Blumes in Brasil: A New House Church at the CASA

One of the most exciting things about house churches is when a new house church group forms. This past Sunday, a new group started with our brother Paulo Renato in the CASA. First, a little background on Paulo and the CASA.

Paulo Renato has been a member of our church since before it ever was started. He met with our team in our home before we ever had a building. Paulo knew Matt, our teammate, from a Let's Start Talking trip that Matt had made to Porto Alegre several years before. Paulo had been an alcoholic and had lived on the street for awhile. He found his way to the Chácara, gave his life to Jesus, and has never looked back. Paulo has been the caretaker of our church building since we opened it, but more than that, he is a strong prayer warrior and caretaker of souls. He is one of the most humble servants of God that we know. Since we began house churches, we (obviously) didn't need a big church building. But we do have a house that we use as a resource and activity center. We call it the CASA (Centro de Atividades, Serviços, e Apoio - Center of Activities, Services, and Support) and we use it for many things. Paulo lives at the CASA and takes care of it. He also visits the Chacara weekly to encourage the guys there. There are so many wonderful things that we could write about Paulo Renato, but at least this is an introduction. You will probably hear more about him in the future.

(An old picture of Paulo Renato and Anderson at Anderson's 1st birthday party. They have always been big buddies.)

Anyway, Paulo Renato has felt the calling to start a house church group that will meet each Sunday at the CASA. He has invited some people who are Christians but, for one reason or another, didn't have a group of their own. This past Sunday was the first meeting for this group. Our house church also met there for our second Bring a Friend Day. Paulo admitted that he was nervous about the first meeting of this new group. But God really blessed the day. There were around 30 people present! Paulo's house church, Sunday, consisted of 2 men who are currently at the chacara and the mom of one of them, one young man, an older man and a young women. Paulo was very excited that God blessed him with so many people on the first day this house church met. It was a powerful time of worship with many strong prayers, wonderful praise, an encouraging message, as well as powerful and meaningful testimonies and encouragement. After the worship, we enjoyed grilled out sausage and bread and more fellowship time.

It is really neat to see how God is working to bring more new people to his family. This house church meeting was unlike any that I have been to before, but that is what is so great about house churches. They don't all have to be alike. Each one can fit the personality of the group. We are so grateful for Paulo Renato - his example, his service, his committment - and we are so grateful that God answered his prayer for the first worship service in the CASA.

Here are some pictures of the special day:

In the first prayer that was prayed we asked the Spirit to strongly come into our meeting......and boy did He ever. The singing was incredible.

The prayers were completely Spirit led.

Our brother, Roberto, was in town for a one day vacation from his missionary training and we had the privilege of worshipping with him and his family. He gave a testimony about what God is doing in his life through this training. He and Moema got to hold Giovanni for the first time.