DISCIPLESHIP SHORT TERM MISSIONS TRIPS----LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES!
Dear Partner, 2013-2014
We wish all of you a happy new year with God’s blessings in your lives.
We praise God for each of you and the part you have in this ministry. Please pray for Joel as he leaves in a few days on mission trip #1 to the Amazon.
Just to update you all: In February – March 2013, Melissa and I were able to travel to Brazil and minister for several weeks while we worked on renewing her permanent visa status. There were various ministry activities and opportunities to witness through evangelistic sporting events as well.
Upon returning to the U.S. we began our monthly meetings with the teams going down for summer mission trips, one of which was Fellowship Baptist, from Willow Spring, NC. This was their first ever foreign mission trip.
In June we returned to Brazil once again where we stayed for two months preparing and planning for teams coming. Hyland Heights came first and we were blessed to return to Jeremoabo, Bahia. It was a trip which neither words nor pictures can relate the wonderful experiences we had there. Once again having the opportunity to minister not only in Jeremoabo, but also in the little village of Casinhas. They are now in the midst of building a new church. Lord willing, we will be taking another team back in August of this year.
Mid July the team from Fellowship Baptist Church arrived. On this trip we were in northeast Brazil in the city of Fortaleza. From there we traveled to a small interior town where we ministered with the Acarau Bible Church. What a joy to work hand in hand with this pastor and his church where many activities and special meetings were held, to see seeds planted and also see some come to Christ. On that trip 4 of our team members had the opportunity to minister on a live radio program.
After returning to the U.S. mid-August, we began working on the 2014 teams. The largest team going will be the Liberty University Women’s soccer team.
In November we traveled back to Brazil where we spent 3 weeks, mainly to pick up Melissa’s documents which had come in by this time and to finish some final touches for the 2014 teams. Praise God that she no longer has to renew these papers. After 19 years she is considered a Brazilian!
At the present we are working on our busiest year ever with 5 teams. Our first is the end of January, going up the Amazon to new areas in tribes where the local church, several hours down river is wanting to start a new work. We will be taking a small medical team, and working alongside some Word of Life students on the trip. In June, we have the LU team; end of June the First Baptist Church of Hurt, VA.; end of July going again to the Amazon with Pastor Bill Coleman (this team is still being put together); and in August with HHBC.
As we are at about 65% of our needed support and with many trips and airfare Joel continues to paint part time to help with expenses. He would love to work less in painting allowing time to get into high schools and colleges to challenge young people to missions and short term mission trips. Pray that God will supply this need through new partners in the year of 2014!
Once again thank you for the part you have in all of this.
Your servants in Christ,
Joel & Melissa Johnson
