We are back!! (By Craig Weyandt)

It is Saturday afternoon and I am finally able to stop and take some time to reflect on these past few months and bring you up to date on current prayer requests and praises for all that God has done and is doing in Rio through his Church in this new year.

Carnival Rio is known as the most famous party in the world.  This year 5.5 million people paraded in the streets throughout the city in large groups called blocos, one million being visitors from other parts of Brazil and the world.  

This year I was one of those 5.5 million.   Alessandra, my colleagues and I joined Pastor Fabio and about 150 Jesus followers from the Caju Life church in our own Carnival Bloco, dancing in the streets of Downtown (Centro) Rio

de Janeiro.  Now, you might ask, “Isn´t Carnival a very worldly and dark event?”  And the answer is, “Absolutely”.  So the real question is, “What was the church doing in a dark place like that?”  The answer, “Shining!”  While almost every church in Rio de Janeiro leaves town taking advantage of a four day weekend to withdraw and retreat Caju Life Church advanced the kingdom by going to dark dungeons and setting captives free.  http://youtu.be/b2y_absrmeU

The young commander of this rescue mission called his followers together and said, “Tonight we are not going out to confront the wicked but to Rejoice in the Lord.  We will show the world that our joy is purer and greater than anything the flesh can offer.

 Each day started at 2:oopm with prayer, worship, and the Word.  Generally this time of intersession and consecration lasted five hours and then…with a great victory cry more than 100 well prepared Freedom Fighters descended into the streets, boarded city busses, ran down dark alleys and pushed themselves through crowded sidewalks in order to jump, chant, sing, and dance in the name of Jesus!   As people were drawn in by their grace, joy and love they were included in the Purê (the big Mash).  They were hugged, prayed for and celebrated.   There was no contest between what Caju churched offered and what the world had to offer.  Names and phone numbers were taken, follow up was done and people are in the church today following Jesus because of the courage of this church to take the Gospel to the dark places. 

Alê and I were able to join in prayer on Saturday and participate all day Monday late into the evening. 

The World Comes to Rio!  WE have an opportunity to Host the Nations several times over the next four years including MegaEVENTS like the WORLD CUP and OLYMPICS!

Please look at this video ended with the Life Church of Caju chanting COME WITH US! COME WITH US!

We, the REACHGLOBAL Rio team would like to invite you and your church to COME WITH US and participate in the HARVEST of the NATIONs.  Imagine people coming from every continent bringing GRACE and JOY to the peoples of the World at these events.  Would you begin to pray about how you might be involved in our Purê.