Tom and Linda Gilmer: September 2016 Prayer Letter

Dear Friends of Zion:

On August 30, Linda and I reached the half century mark of ministry in Brazil! Many of you have supported our work since the beginning. Thank you so much! And thanks to all who have participated with prayers and offerings for any length of time. You have made a difference, with God’s blessing!

OUR 50 YEARS OF MINISTRY IN BRAZIL was celebrated in August with a three-day conference, planned and paid for by our first church, Templo Batista de Indianópolis (TBI). Friday night, the 26^th, emphasized our Jewish Ministry; Saturday, the 27^th, our Bible Ministry (including an evening service plus an all-day 9 AM – 5 PM Bibliology Seminar led by our son Harold Ralph, the Executive Secretary of Trinitarian Bible Society of Brazil). Sunday services on the 28^th emphasized our church planting ministry of 7 churches directly related to our first church and 12 others by those who have gone out as pastors or missionaries from TBI. ALL FOUR OF OUR CHILDREN WERE WITH US IN BRAZIL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS! Only Ruthie’s husband Cliff Hammond and her eight children could not come. The highlight came during the Sunday evening reception when a Jew called on the Lord and rejoiced to receive full assurance of salvation. His mother, an 87-year-old Hebrew Christian Holocaust survivor, had prayed for his salvation for many years. Her face glowed with joy!

Dr. Daniel Fried, President of Hope for Israel, asked for our help in importing 21,000 Chick tracts to Brazil, entitled “AME O POVO JUDEU” (English: “Love the Jews,”) The Brazilian branch of Trinitarian Bible Society was able to help. The tract is not specifically for evangelism but for teaching Christians to love the Jew. Even so, the plan of salvation is clear. Pastors and laymen from many churches who attended the Celebration Conference took over 4,000 of the tracts to give to Christians and Jews.

My brother, James Edwin Gilmer, went to be with the Lord on August 3. I arrived in his hospital room just three hours before he passed away. His room was filled with relatives and friends, more like a going-away party than a deathbed scene. Ten minutes before he departed, he took off his oxygen mask and preached a 5-minute sermon exhorting salvation and right living. His voice was loud and clear, even though it had been weak for years. One young man who called him “Papa James” rededicated his life and another confirmed he had accepted Christ but had not been willing to make it public with baptism. Because of the upcoming conference in Brazil, I was only able to give attention to my grieving family in the USA and fly back to the field on August 12.

May the Lord richly bless you.

Yours for the Messiah,
Tom and Linda Gilmer

PRAISE:

Professions of faith, total number for July, August, and September: 1 Jew, 43 Gentiles.
Guacuri Church update: See Harold Ralph’s enclosed prayer letter.
Successful 50-year Ministry Celebration Conference at TBI in August (see family picture in Harold Ralph’s letter).
Cajuru Church: New auditorium underway
Brazilian president impeached; things looking up for Brazil.

PRAYER: