What did you do last week?
YEAR 41 | SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS (SP) BRAZIL | J. RANDAL & VICKI MATHENY
As a part of President Trump’s Doge effort, Elon Musk is requiring American federal workers to report, “What I did last week.” Some time back I did something similar, with weekly posts. Maybe a good thing to try again? In any case, below are a few of the things I did in the last several weeks.
In the Northside congregation, Pedro had asked me to relieve him from the preaching schedule (we were rotating weekly) until after the Festival Apr. 18-20, because he is spending significant time on it, as well as working two jobs. I decided to preach on the Steps to Salvation. (Here’s our little webpage.)
The first lesson was Feb. 16, about hearing the word of God. Although this step is often subsumed under that of believing, these days it seems to be deserving of more attention because the need to hear the Word of God is acute.
On Feb. 23 we talked about the steps (plural) of faith: its beginning, its middle, and its ending. Main text was Rm 1.17, but we used others for each point: Mk 16.16; 2Th 1.3; and Hb 11.1, among others. Faith goes with us every step of the way, until the last Day.
Pedro is teaching his daughter and two nieces on Tuesday nights. He had started this even before beginning the Northside work Dec. 15th. Last week, his wife Karol taught the young two for the first time. This initiative of theirs will produce great blessings.
On Wednesday nights, I’m teaching the translated work of David Pharr for new converts, The Beginning of Our Confidence. I’ve been printing out the PDFs, but the book is now in print, having been released last week. Here‘s the cover:
The weekly radio program, “Abra Sua Bíblia” (Open Your Bible), continues. The host, Valdizan, and I usually spend about an hour and a half. Here’s a recent ad he published:
A special edition of Edificação magazine, geared toward non-Christians, was released Mar. 2 on the life, teachings, and work of Christ, called “Follow Jesus.” Thirty short articles by 20 authors on three continents highlighted a number of aspects of Christ.
I’m also publishing a small four-page weekly bulletin called “The Daily Cross” for the new work at Northside.
Requests, points, and prayers
- Vicki has resumed studies with Elisete, who lives down the avenue from us. She is going with us on Sundays to Northside.
- Cida has been participating lately with us at Northside as well. She works in our home one day a week, but lives not far from Cris’s home. She has also signed up for the Festival. Vicki has done a fine work with her.
- Would you make sure that the elders and missions people in your congregation are getting the GoSpeak newsletters? There is often turnover and changes in those who serve in these areas. We sometimes don’t get word of the changes.
- Here are five quick newsy items I posted 23 Feb.: items.
- If you are on X.com, the BrotherhoodNews account has been reactivated. Follow!
- I’ve started writing again for 21st Century Christian’s publication, Power for Today. Two devotionals have been sent thus far.
- Vicki is considering accepting an invitation to teach a women’s internet group on a weekly basis. The group was founded by a sister in the Northeast and is hosted on WhatsApp. Please pray about this.
- For our annual event, the Festival of the Family of God, 98 people have signed up. That is far above our record from last year. Each year more people are signing up for true fellowship and teaching.