Tom and Linda Gilmer : February 2021 Prayer Letter

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

Dear Friends of Zion:

Your prayers and offerings produced another successful month of ministry. We are grateful!

We are training men to be able to do seminars or special meetings concerning Bible preservation and the use of our Bible resource materials. Even so, we never seem to have enough speakers for Brazil’s officially proclaimed Bible Day on the second Sunday of December. I spoke that day at the New Life Baptist Church in Taubaté, where one of the BBN Portuguese Radio stations is located. The church was started by Ed Johnson, his father Dan, and David Whitmore. Linda and I were also able to visit other valuable contacts of our Bible ministry in a neighboring city.

We have 41 different titles of Bible tracts and two different Scripture calendars (one called GOLDEN THOUGHTS with a verse for each day and another with color photographs and a verse for each month). The Plan of Salvation is clearly presented through the verses, so that one who is unsaved can be brought under conviction and call on the Lord for salvation. Every year we purchase and give out calendars to our neighbors, sometimes with a bow tied around them, sometimes in an envelope with a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greeting. This year, a new neighbor, who has been married for 25 years and has 9 children, called on the Lord, as well as one of his children. Hallelujah!

Linda’s old watch stopped; so a few days after Christmas, we went shopping. She needs an anti-magnetic watch. No one seemed to have one, which enabled us to give out more Gospel messages as we went from store to store. The last shop we visited had a brand of watch that Linda has used with success! While the watchband was being adjusted, two customers came in. Intending to give a Gospel tract, I reached into my pocket and was surprised when I saw the title: “Love the Jews” by Chick Tracts. I supposed the man to whom I offered the tract was just another Catholic. I said, “This is what we use to convert anti-Semites to love the Jews.” He pointed to his friend and said, “Give him one of these!” I found one more in my briefcase. That man identified himself as Jewish, the son of Holocaust survivors, and showed us his Israeli citizenship ID. Admiring my Star of David lapel pin, he said, “We KNOW you love us!” We were able to give a good witness and are praying for his salvation.

Brother Dan Solomon, with International Board of Jewish Missions, recently wrote: “. . . the last time Brother Gilmer visited with me in Jacksonville, we went to the home of Rebecca, a Jewish lady from Morocco. Rebecca did not get saved that day, but did eventually get saved, praise the LORD. She is in heaven now.” Brother Dan and his wife Paula are faithful, needy, and needed laborers who can be reached at eletters@ibjm.org.

May God richly bless you all.
Yours for the Messiah,
Tom and Linda Gilmer

PRAISE:

1. Professions of faith: 1 Jewess, 6 Gentiles.
2. Soul winning with Scripture calendars.
3. Conference for Day of the Bible..
4. Amazing Bible publication report in spite of the pandemic. See Pr. Harold Ralph’s prayer letter.
5. Zé Lopes recuperating well after heart surgery

PRAYER:

1. Salvation decisions: Jews and Gentiles.
2. Ongoing projects (Bible study helps, media outlets, warehouse for Bibles, exportation of Portuguese Bibles).
3. East Timor Tetum Bible translation project.
4. Full support for Harold Ralph Gilmer.
5. Re-management of Website and Social Media.
6. Linda – cataract surgery to be scheduled.