April - June 2007 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 Greetings from Southern Brazil.  Summer has past and the signs of Fall are in the air.  We are rejoicing in the blessing of the Lord on the ministry of the Igreja Batista fundamental (Fundamental Baptist Church).  As we mentioned in our last letter, we are looking forward to giving out tracts at the Catholic procession on the Our Lady of the navigators Day.  On Feb. 2^nd we were able to get out about 15,000 Gospel tracts to participants in the parade.  Mike stood in the middle of the crowd and held a box of tracts in one hand, and gave them out with the other.  So many were passing that he sat the box on the ground.  People who did not want to wait were actually bending over and taking tracts out of the box!  Next year, Lord willing, we would like to have thousands more tracts to give out.  We have asked all our congregations to participate.  If you know where we can get some tracts for that day, we would appreciate your help.  The best received is Mary’s Command to Catholics.

Camp was a great blessing too.  Mateus, a teen who had been slowly drifting from the Lord, came back on fire.  He has been going on visitation, helping in the services with the Scripture reading and offering, and witnessing for the Lord at his public high school.  He even said the Lord has called him to preach!  Angelita, a young lady in her twenties, accepted Christ at camp and is being discipled by Tati, our colleague.

VBS was a wonderful success.  The Lord blessed us with 16 workers from our church.  WE had an average of 55 children per day.  There were 103 present in the closing Sunday evening services.  We continue to see fruit from the Bible School.  Mike led Ana’s mom and brother, Jefferson, to Christ on follow-up visitation the first week following VBS.  Marli, and her son, Mauricio, accepted Christ as Savior when Mike and Mateus visited in their home.

The Children’s club, Conquistadores do Rei, (King’s Conquerors) started again the week after VBS.  Every week, Tammy is leading someone to Christ at the club.  Please pray for these new converts: Beatriz, Saulo, Amanda, Ana, Daniele, and Gledson.  Two of our ladies, Marisa and Sabrina, have started bringing many children to Sunday school.  Our space has become limited and we need to add on some classrooms.  We would love to be able to do so as the Lord provides.  One of our seminary students, Claudio, has offered to help build the extra space.  Please with us for the provision to begin as soon as possible.

Mike received an invitation to speak at a couple’s retreat at the Hope Ranch in Catalao, Goias, on April 4-9.  Missionary Bill Kieffer is building a camp based on the Wilds Christian camp philosophy.  22 couples from 5 churches participated.  Saturday, we heard some sweet testimonies of those whose lives and marriages have been challenged through the practical preaching.  Andre, who will graduate from the seminary in December, preached in Mike’s absence at Ponta Grossa.  He will be doing his church internship with us next semester.  Classes continue at the seminary.  Mike is teaching the Local Church class with emphasis on the Christian family and Pastoral Theology.  Tammy is teaching the English class to the second year students.  April 17-21 Dr. Roger Peterson will be doing and intensive course in Galatians. 

With the time of blessing always come the times of testing.  Lincoln has left us for the Assembly of God.  We are encountering resistance in the area of music.  Some of the folk have been greatly influenced by a style of music called “gospel”.  It is the contemporary music with loud instrumentation and little content.  Please pray that we will be able to show these dear ones the proper way to exalt and worship the Lord in song.  Another battle recently has emerged over the use of beer by believers.  Some have insisted that as long as they are not intending to get drunk, it is alright for a believer to drink.  The devil would love to deceive and divide.  Please pray for wisdom in bringing folks to an understanding of the importance of their personal testimony.

During the month of May many family and friends will visit us in Brazil.  Nathan and Natalie will be coming on May 7^th.  Nathan will stay until May 30^th.  He will do his summer internship at Marquette Manor Baptist Church in Chicago, IL.  Natalie will be with us for the summer months (our winter).  She will be helping us with our winter VBS.  Tammy’s mom and niece will be here for a month, beginning May 21^st.  Two college friends of Nathan and Natalie, Andrew Jay and Sarah Ingram, will be here in May as well for a visit.  Our friends from Central Baptist Church in Ocala, FL were unable to come in March, but they plan to come May 21^st-28^th.  The children are working hard to have school work finished before the first week of May. 

How we praise the Lord for you, our faithful prayer warriors and supporters.  Constantly we are reminded that your faithfulness is so vitally important to the furtherance of the Lord’s work, both at home and abroad.  We thank you for being so faithful in remembering remembering the work here in Porto Alegre.  May the Lord bless you as you serve Him.

Serving the Savior,

The Mike Ring Family

CP 8520 Ag. TRISTEZA
91901-970 PORTO ALEGRE
RS BRASIL

mikering@plug-in.com.br  

previous prayer letter

P.O. Box 1195, Newnan, GA  30264  USA    (770) 304-8980

Missionary Index                                        GFBM Home