May Newsletter

May has been a month of extreme growth.  God has surprised us in so many ways in our cell group and discipleship ministry.  After we returned from our trip to the U.S. we decided to dedicate much more time and prayer to these ministries.  Our cell groups were in a difficult place with very few people and no growth happening.  During March and April, we started to see some growth and in May an explosion of growth.  

Lucivan and I both had three disciples each about a month ago.  In the last several weeks that number has grown to eight each.  God has been opening up doors and putting people in our lives like never before.  We are so excited for this new time.  There are discipleships that happen early in the morning over breakfast, others during lunch break and others late at night after people are off work and out of class.  Some of our disciples have been in the church for a while, others were away from the Lord and have come back and one young man just accepted Jesus.  Please pray that the Lord will give us the wisdom and capacity to take care of each of these precious young people He has put in our hands.  

Most of you know that we have two cell groups.  One on Wednesday night and one on Saturday evening.  Both groups a little over a month ago had anywhere from 3-7 people each week.  Now the Wednesday night cell group has between 15-17 each week and is steadily growing.  The Saturday evening group is still small but has seen some growth as well with around 10 people when all members are present.  We are so blessed with all the Lord has done and is still going to do.  There is a great excitement in our groups and with our disciples to win souls and disciple!  

At the beginning of the month we got our cell groups together for evangelism in a local park.  It went really well and we were able to pray with many people and even get some phone numbers to invite them to cell group.  We also are encouraging our disciples and cell group members to a deeper level of intimacy and prayer through weekly prayer and worship meetings and fasting on Wednesday’s.  We strongly believe that through our dedication and faithfulness in these areas that we will continue to see lives saved and a deeper walk with Christ for each of us.  

God is also opening doors with the transvestites we work with.  One of the young men came to cell group a couple of weeks ago and another asked about cell group and is interested in coming.  Lucivan and I were able to take one of them out for pizza this past week to love on him and spend some quality time with him.  Your donations make these things possible.  You are investing in lives through your prayers and donations.  The ground here is fertile and your seed is being planted.  Thank you so much!  

If you would like to know how you can join us to see the precious souls of the Amazon reached for Jesus, please go to our blog: www.lucivanandclaire.blogspot.com or you can email us at helringc@gmail.com for more information.  Please note 100% of every donation to Project Amazon for our ministry is received.  No administrative costs are deducted.

Special Need/Request:

Lucivan and Claire’s Car Fund

After almost 7 years in Brazil, the time has come to buy a car.  With all of our ministry commitments we really need one to be more effective.  We are looking to buy a 2005 Siena Fiat whose previous owners were missionaries.  The car is in great condition and for a great price ($4,500).  Cars here in Brazil are typically much more expensive than in the U.S. If you feel led to donate towards our car please make a note when you send the donation to PAZ that it is for the car.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Blessings,

Lu & Claire

April 2015

As April has come to a close, I’ve been able to reflect on the ministry during the month.  From cell groups and discipleship to street evangelism, house visits and a river trip, the past month was full.  

One of our strongest ministries is here in the city with cell groups and discipleship.  We are both really excited seeing the Lord working in the lives of our disciples and in the growth of our cell groups.  Lucivan and I both have new disciples that we are meeting with on a weekly basis and helping to grow in their relationship with the Lord.  We are getting ready this week for a big evangelism night in one of the local parks.  Both of our cell groups will be taking snacks to share as we present the Gospel and pray for people.  Please be praying with us for many lives to be changed through this simple act of love.

In mid-April, I had the privilege to go out on the Tapajós River with a team from Canada and a group of Brazilians for five days.  We went to the community of Maripá which is located about 3 1/2 hours from Santarém by boat.  During the trip, we had everything going on from church construction to dental and medical clinics.  Also, evangelistic visits in homes, children’s programs and classes teaching people (mostly women) in the community to paint and sew to make a living.  Everyone had their tasks and we made the most of our time.  On Wednesday night, we had a church service and two women gave their lives to Christ.  It was a blessing to see people we had invited during home visits at the service.  Please pray for the community of Maripá, the local worker, Fatima, and her family.  

