BZeal http://www.randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=brazil Zeal for God's house [You are receiving this email as a subscriber of the Brazil list at associate.com. See information at end for unsubscribing.] Brazilian Brethren Send Letter of Thanks by J. Randal Matheny Today I am sending a letter from the churches in São José dos Campos, Taubaté, and Guaratinguetá to our sponsoring congregation, Center Hill in Paragould, Ark. The brethren here requested that I translate it and send it on. They put the letter together of their own initiative and enclosed it with a picture of a heart, one half depicting the American flag, the other half, the Brazilian flag. This heart was part of the decoration for our 20-year celebration of work in Brazil. A picture of the heart, along with other photos of the thanksgiving service, can be seen at this link: http://www.randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=brazil:20years The translation of their letter is as follows: "To the Center Hill church of Christ, USA "Dear Brethren: "The brethren in Christ who meet in São José dos Campos, Taubaté, and Guaratinguetá, in the Paraiba Valley of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, give great thanks for your generosity in supporting the Matheny family in Brazil. "In November, 2004, the brethren in Christ in the Paraiba Valley met together with great joy in a thanksgiving service to God, for the extraordinary work which this family has done for the growth of the churches here in Brazil. "After the service was offered a simple party, organized and prepared by the sisters, with the cooperation of all, in order to honor the Matheny family for their twenty years of work in Brazil. "For the cause of Christ, we are a single nation, according to 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." "This unity was represented by means of a heart with the colors of the flags of Brazil and the United States. "On this occasion, brethren were moved as they remembered the arrival of the Matheny family in São José dos Campos. They remembered the difficulties and the perseverance in the work of the Lord. This work has gone beyond dedication in teaching and preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus, for the Mathenys have used their lives as examples of faithful servants of the Lord Jesus. They have helped the church to work out its salvation, to put on the character of God, to produce fruit, to grow in the knowledge of the word of God, to remain faithful until the coming of Jesus, to fulfill the mission of taking the gospel to every creature, for they have the mission of reaching the whole Paraiba Valley and beyond, according to the will of God. "May God continue to bless your lives, in order that you may continue supporting this work, to the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus. "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God be with you." (signed) The brethren in Christ who meet in São José dos Campos, Taubaté, and Garatinguetá ----- BZeal focuses on the progress of the gospel in Brazil and around the world. Please share this email with friends.