2024 is off to a running start and we are so excited to report all that the Lord is doing here in Pinda!
Without a doubt, one of the greatest blessings was seeing Anderson and Ana trust Christ a few weeks ago. Jonata has been giving them a Bible study for about 2 months now. The first lesson on salvation normally it takes about 4-5 weeks to complete, but they’ve been there since the beginning. They’ve been faithful to church, but they were not saved. Two weeks ago we had our week of prayer here at the church. We’ve been burdened for them since they started coming, but we spent extra time in pointed prayer for them. That VERY evening they finally understood the Gospel and trusted Christ. What a joy it is to know that God hears and answers prayer. Though we’d been praying for them for months, finally their eyes were opened. We’re excited as they will follow the Lord in believers’ baptism on the last Sunday in February.
We had a great kickoff to the new year as well in our soulwinning and visiting. We’ve had several new families come since the start of the year. We’ve had several new families that have come as a result of personal invitations from the church as well as John and Romans they’ve received. Please pray for the continued development and involvement of our folks in soulwinning and discipling. I’ve been greatly burdened these days for our men. We have many moderately faithful men, but their involvement could use some encouragement. Please pray for the Lord to work in their hearts while we work with them in taking leadership in the local church. We are going to be having a men’s fellowship on Saturday, March 2. Missionary Ed Johnson will be preaching at this. Pray for souls to be saved and our men to be charged, strengthened, and encouraged.
I am so excited for Bro. Jonata and his wife Karlene. Jonata was called into full-time ministry, completed Bible school in 2022, and now will be ordained into the Gospel ministry on Saturday, February 24. While I certainly have not had a direct hand in his salvation, discipleship, and growth, what a joy to see a young family desiring and pursuing the will of God for their lives! Bro. Jonata will be taking care of the church while we are on furlough.
Please be in prayer for our furlough. This will be our first full furlough since arriving in February 2020. The kids will be studying at our home church’s Christian school and I will be reporting to supporting churches. There are many different aspects to this furlough for which we need wisdom. Pray for scheduling meetings; settling housing and transportation; safety and health in traveling to and in the US; effective ministry in the US and the church here while we’re gone; adjustment to life, weather, and school in the US for the kids.
If you would be interested in having us come to report please reach out at 847-361-4579 or keith@putnamstobrazil.com. We will attempt to be as agile as possible and would like to facilitate this with both conventional meetings (Sundays, midweeks, and conferences) as well as unconventional (virtual, dinner, coffee, etc.) We’ll schedule meetings on a first-come-first-serve basis and attempt to visit as many of our churches as possible. God’s already been so good to us in meeting our needs. We see daily His care through your love, prayer, and sacrifice. We love you all and appreciate your faithfulness to Christ!
Keith, Jamie, Lainey, Clayton, and Silas Putnam
Philippians 2:16