What a Year: 2014

Although the program was not able to run all of 2014, God was still working and doing many things though the children and community of Lagoa de Itaenga! We are excited to see what will happen in 2015.

Children's Day Lagoa

Surrounded by sugar cane, Lagoa de Itaenga (pop. 35,000) is known for gang and violence problems. Pastor Ricardo has always been very involved with Living Stones, and so as soon as the Community church of Lagoa was built, he began a program for the children. Due to lack of funding, they had to cut back, and then finally close the ministry, but are hoping to reopen in 2015, working as a sister church with Brandywine Community church in Greenfield, IN. 

Brandywine sent a worship team to Brazil the end of October 2014 to do workshops and concerts, and so we did our party there in conjunction with them. We are excited to see their partnership grow! After playing games, singing, and sharing the parable of the wise and foolish man, Pastor Ricardo picked up an Action Bible. As he opened it in front of the crowd, there was an audible GASP from everyone (They had never seen a fully illustrated Bible).

After we week of serving at Lagoa, Brandywine Community church was able to celebrate 10 years of church in the community!

On Hold

Living Stones Lagoa was working last semester with a local Baptist church to provide a program for the children, but they have decided to discontinue the program this fall semester. The Baptist church was providing the funds for the program, but also deciding which children could attend. We are looking forward to new opportunities where the program is open to all children, once funding can be found. 

The house near the church that houses street kids and is an outreach house sponsored by the government was broken into (Pictured above are some of the children who used to live there). There was nobody in the house and they don't have kids living there at the moment but the people that broke in set fire to the roof of the house to be able to enter and steal everything.

Please pray that they would have a safe place for the children to stay in the future. Meanwhile, Pastor Ricardo and the Lagoa church has been having other activities and ministries. The youth of Lagoa enjoyed a special evening out:

And the women just had a lovely time together with the Acacias church women:

Discipleship Program

So excited to share that the youth at Lagoa are doing well and many are involved in the discipleship program. Pastor Ricardo presented them with Bibles.

He also presented one to Brother Manuel, who hadn't had a Bible for a long time

We are so grateful to Molly Warren and her "Pennies for Bibles" program, that enabled these young people to have their own Bible!

Mother's day Celebration

Things are really happening in Lagoa De Itaenga, with the construction and services. There was a wonderful turnout for their Mother's day celebration. So glad that Frank Penna could be with them!

What a great worship team! We are also excited to announce that in May, Brandywine Community church has adopted Lagoa as a sister church and ministry--What amazing things does God have in store for these churches? 

Impact

Each January (Summer break in Brazil), a city is chosen to IMPACT. The Community churches get together for a time of training and the practical application on the streets of the chosen city. This January it is in Lagoa de Itaenga.

Through mime, street preaching, sports, and other creative ways, the people in Lagoa are being reached in mighty ways. 

The group is also doing work projects to help out, as well as receiving training on how to continue to impact each one of their respective churches and communities

Thank you for your prayers, especially for Lagoa during this time. There is great financial need for Living Stones in Lagoa, which currently has about $50 a month to function. They are going to be cutting back on what they are able to offer, and to what age group. Please pray about supporting this needed ministry.