BRAZIL

We have much to thank God for as we see the progress over the past three and a half years since we moved to Bahia. The small group of believers in Sao Cristovao have made steady progress in their willingness to submit to Holy Scripture and put into practice New Testament assembly principles. They have paid a high price for having severed all connections with the denominations to gather outside the camp unto His dear name.

An average of 100 children hear the Gospel in the hall there each week and we have been impressed with their ability to memorize Gospel texts. All of them live under the shadow of drug traffickers, violence and anarchy. It would be wonderful to see not only precious souls saved but lives rescued from the misery of sin to live for the glory of God in an area of extreme spiritual and moral darkness.

We have quite a number of interesting contacts in a few other towns in the region and we would appreciate your prayers as to how to manage our time in order to take the Gospel to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. There is one country area called Rio dos Paus where we have visited regularly, about 3 hours from home. There are many homes there where we have complete liberty to open the Scriptures and present the great message of God's most gracious offer and the Saviour's priceless worth.

We have spent quite a bit of time in Candeias over the last three years and God has been pleased to bless the work there. We have faced a lot of opposition, mainly from the false "evangelicals" who have no time for a message of salvation by grace. Gradually barriers are being broken down and we usually have a good number of adults to listen reverently to the Gospel in the three weekly meetings. Some have professed to be saved and others have been awakened to realize their need of salvation. We also have a nice number of children there each week who have learned many basic Gospel truths. Please pray for further blessing there and wisdom as to the way forward in His will.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all for their prayers during my recent illness. The medical team have said that the road to full recovery will take about six months DV, but we thank God for His gracious hand so far. More than ever we value the prayers of the Lord's people around the globe, and while we realize there are many pressing needs on every hand, we would covet a place in your prayers.

Summer 2019 Written by Crawford and Heather Brown - Brazil cbrown@sent.com