Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
A week ago we traveled back to the United States as we have our tri-annual ReachGlObal training in January. As well, we need to raise additional support to continue our work in Brazil for 2012.
Traveling back to the States and visiting fellow believers always gives Jeff and I an awesome perspective of the body-of-Christ at work. While each church and ministry are all working in their own distinct way, using their unique gifting, we see one commonality---Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. We see the body striving to do good works, resulting from the love that flows from the greatest sacrifice of all, the death of Jesus on the cross.
It's wonderful to see the body at work, and greatly encourages and refreshes us to return to Brazil, to the work that God has called us to.
While we've been here only 9 days, we've seen the body-of-Christ working in so many diverse ways!
- A supporting church is at work to fight poverty.
- Another is making a strong stand against abortion.
- A family is moving across the states to become involved full-time in worldwide crisis relief.
- A christian couple is counseling couples in a marriage mentoring ministry.
- Brothers- and sisters-in-Christ are going on short-term mission trips to share Christ.
- People are praying, supporting and encouraging their missionaries
For us personally, one of the highlights was when Jeff had the honor of baptizing Grant. Grant is a devoted member at one of our supporting churches. Last year God tugged on Grant's heart to join a team going to serve alongside of us in Rio. God used the trip to encourage and grow Grant in his walk with the Lord. This culminated with Grant's desire to be baptized (he was baptized as an infant). To know that we had a little part of God moving in Grant's life is so encouraging as to why God has placed us 6,000 miles away from our family and friends in Rio de Janeiro.
We've seen so many good works, after only 9 days! Truly, we are created in the image of Christ, as we have seen his love shine through his people! We have seen the character of Christ demonstrated through the lives and work of so many people!
We look forward to how we will see God at work through the rest of our visit here to the States!
Diane and Jeff