Recommendations
Dear Brethren:
It is a privilege for me to recommend Mike and Vicki Ross for the work they are planning to do in the nation of Brazil . They are targeting the city of Artur Nogueira in the state of Sao Paulo . I had the privilege of preaching in Artur Nogueira several years ago.
Both Mike and Vicki were my students at Oklahoma Christian University , and both were involved in campaign work that Jane and I helped coordinate during our years at Oklahoma Christian and at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City .
They have shown a deep love for Brazil and the Brazilian people and have dedicated themselves to the task of preaching and teaching the gospel in this wonderful South American country.
Mike and Vicki are intelligent and well-prepared for their mission. They are cooperative, coachable, responsible, dependable, and highly motivated. I believe they are worthy of the moral, spiritual, and financial support they are seeking for this important work. I hope that you will carefully consider their request for assistance in this effort.
Please contact me if further information is needed. My Email is hnorton@harding.edu. My home telephone is 501/305-1305, and the office is 501/279-4178. May the Lord richly bless your work for his honor and glory.
Sincerely yours,
Howard W. Norton
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This relationship has grown throughout the years, as they have spent time with us seeing how we develop the work, and what our culture and values are. And we also are learning from them about their values and culture. Our entire congregation here in Arthur Nogueira believes that their help will be most valuable once they are more familiar with the language and culture.
We need more families who work with the church full-time. There are about 50 members in this congregation, most of whom work full-time in secular jobs, except for one person who is retired and a few housewives.
This congregational make-up slows down regional evangelism and causes us to focus only on developing the local church. We have tried several outreach efforts in the region, but it is very difficult because there are only a few of us, with little time available and scarce resources. But we believe in Mike and Vicki’s project that was presented to us. We not only believe in this project, but we also want to invest our time and effort so we can work together in this regional work. Maybe some of our members can even move with them to new areas to start these new works.
We are very happy that many American brothers and sisters–who may not even know us or Brazil–have been generous in helping Mike and Vicki financially so they can possibly spend the rest of their lives here in Brazil, a country that lacks serious and mature Christians to take the Gospel of Jesus to all.
Adonias Reis
Minister, Artur Nogueira, Sao Paolo, Brazil
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In an age when few are willing to go, Mike and Vicki Ross are not only freely willing to serve but also have their hearts in the right place: they want to help build up the Body so that the Brazilian church can mature and be of greater service to others. There is no better way to do missions in Brazil in the 21st century.
Sidney Leite
Editor, Vida Crista
Award winning Brazilian Christian publisher
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I know how important missions are since I am my family are fruits of mission work like this in Brasil. We have seen hundreds of Christians come from works like the work they plan to do. I see in mission work the beauty of Christianity, because it does not show barriers in race, color, language, or nationality. This is what Mike and Vicki want to continue doing in mission work. I am certain that they will continue spreading the beauty of Christianity, preaching, baptizing, and helping to save souls for the kingdom of our Lord God the Father of us all.
Edinilson Souza
Future Co-Worker, Paulinia, Sao Paolo, Brazil