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Atkisson Family Update Sept. 2000
In This Issue: "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand." John 10:28-29 How do you keep in touch with us?
How 'bout some Highlights? Wow! What a wonderful journey these last few months have been! We can only stand in awe at the Lord's mercy and grace and guidance through it all. Oh, the things He has taught us, despite our tendency to say, "No, Lord, I know what I'm doing...I can handle it from here." How thankful we are that He knows what is best for us, even when we think we know better! As we entered June, my time as the assistant to the pastor came to an end with the arrival of my good friend from seminary, Rev. Rick Searle, who took over full-time. I praise the Lord for the great experience of being under the session of our home church and the wise instruction of our pastor, Ben Konopa while working there. My duties, though, did not completely end as Lynn and I began to prepare the youth of our church for their mission trip to Cherokee, NC (me doing some teaching and Lynn doing a ton of administrative work). We also prayerfully began to make contact with numerous travel agencies and internet ticketing web sites to try and find the most economic way in which to transport all of us to Brazil for our vision trip. However, the Lord steered us to someone right at home; a wonderful Christian lady in our church that works at a travel agency. We were able to book tickets through her at the best rate of anywhere we found. The only catch was that we didn't have all of the funds necessary to buy the tickets, yet faithfully believed that He would provide. Needless to say, you know the rest of the story...He provided over and above what we needed through friends and churches so that all of us would be able to go! Other highlights in June for the kids included Hilary and Taylor receiving scholarships to attend Doe River Gorge Christian camp each for one week, and Jacob attending a soccer camp in Johnson City. As July rolled around, we found ourselves anxiously, yet nervously awaiting the many events and activities that were to come. July 1-8 saw the entire Atkisson family taking the youth from Westminster PCA to Cherokee, NC to minister to the Cherokee people through a VBS at a child care center and repair the exterior of an elderly lady's home. It was a blessing for all as we saw the Lord bring several kids into His kingdom through the VBS, and the work project build unity and developed maturity in the youth. After returning from Cherokee, we washed clothes and repacked bags to head off for four days of the MTW Summer Conference in Toccoa, GA. On July 13th, we left the conference for Atlanta to fly out to Brazil. After returning from Brazil on Aug.1, we had a restful few days staying at a lakehouse provided by some new friends from Westminster PCA in Gainesville, GA. Several days later (Aug. 7-11), Lynn and I attended a Mission to North America (MNA) church-planter training conference back in Atlanta. At the conclusion of all of this "globe-trotting" travel, we moved our belongings into the basement missionary apartment graciously provided by some friends from our home church, Jim and Wynn Brantner. Brasil! From July 13-Aug 1, the Lord provided our family a wonderful experience. We were all able to go on our vision trip to Vitoria, Brazil to be with our good friends and future co-workers, Valdeci and Meire Santos and their boys, Danillo and Jader. While there, Valdeci and I were able to discuss in more detail the "nuts and bolts" of our upcoming ministry, and to receive wisdom as to where the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) would have us establish the ministry. The Lord also set up through Valdeci several important meetings with officials from the IPB and with the session of the First Presbyterian Church of Vitoria. Through these meetings we were able to determine that we will be living in Vitoria and establishing the church planting mercy ministry there. We were also able to go to several favelas (slums) in Vitoria on hillsides in the city. At one favela, we were able to participate in a VBS over the course of a few days. The children there were so enthusiastic and eager to learn, and it was great for our kids to be there with them. Valdeci and other members of First Pres. Vitoria invited us to help with an open-air worship service at yet another favela on the Sunday afternoons that we were there. I was able to preach (with Valdeci translating) on one Sunday, and Lynn and the children had a blessed time beginning to get to know and love the people who live there. Lynn was also able to teach a Sunday school lesson there to about twenty teenagers. What a joy it was for us to find out that, because of the diligent witness and teaching of a member of First Pres. Vitoria, five of those teenage girls made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We look forward to the time when we can become a more regular part of all of their lives. Our Vision and Ministry The vision trip to Brazil was such a blessing in so many ways; but perhaps one of the most significant things to come out of it was the Lord's confirmation and direction of the ministry He has called us to. We can also praise the Lord for His guiding hand through the wisdom and experience of our dear brother and sister, Valdeci and Meire. Even though they are extremely stretched with his duties as interim pastor for a large church, they are helping set things up for us and our arrival there sometime next year. We also are privileged to know so many new brothers and sisters in Christ from First Pres. Vitoria who have pledged to help us in our adjustment to a new culture and language after our arrival. Valdeci and I were able to determine and clarify several things from this visit: The church plant location is crucial for several reasons. This is an area of work that the IPB and MTW have been eager to establish together in this type of setting. The location is good for outreach ministries; particularly ones that will better the economic condition of the people. We are hoping to develop a relationship with the Chalmers project at Covenant College to formulate a strategy for this area. This is also a good location for developing relationships with children. Soccer outreach will certainly be a part of this ministry, and in particular, developing relationships with street kids. We also believe this will be a good place to eventually develop church leadership because in many homes there are still men living in the home. That is probably the primary reason the IPB wants this mission project to be located in a working poor neighborhood as opposed to a favela (slum). In a favela, you will primarily see women and children, and some teenagers, a few older men and women, but very few younger or middle-aged men. Our prayer is that the Lord would use us to make a real difference in the lives of those He brings across our path. Our desire is to help those we will minister to in the city of Vitoria to "fix their eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseenŠfor what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." MTW Updates From June 26-30 Lynn and I were able to jump through the last hoops with MTW and complete the career Interview and Orientation and officially begin as team leaders for the mission in Brazil. On July 10-15, MTW held its annual Summer Conference for missionaries stateside on HMA and for itinerating missionaries still in the US. It was a good time for all as it was held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa, GA. Lynn and I were able to attend sessions conducted for adults, and to participate in worship each day. The kids were able to be in fellowship with other MK's and to go to special sessions just for them. They were also able to swim at a nice lake at the facility. After returning from Brazil, we attended a Mission to North America church planters training conference in Atlanta from Aug. 7-10. MTW is urging team leaders to attend this training until they have their own specific training for overseas missionaries. It was a great time of learning, and of worship with other "stateside missionaries". Our Prayer Requests We praise the Lord for: The Atkisson's Schedule Sept. 15-17 Missions conference - Christ Pres. Church Sweetwater, TN "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 Soli Deo Gloria, - Wednesday, October 4, 2000
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