In other news, the street evangelism ministry is going well.  We made a couple of house visits in the last month to a group that lives together.  It is definitely a challenge because we are dealing with so many different things from drug and alcohol addiction to prostitution.  So many young people are estranged from their families because of addictions.  We have been able to go to their home and share some Bible verses, talk and pray with them.  Please pray for this ministry that God would continue to touch their hearts with His love.  Also, pray for us that we will persevere in this ministry He has put before us.  One of the young men came to my cell group a couple of weeks ago, which is a huge praise report.  He told me he would go and I had no way to get in touch with him to remind him and he showed up at my house.  Please pray for Victor because the Lord is really working on his heart.  He told me he feels there is a battle inside of him and we know that the Lord is drawing him but that Satan doesn’t want to allow him to be free from the bondage he is in.  

Please keep all of these ministries in your prayers.  Also, if you need prayer for anything, please send us a message and we would love to join with you.              

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  Without them, this ministry would not happen.  If you would like to know how you can join us to see the precious souls of the Amazon reached for Jesus, please go to our blog: www.lucivanandclaire.blogspot.com or you can email us at helringc@gmail.com for more information.  Please note 100% of every donation to Project Amazon for our ministry is received.  No administrative costs are deducted.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Blessings,

Lu & Claire

Ministry for 2015

It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through March!  Time seems to be flying by but 2015 is still full of many ministry opportunities.  From mid-December through the beginning of March we were blessed to be able to spend time in the US.  We had such an incredible time with family, friends and supporters.  It is always important to reconnect face to face with people who invest so much time praying for us and supporting the ministry here in Brazil.  A huge thank you to everyone we had special moments with, even if they were short.  We wish we could have seen everyone (maybe on our next furlough).  The Lord also blessed us with the chance to share about Project Amazon and the work here in several churches, Sunday School classes and a youth meeting.  We have been back in Brazil for two weeks and are finally adjusted to life here again.  

Being back in Brazil, we have returned to our ministry of discipleships and cell groups.  Our first week of cell groups was awesome.  We really feel the Lord has put in our hearts to go after and love on people that have stepped away from Him.  We know by being persistent in our prayers and love for people that we will see them back in a committed relationship with the Lord.  

Wednesday Night Cell Group

Our Friday night evangelism group continued strong while we were away with a team from YWAM (Youth With a Mission) joining in.  For those that don’t know, our street ministry is mainly to transvestites (young men dressed as women and prostitute themselves) and drug addicts.  I’m really encouraged and excited because while we were gone, the team was able to do several house visits to the young men we minister to and even have one over for lunch.  We plan to continue with these visits and inviting them to our homes, etc.  It is much more effective when we can see them and talk in a place that is more reserved.  

From April until July we have 5 teams scheduled to come from North America to help in our river communities.  I will be working with at least 3 of them, if not all of them.  I’m really excited about getting back on the river and being involved with these teams as we minister together to the Brazilian “river” people.  Mid-July, we will be receiving a team from Enon Baptist Church of Chester, VA and we are so blessed for this opportunity.  This is the first team with myself as the missionary contact.  I’m very excited to start planning for their arrival.  

Please be praying for the work here in Brazil and for Brazil as a country.  Some of you may not know that there have been protests recently against the government and corruption.  Everything so far has been peaceful but Brazil is in need of a change.  We believe that change is Jesus Christ.  

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  Without them, this ministry would not happen.  If you would like to know how you can join me to see the precious souls of in the Amazon reached for Jesus, please go to our blog: www.lucivanandclaire.blogspot.com or you can email us at helringc@gmail.com for more information.  Please note 100% of every donation to Project Amazon for my ministry is received.  No administrative costs are deducted.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9