My Side Job as a Gospel Rap Music Agent

Back in the day when I was a Lipscomb student, my nickname was "Snoop." It's too long to explain how I got this nickname - I'm not even entirely sure how I acquired it. But since it stuck, I would occasionally bust out a rhyme, my white bread version of rap. Nothing professional or anything, but just for fun, when my friends would least expect it, I would let loose with some verses. People were always surprised "where did you come up with that?" I started to think there was a rap music star within me.

Well, I didn't make it as a rapper, to my everlasting chagrin, but I am now helping some guys here in POA to try and make it in the music biz as their unofficial "agent". Call me Snoopster JB - as in John da Baptist, preparing the way for young Christian talent to showcase their skills.

I've posted here before about G.A.P., a gospel rap trio formed by three chacara graduates (L-R on their CD cover): David (VidBrasa), Jefferson (Mano Fino), and Elder (DiMC). For those who doubt my prowess, here is their CD backcover with yours truly alongside for the ride:

A pretty neat story happened last week and it goes something like this: I gave a G.A.P. CD to my sister-in-law Patricia to give to a friend of her choice. She gave it to her friend Tamiris, who shared it with her mother, Aparecida. It happens that Aparecida studies social work at IPA, a Methodist university near our house. Aparecida just loved their music, and happened to be working on a presentation on alcohol & drug addiction for one of her classes. So she asked me to invite G.A.P. to come to her class and represent.
L-R: Mercedes, one of Aparecida's colleagues, VidBrasa, DiMC, Aparecida, and a third colleague whose name I didn't catch. G.A.P. were the stars of the show. They spoke about their lives and performed two of their songs. The class gave them a standing O, bought several of their CDs, and spent a lot of time talking with the guys afterwards. I was quite surprised by the warm and open reception. I wasn't sure if the class would be receptive to faith-based methods and testimonies of overcoming drug addictions, but they were, and I believe G.A.P.'s story reinforced the fact that God can and does transform lives in extraordinary ways!
The post-game celebration at Habib's, an Arabian fast-food joint (yummy). Paulo Renato was with us and gave his testimony to the class of how he overcame alcoholism through his time at the chacara & his commitment to Jesus. I kick myself for not having filmed his speech because it was one of the best summaries of his story that I've ever heard him give. DiMC's wife, Elisangela, was with us as well. G.A.P., as a result of this visit to IPA, may be invited to perform at other college-related events, and at a well-known chemical dependency clinic run by the city.

This is my side job as JB - I take joy in preparing the way for people like Paulo Renato, DiMC and VidBrasa to have opportunity to share their stories and thus provoke people to reflect on their own faith & life. Peace out!

Spencers Open their House

Earlier this month, Waleska and I were privileged to be a part of a very special moment in the life of our dear friends Joao and Clarice Spencer. They are among our closest friends here. Joao is an Air Force fighter pilot while Clarice is a doctor, and they have one son, Joca. They live in a closed neighborhood for officers in Canoas, a suburb of POA where the airbase is located. For some time, they have wanted to invite Joao's Air Force colleages to their home for Christian fellowship. In addition to doing the usual things that people do when they invite friends to their home (meal, hanging out), Joao and Clarice wanted to share with their friends why they follow Jesus.

On the first day of November, Joao and Clarice finally found the right moment to begin fulfilling their dream. They invited their friends Jose Neto & Clarissa, and Fabio & Lilliane, to enjoy a meal with us and with Everton & Diana from our church. The thermometer marked 100 degrees fahrenheit that day, the hottest day we've had so far this year. But that didn't stop what the Lord was going to do.

Joao really went all out - he made Greek souvlaki barbecue, combining the best of Southern Brazil with the best of Greece, and let me tell you, it was delicious! After the food fun, we had a time of singing and of sharing. Joao just opened his heart and share why it was important for him to be a follower of Jesus and how much blessing this had brought to his life over the years. Tears came to his eyes as he spoke. I could tell it was an amazingly meaningful moment for him. His friends listened attentively and appreciated his openness.

I wanted to write about this moment just to show how amazingly simple church can be: inviting those we care about to our home, sharing a meal together, and talking openly about why we follow Jesus and why this makes a difference in our lives. It reminded me of the first apostles, when they were testifying in Acts: "We are witnesses." Their time with Jesus changed their lives, redirected their lives towards God's glory.

Joao and Clarice are witnesses to how Jesus has changed and redirected their lives, and they wish to share their living testimony with those they know. We commend them for their loving spirit, and we ask for your prayers as they continue to invite and to testify, to make their home a house that changes the world - one family at a time!

