João 3:16, “Porque Deus tanto amou o mundo que deu o seu Filho Unigênito, para que todo o que nele crer não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna.

April 1st marked our one-year anniversary serving the Lord in Annandale, Minnesota at Annandale Evangelical Free Church. Time has flown by so quickly!

We have so much to praise God for.  He has provided ALL that we needed in our transition back from Brazil.  In AWESOME, SUPERNATURAL ways!  We are feeling His blessings each and every day and feel extremely content.

Better than this, though, is that God and the Holy Spirit are at move in miraculous ways here!  We feel the opposition from the enemy and therefore we know that we are coming against the enemy in this spiritual battle.

We are celebrating with the angels, in TWO recent new lives in Christ! We feel such overflowing joy in this that we want to sing it from the mountain top!!!  Luke 15:10 says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

In my quiet time this morning I found encouragement in Romans 12:11, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Humble servants of the mighty King Jesus,

Diane and Jeff

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

The calling of God back to your home country as a missionary from overseas is sometimes misunderstood, and understandably so.  After all, who wouldn't want to return home just to be back near children, parents and friends?  

God has clearly called us back here to minister, back to our home state, not only as missionaries and evangelists, but for Jeff to pastor.

We dearly miss Brazil and the beautiful people there! We miss the relationships, opportunities to share the gospel, our ministries and even the challenges of living overseas!  We miss our youngest daughter and son-in-law, Hannah and Jake, who live and teach in Rio at an International Christian school.  

If God ever called us back, we would go without any hesitation! WHEREVER He calls us---we are ready and willing to go!

We are continuously reminded by God that He has called us at such a time as this, to spread the gospel, further His kingdom and work alongside His Beloved right here in Annandale, Minnesota in the United States of America!

He taught us so much and changed us immensely in Brazil!  He put a passion deep within our hearts for outreach and evangelism.  He has given us a great love for his children, desiring that no one should perish!  We will never be the same again!  And we have so much more to learn...

As we continue walking forward in this calling to the United States, we are truly amazed by how beautifully the spiritual gifting of the body of Christ at AEFC, and our spiritual giftings balance each other!  There are no coincidences with God!  He knows exactly what He is doing!

We are witnessing the hand of God at work greatly here in Annandale!  It's so exciting!!! 

As well, we have been encouraged and affirmed by this body so beautifully!

Incredibly blessed to be serving here,

Diane and Jeff

Let's Wake Up and Walk Like Jesus Walked!

I am stunned by the number of people that I meet on a daily basis here in Annandale, Minnesota and the surrounding communities that are lost and have no idea that they have a creator that wants to have a relationship with them.

Our culture here in North America is such that we adore knowledge itself, instead of the one we were created to adore, Jesus Christ!

We spend most of our time planning our programs and classes all while the world around is dying and so badly in need of a Savior.

God's word tells us to be immitators of Christ and we see that during Christ's ministry on earth he was out reaching the sinners in the streets, teaching through simple parables. He desires that no one should perish!

We also see that the Pharisees were religious, legalistic and loved to make themselves look important.

Why do we tend to complicate what wasn't meant to be complicated?! God's word says, "Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations" ...not, "go therefore and huddle in your buildings and discuss theology."

Wake up, followers of Jesus Christ!  Let's be hearers AND doers of God's word in this world that is so badly in need of a Savior!

Humble servant of King Jesus,

Diane

Shalom!

Senior Pastor Denny and Sue

Associate Pastor Jeff and Diane

Jeff and I stand in AWE at the work of God's hand over this last year!

God has been directing, encouraging and guiding us clearly!

As we reflect and look back at what God has done, we remember how heartbreaking it was to leave Brazil last April!  Brazil, a country and people that will forever remain in our hearts!

It would have been so easy to stay there. But when God calls us to "go", He does not promise us that it will be easy.  And in our 10th year, it was getting easy and comfortable.

As missionaries there, God had blessed us again with full support for that year, our 10th year.  Ministry was effective, we had finally obtained permanent visas and our daughter and son-in-law were planning to move to Rio to teach at the International Christian School.  We had so many reasons to stay!  And we had one better reason to return to the United States....Jesus Christ!  We could see how our own country was/is turning away from the Lord!

So return, we did---to the country of our origin, because God was clearly calling us to do so! 

God gave us a short stop in Grimes, Iowa, where we stopped to encourage and minister together with some incredible brothers- and sisters-in-Christ.  Now, God has clearly has called us to Annandale, Minnesota. 

Jeff will serve as Associate Pastor at Annandale Evangelical Free Church beginning April 1st.  To quote a sister-in-Christ from AEFC, "His (God's) hand is all over this one!"  Thanks, Nancy, for these encouraging words!

Through Jeff's interviewing process and "courtship" with Annandale Evangelical Free Church, the Holy Spirit has worked incredibly, guiding and affirming!  Allow me to share just one of the many...

One morning during the 5-day candidating visit, I was prayer-running around Pleasant Lake in Annandale, praying for peace as we sought God's clear direction. 

I looked up and saw a sign saying, "Shalom".  I praised God for that word of encouragement!  Upon second glance, I realized that the sign actually said, "Shallow Water"!  

Both encouraged me!  "Shalom", because it means peace, and "Shallow Water," because to me it means that there are times of magnificent ministry opportunities ahead in Annandale after what seemed to be unending and deep waters of being in limbo!

We are so excited and looking forward to what God has in store for us in Annandale!  Praising Him for revealing our "NEXT"!

Shalom,

Diane and Jeff

John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."