God at Work in the Publishing of Journey Materials in Brazil

Men, I am in DFW waiting for my final flight home. My trip began 7 days ago, as I left NWA. The return began 17 hours ago in Curtitiba, Brazil. I am now only a little over an hour from completing this journey. However, the truth is, it has only begun. Before I write my final entry in our blog, I must say that the vision for our purpose for being in Brazil began years ago in the heart and prayers of a humble American missionary in Brazil. Sam Gill has faithfully served our King through many years of change, and many trials. However, he still stands with his shield locked up with ours, and ready for battle. He is the one who God used to open the doors to Brazil that we have been invited to enter. Let us keep him in our prayers, as he gives the remaining years of his mission life to developing men's ministry in Brazil, using the Journey. I will not revisit the information that has been put on our previous entries by Frank and myself. I will only share about the last day, for it is an amazing story. I shared before that Sam and I would visit with the publisher of The Journey to the Inner Chamber before leaving Curitiba. What I did not know was the emotional connection the CEO and his staff have with Inner Chamber, as it has become an important project for this company to get to the readers. This man and staff are deeply committed Christians who have a great deal of influence within Brazilian churches. He sees Inner Chamber (Journada) to be a book that churches can use to bring revival, and as well launch men's ministries. He has vision and energy for expanding the Kingdom of God by expanding the readers of this book. Because he has been touched by God to have this passion for the book, I can only say that what we have seen with the network of connections that have been supernaturally linked together, only God could have done. Here is one of many examples: Priscila is an important member of this publishing company's staff. She first read Inner Chamber and felt so strongly about it, she immediately took it to the committee who makes decisions on which books to publish. While it was being considered, unbeknown to her, the pastor of her church, an influential international church, was connecting with Influencers another way. While in America he came across a copy of The Prayer Cottage and the Sacred Garden, which I have no idea where he got it. He read it, took it back to his church in Brazil, and used it church wide in their Sunday school classes. It was in one of these classes that Priscila connected that I was also the author of this book, along with Inner Chamber. This alone expanded our credibility for Inner Chamber being published. However, there was another connection made, as well. Priscila asked the semi-retired founder of the publishing company to read the translated manuscript of Inner Chamber. He did, and told her he wept while reading it. This man had not only founded the company, he has also been an avid church planter for many years, and has planted many churches. He has a heart for churches, and the book touched him. He in turn spoke to his son, who is the CEO, and insisted that it be published. I spoke to the son, and he is as excited about the book and the impact it might have on churches in Brazil as the original founder is. In our final moments of our visit, I discovered that it is the intentions of this publishing company to now proceed with the publishing of Prayer Cottage, and eventually our curriculum. Since they will have to have a second printing of Inner Chamber by February, they want to include some insert information that directs the readers to our website, and the Brazilian blog we want begin. In other words, they are joining with us to expand the ministry of Influencers throughout Brazil. Some of you might not know that I will not take the royalties from the book sales, but will leave them in Brazil to be used to develop the ministry there. I spoke with Sam, and we will likely form a foundation to receive these royalties, and to pay for his expenses, and other expenses incurred for helping form Journey Groups in Brazil. It would be our hope that these funds will grow and perpetuate resources to be used far into the future. What a great God we have. Would you agree? As said before this is my final entry in the blog of our trip to Brazil. However, Frank continues in Brazil for several more days, and he may continue his blog entries. He has moved from the middle-class Brazilian that we have been working with, to the poor. Please pray for him, for he is a hero for us all, and we want him back home safe with his family and with us. Finally, I thank all of you who have helped fund this trip, and all the ministry opportunities we are involved with. We are always dependent on your faithful giving to support this ministry, as the heart of God inspires you. We have never been without the necessary funds to follow our King to places we would have never imagined He would take us. But, you have been His resource to help us continue our march to go after His men. We will continue our campaign as long as He leads, and it is a trip such as this that confirms He is in the lead and we are following. To Christ great glory, Rocky