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Portugal UBF

February 25, 2013

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I thank and praise God for sending Jesus Christ as our Savior Lord. I thank and praise God for this historic European Directors’ Conference here in Madrid, Spain. I believe this will be a turning point in the history of campus ministry in Spain. God has been with us in Portugal and working in and among us actively. Now let me share with you some of the highlights of our ministry in 2012.

First, one to one Bible studies. We started 2012 with studying Genesis. Through Genesis we strengthened the foundation of our faith in God who created the heavens and the earth. We also learned the importance of one man of faith in each generation. Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph who were used preciously to carry out his salvation plan. Shepherdess Sarah grew in faith like Abraham. Genesis strengthened our faith in our prayer topic to raise 12 house churches in Portugal and to be a source of blessing for all Portuguese speaking nations in the world. After finishing Genesis, we studied Luke´s gospel for the second half of the year. Through Luke we wanted to learn Jesus who came to save us from our sins by sacrificing his own life on the cross. God blessed me to serve our group Bible study on every Saturday and deliver the message at Sunday worship service. God blessed our fishing ministry. Missionary Grace, Missionary Rebeca and Shepherdess Sara visited Lisbon University on every Wednesday. They together reached out to many students. With some they share the gospel on the spot, with some they came to the center and have one to one Bible study with them. Missionary John and I visited Technical School of New University of Lisbon on every Thursday at our lunch break. Missionary Grace served Nuno, Ana Filipa, Fernando, Lea, Pedro, Carlos, Aboo, Filipe, Jaime, Joana Eun Hye, Ji Hye. Missionary Rebeca served Maria, Ermanda, Ildo and Debora. Shepherdess Sara served Carla, Solange, Dina, Ana Paula, Valdemar. Missionary John served faithfully Arnildo. I thank and praise God for blessing our campus visiting and sending several students to study the Bible.

Second, discipleship. I thank and praise God for helping Shepherdess Sara to grow as a faithful disciple of Jesus. She had to overcome hardship in her PhD work and feed sheep and visit campus amidst a difficult financial situation. But such hardship and turbulences made her grow as a solid woman of faith. She also served our second generation with Sunday worship service. She is praying for her sister, Ana Paula, and serving her with God’s word. She faithfully served Carla and Solange with a compassionate shepherd heart though it was very difficult due to their serious problems. We are praying for establishing her house church according to God’s will and plan.

God is raising Maria, another student from Law School. Missionary Rebeca is serving her for the last two and half years with Bible study. Through Bible study and prayer support she could overcome her inner fear and doubts. Now we pray that she may make a decision of faith to live as a disciple of Jesus and prayer mother for young Portuguese students.

Brother Nuno is studying the Bible with Missionary Grace for the last several years. He is studying in Faculty of Art at Lisbon University. He aspired to be an artist.  Due to his inner weakness, however, he could not do anything and despaired. But we believe that God has great hope in him and wants to use him preciously. He is the presider of our Sunday Worship Service. Please pray for him so that he may grow in faith and the Holy Spirit may renew his inner person.

Third, Bible Academies. In 2012 we held our Spring Bible Academy on March 30 and April 1with the title “Jesus, the resurrection and the life” (John 11:24).  We also held a Summer Bible Academy on June 23-24 with the title “Good Soldier of Jesus”.  We wanted to learn the fighting spirit and be good soldiers of Jesus Christ overcoming gloomy situations around us by faith. For the first time we could organize three Bible academies in one year. Shepherd Sarah, Maria, and Nuno along with our second gens took a lot of initiative and served these Bible schools with music and dramas. 

On Dec. 16 we held our Christmas worship service with the title “A Savior has been born”. Fifteen people attended the worship service which was the largest participation so far. I thank and praise God for using us preciously in spite of our weakness and unfaithfulness.

Shepherdess Sara, Maria, Nuno, Eun Hye, Ji Hye, Debora, and Lidia prepared a drama and served the Baby Jesus with all their hearts and souls. Shepherdess Ji Hyun from Yonhee UBF, Brother Arnildo, his wife Naide, Ana Paula and Lea attended the worship service. God blessed all of us with heavenly joy and peace in our hearts

By God’s grace, Shepherdess Sara and I participated in Indian Autumn Bible Conference and learned the work of God in India. Shepherdess Sara was a source of encouragement for all the students and co-workers in India. Missionary Joseph Ahn, Missionary Maria Ahn, Dr. Joseph and Missionary Theresa along with their children visited us in April and encouraged us greatly. Missionary Isaac Kim from LA UBF visited us while returning from the African Summer Bible Conference. We were really blessed by hosting such servant of God and learned from them. I'm sure God will bless our ministry in response to their prayers.

Fourth, God also blessed our early morning prayer this year. We came to the center for early Morning Prayer meetings on every Tuesday and Thursday. Missionary John, Missionary Grace, Missionary Rebeca, Sara, and myself took turns and shared our daily bread. Shepherdess Sara came to early morning prayer meeting taking public transport since her house is not so near our center. We all deny ourselves and come to the center and pray. God blessed our prayers and built a vessel of prayer among us.

Fifth, Second Generation ministry. God blessed our second generation members. Eun Hye, Ji Hye, Debora, and Lidia learned the word of God and grew in faith. Shepherdess Sara served them with God´s word. They are growing in their innocent faith and we pray that it may continue. Moreover, they began to participate in our ministry actively by serving with their talents. Slowly and steadily there are realizing that they belong to God thus they need to keep their identity. In addition to their spiritual struggle, all of them did well in their studies and  are considered good students. May God bless them to grow continually while maintaining their faith.

Sixth, personal struggle. Personally 2012 was a challenging time. Unparalleled economic crisis made life very stressful at work. So I took my key verse from Mark 11:22,23 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” I thank God for helping me to have faith amidst all turbulence  throughout the year. God’s word gave me strength and orientation. Even in tough time God gave me peace in my heart and clear orientation in my mind. I was greatly encouraged by Abraham and Joseph in Genesis. God blessed me to receive Portuguese citizenship this year. In spite of a lack of time, I could visit campus and meet some students at lunch time. However, I could not serve one to one Bible study. I did not give my whole heart to serve God. I must repent for my divided heart. I pray that in 2013 I may serve my Lord with my whole heart. May God help me serve one student regularly with God’s word personally.

Seventh, direction for 2013. Portugal is undergoing a severe crisis, not only economically and socially and also spiritually. Young people are wandering with an acute sense of insecurity. They don’t know what future lies ahead for them. They are seeking answers but continue to have more doubts in their hearts and minds. In this situation, I believe God will open their hearts to seek God and the true meaning of life. Therefore, we need to be ready to “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (1Timohty 4:2) This will be our direction for 2013. I pray that I, along with all our co-workers, may serve the young students with God’s word, with compassion and care, and help them to grow as strong disciples of Jesus Christ for this generation.

My prayer topics for 2013 are:

• Raise 12 disciples;
• Serve 21 one to one Bible study teams per week;
• Sara, Maria and Nuno may grow as Jesus disciples;
• God may establish Shep. Sara’s house church;
• Heart moving message from Luke’s gospel;
• Portugal may be a royal priesthood and a holy nation.

By Matéus Singh