Mr. Chaves

Here I will tell you about the oldest member (age 66) of our congregation, Mr. Chaves (means "keys" in Portuguese). Chaves was once a successful real estate agent here in town, quite well-to-do by all accounts. Unfortunately, he let drinking get the best of him, and his family asked him to leave. Chaves recoved from his addiction at the chacara at the same time that Paulo Renato was there. Paulo and Chaves are great friends. Here they are in this photo:

Chaves lives in a very simple house in a not-so-nice neighborhood in Alvorada. I was not present to witness the following story, but it testifies to his character. Kevin and Paulo Renato tell me that once, when they were visiting Chaves, two young girls came to Chaves' door asking for food. This is a common occurrence. All Chaves had to eat in his house were two bananas. So what did he do? He took his two bananas and gave them to the girls. I tell you, that is a great example of faith acting in compassion. Chaves receives a monthly retirement pension, and with that money he takes care of himself, his dogs, and ends up being salt & light to a desperate community around him. We praise God that Chaves is our brother and pray that God will continue to give him many more years of life and health!

Dilamar

When the guys at the chacara reach the 7-month mark in their 9-month recovery program, they are allowed to make their first visit to the home of their family and loved ones. Recently we had a unique situation with the latest guy to reach 7 months - Dilamar is his name. He's on the right here; I'm doing my famous Rehbein closing-my-eyes-pose for photos.

It was the first time I had ever met one of these guys who literally had nowhere to go for his home visit. Dilamar's father and one of his brothers are in prison; his mother is deceased; his wife and son want nothing to do with him; his other brothers have no contact with him. Imagine, a 40-year old man, who should be at the peak of his life experiences, yet apparently had no one who wanted to spend time with him. I talked with Waleska and Paulo Renato and Isaias, and we decided to receive Dilamar in our home on Sunday, October 25 for his first visit. It was a memorable experience!

Here is the crew that participated in the visit: Spencer, Dilamar, Paulo Renato, Valter (a recent chacara graduate who preached for us on Sunday morning), Christian, and myself. This particular Sunday was a Celebration meeting for all of our house churches. Valter gave a powerful sermon based on the book of Haggai and his own life experiences. Dilamar shared some of his story with the church family and they welcomed him with open arms. It was one of the best celebrations I've experienced here in POA. The intensity of love and commitment to God and to one another was fantastic.

When guys come to your house, you have to feed them - and I did, with George Foreman burgers and oven-baked fries! Needless to say, no one walked away hungry. All of us were encouraged by our fellowship on this special day, but Dilamar was encouraged most of all. Dilamar realized that God truly is on his side and that he has a family in Christ, the church local and worldwide, that cares for him. Pray for this special brother, that he will continue to persevere in his recovery!

Camila's Baptism

Pictured here are Camila and Rudinei, sister and brother (sorry for the bad photo crop, but it was the best I could do). They and their parents, Daniel and Miguelina, attend the Morrows' house church. Earlier this month, Camila made a decision that gave everybody great joy: she decided to be baptized!

Waleska and I were fortunate to be present for this joyous occasion, along with several other Christian brothers & sisters. The baptism was performed at the Lucas de Oliveira church building, a place I know well from my LST campaigns in 1999 and 2000.

Camila's brother Rudinei, her mother, Miguelina, and her niece, Emily...

Paul had the honor of performing Camila's baptism. The smile says it all! Praise God for Camila's decision and pray that she will be strengthened in her new walk with Jesus!

A Visit to Rats Creek

There is a city about 40 miles west of Porto Alegre called Arroio dos Ratos (Rats Creek in English!) I would probably never have set foot in this town were it not for an initiative of Silvio, our brother in Christ. A great friend of his named Junior lives in this town. Junior used to be very active in the church but for various reasons, he has stopped being active. Junior and Silvio maintain frequent contact, and two weeks ago, Junior invited Silvio to come visit his family and bring along some Christian brothers. So Paulo Renato and I tagged along for a short mission trip!

Junior is in the middle here, with Paulo Renato on the left and Silvio on the right. Junior's children Julia and Gabriel appear here as well. This photo was taken in front of the old coal mining company. From 1850-1950, millions of tons of coal were extracted from this area. After hydrolelectric power plants came into vogue, most of the coal-burning plants shut down and mining virtually stopped. I was completely unaware of this history and found it quite fascinating, being a West Virginian and the son of a geologist. Every town has a unique piece of history worth knowing!

After our trip to the coal mine site, an afternoon coffee and snack was waiting for us, including freshly baked bread! You know me, I won't ever refuse a good meal...

Junior's wife Marcia had everything ready for us. Both Junior and Marcia work as monitors at a juvenile detention center in Porto Alegre. It is a hard, emotionally charged job, and it takes its toll on them. Junior is currently on medical leave as he tries to recover from depression.

We ended our day with a devotional from the book of Joshua and prayer time, and have an open invitation to return to "Rats Creek" and visit this fantastic family. Pray for Junior, Marcia, Gabriel, and Julia, that God will bless them with health and happiness, and that they will choose to make their home one that is centered around Christ and His family!

