Saturday Night Services in Ubim

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Odali and Kathy Barros served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil together from 1987-2013. In late 2013, they transitioned to Manaus in Northern Brazil to start sharing the Gospel and planting churches in villages along the river.

November 19, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thank God we are doing well, and things are calm. We pray that all is well with our dear friends and supporters. There is news that the COVID is back and increasing, but here in our area things are calm. Thank God!

Now that our seminars for leaders are complete, we are starting back Sunday school for the children. Getting more members involved. We also plan on visiting a village not far from the church to bring people on the bus.

Our services in homes are doing well. Our plan for the next year is to reach out more and get more people involved. At the village of Ubim, we started having services on Saturday night. Several of the musicians from the church are going and helping with the music. Pray that we can reach more adults and that the youth who have been coming for several years can get more involved. This village has lots of young people and young adults. We pray that God will send a couple who would live there. There is so much that can be done.

Thank God we were able to drill a well for the church. We were using the neighbor鈥檚. We want to ask for your prayers for what we would like to do in the near future. We would like to have a river ministry to go to the people who can only be reached by boat. This was the ministry that Bro. Hatcher and Bro. Bratcher did a lot in this area. These are continuing fruits of the labors of their ministry. We would love to continue this ministry. We are praying what would be best: to buy a boat or rent one. Pray that God will lead us to what would be best.

Thank each of you for your prayers and support! God bless each of you!

Love in Christ,
Odali and Kathy

Contact Info:
Odali & Kathy Barros
Iranduba, Amazonas
Brasil, SA
odali_kathy@hotmail.com

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.


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Missionary Update: The Creiglows in Brazil [December 2014]

Mike and Beverly Creiglow have served the Lord in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil together since 1971. In addition to pastoring First Baptist of Cruzeiro do Sul, Mike builds his own boats and frequently travels up and down rivers to share the Gospel with those who have never heard.

December 9, 2014

Dear Brethren,

Although I have been to several places over the past few weeks, I think I will concentrate on my last trip up the Juru谩 River. Let’s start out with some background.

In January 1966 the Lord called me to be a missionary. It was and has always been clear that I was to work right here in western Brazil. At the time I was only 17. On a Sunday night I made the call known to the church. On Tuesday night I preached my first sermon. Just after I turned 18 I went off to seminary in Manaus. Twice a year I would come back to Cruzeiro do Sul during school breaks. The first break I built a little wooden boat and Dad loaned me one of his motors. My first river trip was that same year and was to places beyond where Dad had been working in those first years of his ministry here.

At the time, there was a little church at a place called Campo de Santana. Dad visited them regularly. The next major village up stream is Vit贸ria. This was my first stop on that first trip.

The full moon coming up over the Juru谩 river just before time for services to start

The full moon coming up over the Juru谩 river just before time for services to start.

The house that I stayed at belonged to Henrique Linhares. He was a first generation descendent of the northeasterners who came here for the rubber boom in the early 20th century. He was born at Vit贸ria and at age 57 had never been to Cruzeiro do Sul. His wife, Dona Bastinha, (Little Sebastiana) was the local midwife. They lived in a big house made of bark floors and walls with a thatched roof.

There were no Christians (saved folks) on the entire Juru谩 River from that village upstream. I preached in Seu Henrique’s home twice a year from 1966 until 1978, the year I became pastor at First Baptist Church. I started preaching there 48 years ago. I played the accordion, sang hymns, prayed and preached the gospel to them for years sitting on a crude stool. The services were lit by little open flame kerosene lights. The whole village would come. Not a soul was ever saved.

In the mid 90’s we sent our first missionary to Porto Walter, which is about a hour downstream from Vit贸ria in my fastest boat. We encouraged M谩rio to keep up preaching points at Campo de Santana and Vit贸ria. A few people were saved. Then 6 years ago we sent Alexandre to Porto Walter, as M谩rio had moved to Cruzeiro do Sul. He sped up the pace of work at both villages. This year he led the little congregation to saw lumber and build their first building.

The new building at Vit贸ria from the outside.

The new building at Vit贸ria from the outside.

Last weekend I was there to dedicate the new building. What a difference from way back when. All the houses in the village, which has grown a lot, are made with nice sawed lumber and covered with aluminum roofing. The government put in a dirt road from Porto Walter and strung up electric through the jungle. As I stood in front of the building waiting for them to open up and turn on the lights I had a strange experience. Looking up stream and downstream there were strings of lights from LED flashlights and cell phones as people coming to church lit the paths along banks of the river. How different and strange from years ago. There were over 200 present for services on Saturday and Sunday. I preached about the timing of salvation, for obvious reasons. There were 2 people saved! What a thrill.

The new building at Vit贸ria packed on the inside. Notice the kids sitting on the floor...they were very well behaved!

The new building at Vit贸ria packed on the inside. Notice the kids sitting on the floor…they were very well behaved!

Some of the young Christians there are Sr. Henrique’s grandchildren. Some of them remember the services I held there. One of them came to me Sunday night and said. “I understand you clearly now, but back then I didn’t.” His thought was that my Portuguese has improved, but it hasn’t really. I explained to him that back then he understood the words, but not the message. Today he understands because of the Holy Spirit who opens eyes and hearts. What a comfort. What a victory at Vit贸ria after all these years.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.

In Christ,

Mike and Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil 69980
mdcreig [at] hotmail.com

Click here to donate to BFM.


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