Odali and Kathy Barros have served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil for many years. In addition to leading their newest church, they also run “Alpha Omega Family Development,” which provides a home and stability for needy people, many of whom are recovering drug addicts, etc.

Dear brothers and sisters,

We begin this New Year with a heart full of gratitude and praise!  We hope the same for all of you that have so generously given, so that the word of God can be taken around the world.

For many years my father Alcides when asked if he was saved would always answer saying,  “Yes, God is in my heart.”  We were not convinced that he had made a profession of faith, but who are we to question what he would say?  So for many years we have been praying, that if he had not made that decision, that God would touch his heart and help him understand that he needed to receive Jesus as his only Savior.  Well, this week, my other brother who is a pastor had the privilege to preach to him in a service and when the invitation came, my father lifted his hand and said, “I want to accept Jesus as my Savior.”  My father is 92 years old and has cancer, and because of his age will not be doing surgery.  But now we know he well live forever with us!  I have a brother who has never made any decision, so I ask that you please pray that he too will understand his need for the Savior.  His name is Edson.

Odali preparing food.

The church here has just been a real blessing. We have had other professions of faith and others that were saved but from other churches that have asked for baptism.  Also, we have had several new visitors.  The adults that have been coming keep bringing other family members.  It is so exciting to see each of them learn more about God and seeing them want to serve.  We have been having fellowship every Friday or Saturday night.  It has been great for the new people to get to know the others in the church.  On Sunday morning we have a big Sunday school.  We do have adults, but we use them to help with the kids.  Each week we fix something for the kids to eat.  Seeing more and more people getting involved is a blessing.  Our night service is directed for the adults.  We had a young lady that came by the home the other day and said she wanted to know what we were doing here at the home and the church.  She said that she was going to her church but she wanted to serve more and that her church did not get involved in the community. She has started coming to our church. Praise God for people who want to serve!  God has brought new people that have such servant’s hearts.  Their desire to help in any thing is overwhelming!

We enjoyed wonderful fellowship on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.  Every one that wasn’t going to be with family came and spent the evening here together.

Celebrating Christmas!

We also had a fun time with several of the kids that had lived here when we still had kids in the home.  It was really great to see that they were doing great and also how much they had changed.  Everyone had fun reminiscing about the past.  And, well, as they always did, ate a lot!

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Odali & Kathy Barros
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
Blog
Caixa Postal 182
17400-000 Garca, SP
Brasil, S.A.

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