Everton & Diana's Wedding

We are about a month behind in postings, so let's try to get caught up now! (That's what I'm telling myself here...) Everton is a young man who graduated from the chacara program in June. You read about him in earlier posts when the Aggies for Christ helped fixed up his new house when they were visiting in July. In September, Everton and his wife Diana officialized their marriage at the courthouse and before their Christian family, on a fine winter's Sunday at the Blumes' house. The Blumes and our sister Leni did a great job of planning this ceremony and celebration.

Everton's grandparents and aunts were present for the ceremony. He has overcome a lot of obstacles in terms of family; both his parents died when he was young and he was raised by a foster family that eventually rejected him. The church has truly become his family.

Diana's grandmother, sister, and brother were also present on the occasion.

Everton and Diana have five children! Going clockwise: Ismael (in Diana's arms), Leonardo (the oldest), Bruno, Diego, and Cassia (the newest arrival in Everton's arms!)

We praise God for this special family and ask you to pray for their strength and courage as they overcome life's daily obstacles. May the Lord continue to give their victory through faith, hope, and above all else, love!

new house church!

This is our new house church! We are just starting with Patricia (my sister) and her friend Sabrina. Raquel on the back is our church member. At the same time Joao and Clarice are helping another family to build a new house church! It`s wonderful to be able to multiply! Please pray for our new house churches! Love in Christ, Waleska!

Patricia's Baptism

A few months ago, Waleska began a Saturday Bible study with her younger sister Patricia. Two weeks ago, Patricia and her friend Raquel B. came to our house. They shared that they needed to change their lives, but were not ready to do so yet; they did not want to be hypocritical and choose to follow Jesus while continuing in their same old vices and behaviors. They ended the prayer session asking for God to give them a sign that they should change. Be careful what you pray for because it might happen! Last Sunday, we received a phone call from Patricia asking for help for her, Raquel, and a third friend, Sabrina. That phone call, resultant from a series of strange but true events in their lives., led to seven days of intense conversation, prayer, and Bible study, and to her baptism two days ago!

It was a pretty tight fit, being in a bathtub and all.! We did the baptism at our friends Mark and Ju's house, they are missionaries working in the east zone of Porto Alegre. Thanks for the props guys!

Our nephew Cassiano was happy to see his mom being baptized! He kept commenting, "You're too big to be baptized - only little people can do that!"

This is the crew that was involved in our marathon week of study and prayer. On the far left is Raquel B., and on the far right is Sabrina; both are friends of Patricia's that I mentioned earlier. Moving inward from left is Raquel G. and from right is Clarice; they participate in our house church network and were instrumental in conversing and praying with these girls during our week. And front and center, Waleska and Patricia.

That's a happy family! Praise God for Patricia's decision, and continue to pray for her as she strives to follow Jesus as her Lord! Also, pray for Raquel B. as she rededicates her life to Jesus, and for Sabrina as she desires to study the Bible more!

Aggies for Christ Campaign

Last month we had the pleasure of hosting the "Aggies for Christ," a group of seven students from Texas A&M University. We started by spending two days helping our brother Everton fix up his new house. Everton just graduated from the chácara and faced the dilemma of having to return to his old neighborhood. Fortunately, one of his fellow graduates, Valter, and his family offered Everton a house rent-free on their property in exchange for caring for the property. However, the house had been abandoned for some time and needed a lot of work.
Check out this house before the Aggies went to work...

...and after! From L-R, the Aggies: Reece, Chris, Chelsea, Robert, Traci, Whitney and Michael.

Here is the yard before our work...

...and after! A much-needed improvement.

Here is Everton, first on left, with the crew. He is one happy camper. The group did a lot to help Everton on his way: paint inside, install electrical wiring, replace roof and ceiling boards, in addition to building the new door and gate.

We also had an English party with the Aggies and our Brazilian friends. The Blumes were gracious hosts. We enjoyed roasted hot dogs and S'mores. What could be better than that food-wise? A great time was had by all. Here is Waleska with her student Ricardo at the party!

We also spent a day at the chácara fellowshipping with the guys there and starting work on painting the exterior of the new kitchen. Check out the Aggies' painting skills! Teamwork makes jobs like these go a lot faster.

The guys at the chácara really enjoyed their interaction with the Aggies, and I know that the Aggies were really glad to spend time with them as well. Here is everybody enjoying some traditional gaúcho tea after a hard day's work.

Thanks for the great memories, Aggies - you were one of the best campaign groups we've ever worked with here! God bless you guys in all that you do!

Volunteer Activity, Part 2

As I've mentioned here before, Waleska and I joined Rotary Club at the end of last year. It's funny: Rotary is an organization that originated in the U.S., yet I knew almost nothing about it until our contact with Waleska's students here in Brazil. I enjoy being in Rotary to make new friends and become involved in community service projects. This picture is from our winter clothing collection campaign we held a few weeks ago.

