José Carlos Pezini - September 2021 Update
Dear brothers and sisters,
Greetings to all of you in the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus. Once again, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for participating in our ministry here in Brazil. We really appreciate your financial support and your prayers. Just like the apostle Paul's experience with the Philippians, Odete and I have also felt the bonding experience with you as our partners in the Kingdom of God: " And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.
Despite living in a time of pandemic, our ministry must go on. In order to continue, we have been following the required sanitary protocols. Most of our meetings have been done through online services but whenever we find the opportunity to be among others, we gladly do it. In the city where we currently live, we have been going to a Presbyterian church and fellowshipping in person.
The pastoral mentoring ministry is growing. I have been mentoring five different groups of pastors and leaders from their local churches using 2-hour monthly Zoom meetings. Throughout the month, I also hold private meetings upon request with people from those groups and others looking for personal help, support, and ministerial guidance.
We are extremely happy and fulfilled as we observe positive results in their personal lives as well as in the lives of their families. We also see improvements in their ministries.
In June, we held a five-week course online called Ministerial Philosophy. We were blessed to have 99 people enrolled, including pastors and church leaders from various denominations and from different states around the country.
Several educational institutions have sought out the SARA Institute to establish partnerships with, so I have dedicated part of my time to these teachings. For instance, in partnership with the Lutheran Seminary, we have a post-graduate course in Christian Spirituality and another post-graduate course in Pastoral Ministry is being developed. We have also been working with the Independent Presbyterian Church Seminary where we have started the first class of graduate studies in Church Revitalization. I have spent time there teaching courses on the Revitalization of Churches.
On August 21, the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil held a national event for ministers and leaders on Church Revitalization. As a result of the event, people will certainly contact the SARA Institute for help with this important subject.
I have some commitments in local churches, and once a month I preach at the Chinese Christian Church in Curitiba. I have also done ecclesiastical assistance to the pastor and leadership of the Presbyterian Church in Curitiba. In addition to participating regularly in the IPI in Pontal do Paraná, where we live, I have had the opportunity to preach there at the invitation of the senior pastor.
We are thrilled by the wide endorsement of my new book on PRAYER edited by Editora Esperança, another ministry partner here in our country.
I am currently recovering from delicate orthopedic surgery on my right shoulder. For years I had been suffering from pain and was being treated with medication, but the problem worsened to the point where surgery was necessary, which was done on August 9.
In order to have a full recovery, I will be taking it easy. However, the ministry has not stopped. We remain firm in our purpose to serve the leadership of the church in Brazil.
In Christ,
Pezini and Odete
Read more about Pezini’s ministry HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $95,000 for ministry and support funds for Pezini and $5,000 to defray costs of attending SARA retreats for pastors who cannot afford them. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.