Song of the City - Spring Creek Church...Song of the City Issue No.69 Ken & Renny Snare, São Paulo,...
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Song of the City Issue No.69 Ken & Renny Snare, São Paulo, Brazil with ABWE November, 2016 Still in the saddle We were on furlough for the first year that we were back in the US. As of July 1, 2016 we are officially retired ABWE missionaries. Our sending church, the Riley Creek Baptist Church of Bluffton, OH, held a lovely retirement recognition service for us. All of our daughters participated and many people from our past were present. We certainly appreciated the effort of the missions committee in inviting so many and planning the event. The gifts that many of you sent were such a blessing. They all went to savings to furnish our future home. Since we last wrote we have finished visiting or contacting all of our supporting churches. It was a bittersweet experience, one that often brought us to tears. Not only were we recalling our ministry and departure from Brazil, but also thanking churches (people) who have been a faithful part of our lives approximately 35 years. These last two years have been the most emotional of our lives. However, there is a silver lining: Renny is now free to use our curios to decorate! No more display tables! During the time since we last wrote we have continued to clear out Ken’s dad’s house, Renny tutored Brazilian students in the public school five mornings a week first semester, and now this semester, one morning a week. We participated in two DVBSs at two supporting churches and we each taught a Sunday School class, Ken combined adult classes and Renny youth, during the summer. Renny is serving as vice president of the OWM (Ohio Women for Missions). Much like the state ladies association in São Paulo, these ladies have an annual project and a retreat as well as Spring and Fall meetings. One of Renny’s concerns was that after having been so involved in São Paulo, she would return to the US as an older, unknown woman with few opportunities to serve. The Lord has been so gracious and has opened up doors of service for her. In fact, we have both seen again that if you are interested in working, there will always be jobs to do! New Song Baptist Church Our beloved church in São Paulo continues faithful. Their pastor resigned a few months again and that was quite a set back. However, they have grown through this experience. One of the men for whom you have been praying, Jurandir, came to know the Lord through the preaching and challenge of one of the deacons. There are a few new families. They had a very well attended DVBS (so thankful for our long time friend and colleague Sharon Payne). Recently we received the wonderful news that a retired pastor is serving as interim pastor. We have great respect for him. He is a solid Bible expositor, has taught at the seminary, and has many years of experience as a local church pastor. We are thrilled that he is there. We also recently received a $1,000.000 gift toward the Phase I building project of the NSBC. This means that we lack only $21,631.50 to reach our goal to help New Song with the first phase of its building project. The plans are currently being evaluated in the city government and we hope to have the money by the time they are approved.
Transcript of Song of the City - Spring Creek Church...Song of the City Issue No.69 Ken & Renny Snare, São Paulo,...
So n g o f th e City
Issue No.69 Ken & Renny Snare, São Paulo, Brazil with ABWE November, 2016
Still in the saddle
We were on furlough for the firstyear that we were back in the US. As of July 1, 2016 we are officiallyretired ABWE missionaries. Oursending church, the Riley CreekBaptist Church of Bluffton, OH, held a lovely retirement recognitionservice for us. All of our daughtersparticipated and many people fromour past were present. We certainlyappreciated the effort of themissions committee in inviting somany and planning the event. Thegifts that many of you sent weresuch a blessing. They all went tosavings to furnish our future home.
Since we last wrote we have finishedvisiting or contacting all of oursupporting churches. It was abittersweet experience, one thatoften brought us to tears. Not onlywere we recalling our ministry anddeparture from Brazil, but alsothanking churches (people) whohave been a faithful part of our livesapproximately 35 years. These lasttwo years have been the mostemotional of our lives. However,there is a silver lining: Renny isnow free to use our curios todecorate! No more display tables!
During the time since we last wrotewe have continued to clear outKen’s dad’s house, Renny tutoredBrazilian students in the publicschool five mornings a week firstsemester, and now this semester,one morning a week. Weparticipated in two DVBSs at twosupporting churches and we eachtaught a Sunday School class, Kencombined adult classes and Rennyyouth, during the summer.
Renny is serving as vice presidentof the OWM (Ohio Women forMissions). Much like the stateladies association in São Paulo,these ladies have an annual projectand a retreat as well as Spring andFall meetings. One of Renny’sconcerns was that after having beenso involved in São Paulo, shewould return to the US as an older,unknown woman with fewopportunities to serve. The Lordhas been so gracious and hasopened up doors of service for her. In fact, we have both seen againthat if you are interested inworking, there will always be jobsto do!
New Song Baptist Church
Our beloved church in São Paulocontinues faithful. Their pastorresigned a few months again andthat was quite a set back. However,they have grown through thisexperience. One of the men forwhom you have been praying,Jurandir, came to know the Lordthrough the preaching and challengeof one of the deacons. There are afew new families. They had a verywell attended DVBS (so thankfulfor our long time friend andcolleague Sharon Payne). Recentlywe received the wonderful newsthat a retired pastor is serving asinterim pastor. We have greatrespect for him. He is a solid Bibleexpositor, has taught at theseminary, and has many years ofexperience as a local church pastor. We are thrilled that he is there.
We also recently received a$1,000.000 gift toward the Phase Ibuilding project of the NSBC. Thismeans that we lack only $21,631.50to reach our goal to help New Songwith the first phase of its buildingproject. The plans are currentlybeing evaluated in the citygovernment and we hope to havethe money by the time they areapproved.
Looking ahead
Our house in Brazil is still on themarket and the market is dead. Please pray for our brethren inBrazil. They impeached theirpresident the week after theOlympics closed, and the country isin turmoil politically andeconomically. We don’t foresee ourhouse selling any time soon. Therefore, we have taken the nextprayerful, logical step. With thehelp of Renny’s sister, who will beliving with us, and financing fromthe bank, we are buying a house.
We have chosen a house 20minutes from two of our daughters(and all of our grandchildren!). Itis also within driving distance of aGARB church that looks to be agood fit for us. We have put downa deposit and are pre approved forthe loan. Renny’s sister’s house isin a very marketable area in Dallaswhere houses usually sell within 30days. When it sells, we can allmove forward.
We are leaving our schedule openduring November and December inthe hopes that we will be moving. However, after the New Year wewould be available for pulpitsupply, singing at banquets etc, asneeded. We have said that weprefer the word “retreaded” to theterm “retired”. Our contactinformation remains the same: [email protected] (419) 293-5667.
PRAYER REQUESTS
# The New Song church during this period of many adjustments and search for a pastor# The approval of the building plans for the New Song church# For the construction funds to come in for the New Song Baptist Church construction# The sale of and protection for our house in São Paulo# That the Lord would lead us to the ministry opportunities He has for us here# Details/timing for our move
