Lttn Sugar loaf
January 2007
Overview of the GAP
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Dear Philip,
Family

Wow, here we are coming into 2007. In August we will complete our seventh year of ministry in Brazil. I am told by theologians that seven is the number of God, the number of completion, the number of rest, the number which represents living off last year's fruit, however, as I look, I see so much still to do. In fact, I feel I have a greater understanding now of how much there is actually that must be accomplished. When Renee and I first came to Rio, we came with a local church in our heart. This is still our passion, which we fervently pastor and lead, but over the years the Lord has placed on our hearts a vision for Brazil. This is a country with huge inequalities. Only 2% of the population own 98% of the wealth and seem to rule with an iron fist. At the same time, the church is not much different. We have great revivals in the large cities and churches are growing astronomically, however, in the interior there are hundreds and thousands of cities with populations of between 8,000 and 25,000 with no life- giving, city-reaching church. This is spiritual inequality. Renee and I have decided to give the rest of our lives to this need, reaching the unreached and neglected areas of Brazil. Please keep us in your prayers as we train leaders, evangelize cities and plant churches in the neglected areas of Brazil.

Urbana 06
As I stated earlier, Renee and I are giving our life to train leaders to reach Brazil. In this spirit, Renee spent the last five days of 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri at the largest youth missions convention in the USA. Over 22,000 youth were present and Renee had an opportunity to meet with many of them and introduce them to The GAP.
City GAP
As you know, The Global Apprenticeship Program is the program in which we train Brazilians and Americans side by side. We have already trained many Brazilians representing almost ½ of the states in Brazil in a full-time one-semester program. We believe that as we create a cross cultural environment in the GAP, there will be huge benefit to all. Many theologians believe that perhaps Paul and Barnabas may have known each other previous to Saul’s conversion. This is why Barnabas was so open to ministering to Paul and introducing him to the apostles. The theologians argue that it is possible and even probable that Barnabas and Saul studied together under Gamaliel. Think about this, Paul from Tarsus and Barnabas from Cypress, studying together in Jerusalem. Two cross cultural youth, formed relationships, studied in a third culture and impacted the world. I like to think that this is what happened in my life when I traveled to the USA to study in 1988. I was a Brazilian, but studied with many Americans who are now in ministry. The relationships I formed during those formative years of my life are still impacting the world.

That is exactly the atmosphere we desire to create at the GAP, cross cultural students, studying and ministering together. The GAP is based on the apprenticeship philosophy. In the mornings we have over 150 hours of college level classes, and in the afternoons the students implement what they learned through a series of 14 team projects. Each project has its own goals and objectives, but put together, all projects build toward the semester goal for the students to plant an inner city church. Please assist us in 2007 by spreading the word about the GAP. We believe this program is the best apprenticeship/internship program for students who are interested in missions, since it is conducted entirely on the mission field and because we are currently planting dozens of churches each year. At the end of the semester the students will themselves plant a church. Please click on the link below to see our brand new GAP web page.
Renee
As Philip mentioned, I spent the last days of 2006 at Urbana ’06 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was an awesome sight seeing close to 22,000 students excited about God and excited about making a difference especially in missions. It was great for us also as we launched our fledgling ministry, The GAP, amidst some of the mighty organizations involved in missions. I felt very small but very courageous inside, knowing that God has given us a unique calling to Brazil.

After the conference, I was able to visit my family in Louisiana and bring in the new year. My mother’s birthday is in January and all of her children were together to celebrate her 70th birthday.

Upon my return I found my children all alive and well, enthusiastically participating in our church-wide fast. Each of them decided a fast individually and have devoted themselves to reading their bibles not once a day but twice. Our church has experienced a great move of God and our kids are excited to be a part of it.

I’d like to wish each of you, God’s richest blessings this coming year. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Friends, thank you for your very generous support in the form of finances, prayer and friendship over the last year. I am so grateful for friends like you. Please continue to keep us in prayer as we expand our ministry significantly in the area of training. We are believing God to be able to purchase our GAP campus that we currently rent. The total cost for this project is $250,000.

Philippians 3:16 cautions us to live up to what we have already attained. Please pray for us that all our advancement over these past seven years will continue to produce fruit even as we advance into new areas.

If you know of others who would like to receive this email please click on the "Sign Up" button at the beginning of the email and add their names and emails. This will greatly help our ministry. Additionally if you feel that this email is sufficient information for you and you no longer need the paper email please send an email to jessica@lighttothenations.org and ask her to remove you from the paper newsletter list.

Once again, Renee and I are so thankful for all of you and we truly count you as our friends.
Philip Murdoch
Light to the Nations

phone: 011 55 21 8148-9085