I am our club's director of the commission for service projects this term. Waleska is our club's director of the commission for the Rotary Foundation this term. This means she helps in mobilizing funds for international service projects and scholarships for student exchange programs. Go girl!

Below is Martha, our current club president, and her husband Eduardo, past club president. This is a very special couple that we have become friends with. Martha's parents recently passed away, and we have been able to share Christian comfort with her. Martha has asked me to say a prayer at the start of each meeting during her term as president. This is a great opportunity to put God first!These are all the club officers and commission directors for the current Rotary term, which runs from July-June. A very lively and interesting group of people! The club meets on Monday evenings at the Sheraton Hotel. Keep on rolling Rotary!

Volunteer Activity, Part 1

For the past several months, I have spent my Tuesday mornings as a volunteer counselor at the Interconfessional Counseling Service (SICA in Portuguese) in downtown Porto Alegre. SICA was founded 40 years ago as a collaboration among Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches here in town. We offer free counseling to anyone who wants a listening ear, a friendly face, and spiritual advice.

I enjoy volunteering in this ministry because of the interaction I have with clients, and also with counselors who come from other churches. I have quite a variety of clients: a mother and daughter who are recovering from abusive relationships; a husband and wife who are new in town and trying to settle down; an elderly lady who has eleven siblings and tries to keep all of them happy! I thank God for this valuable counseling experience and for the small yet significant role we can play in helping people find comfort in troubles, and solutions to their everyday problems.

2nd Annual Marathon Relay

The Lord allowed us to once again put together a running team involving guys and graduates from the chacara in Alvorada! We participated in the Porto Alegre Marathon Relay on May 25 and came in 6th place (of 12 teams) in our category of men's octets. A great result for a bunch of amateurs! For me, the best part is seeing the chacara guys learn the value of teamwork, encouragement, and setting & accomplishing goals. Running is more than just great sport and great for your health, it's a great lesson for all of life.

After the race, we enjoyed a picnic lunch, devotional and fellowship in the park. What a great gathering of the Lord's people, and a testimony to society that anything - and everything - is possible through Christ who strengthens us!

Continuing the Victory

One of the tremendous blessings that has come with working with the guys at the chácara is keeping up with them after they graduate the program. Over the past several months, Paulo Renato, the Blumes and ourselves have helped several guys find housing to rent, located near the chácara, so they can encourage one another and hold one another accountable in their faith. We are seeing these guys on a weekly basis to encourage them and are being encouraged ourselves with their spiritual growth!

This is Anderson and his son Gi-Anderson in the guys' apartment with me and Paulo Renato. Anderson shares this apartment with Cristian, another one of the graduates. Anderson is working for Seven Boys, a bread company, in their factory. He is going to get married in two months to Ester, his companion of six years, and she is now studying the Bible along with her brother! God is transforming this whole family little by little. Gi-Anderson is learning how to speak English (from us gringos) and Swahili (from Paulo Renato)!

From l-r: Cristian, Alexandre, Anderson, Rodrigo, Paulo, and Gi at bottom. Alexandre and Rodrigo, along with Rodrigo's brother Eduardo, are sharing a house three blocks away from Anderson and Cristian. They see each other almost every day. On Friday nights, Paulo and Kevin Blume meet with all of these guys, along with a few others who are starting to come, to pray together and encourage everyone to stay sexually pure. This is one of their greatest battles, and they are learning how to win the battle.

This is a difficult ministry - two guys who had been living in the apartment, Renato and Josimar, ended up leaving because they started getting back into drugs and were not following through with their financial commitments. We get discouraged at times, but when I see these five guys and others who are flourishing in their jobs, education, and family life, I am so encouraged and thankful for God's modern-day miracles! Pray for these young men to persevere, because they are true victors in Christ!

Ellinton's Baptism

Ellinton is a man in his early 40s that Paulo Renato and I met last year at the chacara. His family is friends with Rodrigo and Eduardo's family, two brothers who graduated from the treatment program last year. Ellinton spent five months at the chacara but was unable to finish the treatment, because he contracted tuberculosis. Fortunately, his is a rare non-contagious type and he is doing just fine. In fact, he is doing better than ever because last Sunday he was baptized into Christ! (Isaias, the director of the chacara, did the baptism at Ellinton's request; this is the pool on the roof of his mother's house).

This is Ellinton with his wife, Marcia, at right, and their two daughters, Elli and Daphne. Below is a photo of Ellinton with his extended family, including his mother, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, brothers, and nephews. What a fantastic family and an open door for the Word of God to work! We are thankful for Ellinton and for his decision to be a part of this church family. Let's pray that one day, all of the folks in this photo will be part of a church that meets in their home!