Tom and Linda Gilmer : July-August 2025 Prayer Letter

Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Linda Gilmer – Church Planter, Bible Translation in São Paulo, Brazil

July-August 2025
Dear Friends of Zion:
Thank the Lord for your continued prayers and offerings and God’s continued blessings.

The months of June and July were unusual. Within six weeks, there were ten funerals of people of our acquaintance. Several people we dearly loved were promoted to heaven, including Dr. Raymond Barber, pastor emeritus of our sending church, Worth Baptist in Fort Worth, TX on June 25. Five days later our beloved friend and co-worker, Gloria King, former missionary to Spain and secretary of Mt. Abarim Baptist Mission, went to be with the Lord.

On June 19, Ingrid Neuwahl, a Jewish holocaust survivor who trusted Christ over fifty years ago, entered into His presence as well. She was buried in a Jewish cemetery—but by God’s grace, we were given permission to do a Christian funeral and preached the Gospel there! We celebrated her life at Templo Batista de Indianópolis on Sunday, the 29th, and sang her favorite hymn, “Saved by the blood of the crucified One. . . Glory, I’m Saved…!” When asked what convinced her that Jesus was the Messiah, “Isaiah 53!” she would say.

A few weeks later another believing Jewess with some Arab mixture, Maria da Glória Abbud, also passed away. At the funeral site, while awaiting the arrival of other family members and friends, her anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist, Muslim sister and I had several hours to talk. The following Sunday, this same sister came to Templo Batista de Indianópolis, bringing a sizable group of friends to a service in which Maria da Glória was remembered with a Scripture reading and song. The Gospel was presented very clearly. There were no open decisions for salvation, but the Seed of the Word was planted.

Cliff and Ruth Hammond, our son-in-law and daughter, have been in Christian education, but Cliff recently accepted the call to pastor a church in a small town in Pennsylvania. Daniel, their seventh child, was invited to study at an Ivy League University because he is a home-schooled student with two years of college, online, with high grades and honors. He begins his studies as a junior in college on September 2 in Economics. Samuel, their youngest, has improved physically and his condition is no longer considered life-threatening. He is beginning college online.

Praise the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him and make a difference in the lives of others for eternity.

May God continue to bless.
Yours for the Messiah,
Tom and Linda Gilmer

PRAISE:

1. Professions of faith: 21.
2. Both of us are active; medical appointments scheduled for the end of August.
3. Our son-in-law, Cliff Hammond, accepted the call to pastor a church in a small town in Pennsylvania.
4. Samuel, our grandson, is free from life-threatening health issues

PRAYER:

1. Salvation decisions of Jews and Gentiles.
2. Various projects.
3. Release of Jewish hostages.
4. God’s help to finish a short history of Templo Batista de Indianópolis, requested by Pr. Marcos for the celebration of the opening of their new church building.