BZeal -- Zeal for God's house http://randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=brazil [You received this email as a subscriber of the Brazil list at associate.com. See unsub information at end.] SPEAKING AT MEN'S ENCOUNTER IN BELO HORIZONTE by J. Randal Matheny [Note: Read the full article with pictures here: http://www.randalmatheny.com/blog/work/speaking_at_men.html This is a condensed version of the full article.] Some 80 men from about 20 congregations attended the 19th Christian Workers National Encounter in Belo Horizonte October 8-9. The theme was "A Renewed Faith," using examples of biblical characters to highlight how to, or not to, renew one's faith. The event is held each year at the Retreat of the Pines, which is a Christian ministry. My topic was the faith of Joseph, and I spoke Sunday morning immediately after the Lord's supper. My point was that Joseph was able to weather all the crises because he had had a dream from God and held on to that dream. I had been given 45 minutes, but since I was without a watch, I went for more than an hour. I asked the emcee later why he didn't signal me, but he was loathe to stop me, since, he said, everyone was paying attention and the lesson was so good. He was too kind. Having been gone from Belo Horizonte for almost 11 years, and having been seven years since my last visit, there were many new people to meet in the church there. One of those was André, one of the best speakers at the event, a man who, said the emcee, was always ready to work. The event began Saturday morning and ended at lunch on Sunday. After I returned to Belo Horizonte Sunday afternoon, Vicki and I visited the Central congregation, where she had attended that morning. It was good to see so many people we had worked with, trained, or converted during our ten years there. Vicki, Leila, and I stayed in Otavio and Paula Resende's home. (I spent Saturday night at the camp.) Former co-worker Glenn Robb and I taught Otavio the gospel, and afterwards Otavio and I studied together for a year. I performed their wedding in 1995. They have three children. Such trips as these, opportunities to share the gospel with others and encourage Christian workers in their faith, are made possible thanks to participations of a number of churches that contribute to our working fund. We're grateful to the Lord for their help. ----- BZeal focuses on the progress of the gospel in Brazil and around the world. Please share this email with friends.