community in Lago Grande is Curuai, which has approximately 5,000 inhabitants. The PAZ church in Curuai has 17 cell groups, and supervises 20 other PAZ churches. They have a goal of planting three new churches by the end of 2008. Recently, 23 people were converted in two weekends. God is at work in Lago Grande!
Church in Curuai
From August 11 through 18, Joanne and four short-term missionaries with PAZ accompanied Nilton, his wife Cleucy and their son Marcos on a trip to Lago Grande. They visited nine or ten communities, and held worship services every night in the different communities. During the day, while Nilton met with the local workers and supervisors under him, Joanne and her team rounded up the children and ministered to them. They made and passed out around 300 colored-bead bracelets that Joanne used to share the gospel with the children. In total, approximately 350 children were ministered to, and approximately 40 asked Jesus into their hearts. Joanne was encouraged to see evidence of the benefits of the teachers' manuals (children's curriculum) and kits that have been distributed in the Lago Grande communities. Many children are being reached in these communities, and the curriculum and kits have been instrumental in helping to reach these children.
Ministry to children
During the day, the team also visited with people in the communities and prayed for them. In the evenings, services of healing and worship were held. Several people testified to being healed, and approximately ten adults gave their lives to Jesus.
Evening service
They also went spear fishing. Here are three big ones that didn't get away!
Ladies showing-off their children's curriculum books
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