LightHouse International LOVING THE UNLOVED

Dear friend,
We are so excited to see what the Lord has been doing lately and happy to inform you this month!
 
For the past 8 years here in Brazil we have never felt the need or pressure to do a meeting “minister as a church” for the public here in the slum of Recreio.  We have always maintained our focus inside the LightHouse and the needs of the children within, till now!
 
Just recently we have been faced with the problem of too many people to witness to and too many families that need to be ministered to in their homes, YET not enough workers.  (Well, I guess we have always had this problem but now it feels like it is just too much for us.)

Uniting the Pastors 

These kids have been a light in their darkened homes, but how much easier it would be if we could speed up the process and reach their parents as well all at the same time and place? Soooo….
 

 
Junior called all the pastors in the local area together and asked for their help.  Letting them know that we were not opening a church to take away any members or threaten them but asking them for their support to help us evangelize inside the home and also pull together to make a monthly crusade for the public. 
 
 These pastors actually got so excited because we have a problem they long for.  That is easy access into the community’s homes.  If we join together the local churches can help us minister to the many families we have, therefore also boosting the spiritual growth of our kids.
 
With the kids at the LightHouse, that door just flies open to us.  But it is too much for our staff to handle, with so many families and so many problems in the home.  So we did this meeting to get our families acquainted with the local pastors at the LightHouse.  Creating a neutral place for our graduated teens to come and hear the Word without going to “church”. 

A Full House 

  
As Junior preached his heart out this first meeting, we saw the Lord do great things.  It was unbelievable that more than 300 people showed up!

People where everywhere!! Filling both patios, the hillside, in the driveway and yes even a huge amount of kids that we had to separate and put up at the soccer field!  We were so unprepared to have that many people turn up.  We invited everyone who has gone through the LightHouse in the past 8 years. Having had the chance to see kids that we have not seen in years and seeing how beautiful their lives are and what God has done through them!! 
 
This crusade has stirred the community and the local pastors that they are already waiting anxiously for this next meeting on April 23rd.
 
We praise the Lord that we can be a vessel in his hands and reach out to the spiritual needs of the families in this community. We appreciate your prayers and support!!
 
Have a blessed day!
Stephanie and Junior