CHRIST FOR THE AMAZON VALLEY

MR. AND MRS. DAVID M. BAYLE5S CAIXA POSTAL 926 BEIEM, PARA. BRAZIL
SPONSOR
Ridgecrest Christion Church
5300 Eastern Avenue S. E.
Albuquerque, N. M. 87108
March Newsletter, 1977
Dear Christian Friends:
Lots of good news! The men we teach have begun a new charch. The obedience-
oriented practical teaching is paying off I On February 20 the new church met
for bhe first time, with 10 members. Three married men were converted first.
Besides these, there are two wives, a couple frcan the mother church, a young
evangelist, and his mother and brother. Two others are to be baptized soon,
I teach the leader of the mother church, which we attend. He teaches several
others in the church, and gives orientation to the men in the new church. He
will teach them to evangelize, by going with them, then observing them as they
teach, until they can go alone. It will be their church. They will be the
leaders; he will help them. They meet Sunday mornings for the Lord's Supper
and singing, and Wednesday evenings for singing and prayer.
The church we attend had 23% growth last year. There have been several con
versions this year, iifter several left to go to the new church, there are
about 50 members. It looks favorable for good growth this year.
The church, DaJe tiason helped start this way last August has been growing. He
is getting them, ready to go alone when he leaves this summer for a year. Some
one will have to teach one or two leaders each week, Ifcrman Maddux won the
man lie was teaching, and another in another part of the city. He's teaching
them, and others through them, and hopes to see new churches begin in Belem
this year,
f One,of my main jobs is preparation of material for teacliing these new leaders,
!; Ve now have 2h practical studies prepared, all oriented toward obedience, with
\ practical assignments in carrying out Christ's commands. The goal is raising
'^up more new churches and building up existing ones.
We've just added a screened-in back porch to our house. Sure is going to be
nice, We can sit outside without getting bit by mosquitos.
John is doing great in a reading contest in the 1st grade. He's in 3rd place
right now. He's pretty excited, Joanne's in a physical fitness program at
school. The kids have a fine Christian school, taught in English, with hj.gh
academic standards. We are very fortunate to have this school,
Beverly is baying a used sewing machine, to teach a neighbor lady to sew and
help her make some money.
We thank God for showering so many blessing on us. It is a thrill to be work
ing here, iind it is great to have so many physical blessings. We never lack
anj-thing. four faithful regular support makes it possible.
Gasoline is going up 59^ ^ gallon in a few days, to $2.10, The government is
trying to keep consumption down this way. Inflation was 50% last year. Sala
ries are going up 30% in I-fey, Alas...
In DecCTiber some of our mail
was taken from mail box in
Albuquerque. If you did not
receive an acknowledgement,
please write our Forwarding Agent.
He plans to acknowledge every gift.
fours in Christ,
RWARDINC AGENT
Fred Bey lest
'5300 Eastern Avenue S. E>
Ibuquerque. N. M, 87106
CHRIST FOR THE AMAZON VALLEY
MR. AND MRS. DAVID M. BAYLESS CAIXA POSTAL 926
SPONSOR
Ridg*cr*>t Christion Church
5300 Egstarn Avsnuo S. E.
Albuqurqu, N. M. 8710B
AUGUST 1977 NEWS LETTER
BELEM, PARA. BRAZIL
FORWARDING AGENT
J Frsd BayUcs
5300 Eostgrn Avnuo S. E.
Albuqusrqua, N. M. 87108
Dear Christian Friends:
The men of the Agulha church have begun another church - it began the last of
May, between our town and Belem. Obedience-oriented practical teaching continues
to pay off. There are two couples and two children so far in this new church.
Two months ago I began teaching a man in the church we left ten years ago. I
showed him how to evangelize and teach others to do it. Within 6 weeks he and a
man he taught had ten converts baptized and three backsliders restored.
The first church the men started in our town, in February, did not grow fast
and nearly died. Two men fell away. Now the men have gotten one back and are work
ing on the other, who had to choose between his wife and Christ.
All of this is done by the men (Brazilians). My part is to enable them. This
way there is more growth. The Agulha church has had 3^ growth the past two years.
It could be this or more in the other church, since men are learning to evangelize.
Between the two there are now ten men doing evangelism.
I teach four men, prepare materials to help them evangelize and teach others,
and also evangelize when I have opportunity. Lately I've been teaching two families
near us. The receptive class is mainly the poor people, however. Because of this
difference between us and most people here and differences in customs, education,
and accent we have foimd that in most cases our presence is not helpful, but
detrimental, to evangelism. Working through men, as the apostle Paul did, is pro
ducing better results than doing it all ourselves.
In th^^Pfint Shopjwe now have 35 small, simple teaching booklets ready, for
teaching howi^^^^ewsmg^ organize the church, deal with all kinds of problems,
teach others, and other necessities. These studies are oriented toward obedience
to Christ's commands.
Gas did not go up, as we were told it would; the government backed down. It is
now SI.57 a gallon. Inflation was 44^ last year. In the process the dollar is worth
6;b less (better exchange for the U. S. dollar). Most things cost twice the U. S.
price, and many things much more, except food. A S12 electric fan, for example, is S66,
John begins the 2nd grade this month, and Joanne the 7th. Recently we had a
five-day vacation in a camper at the Atlantic Ocean - cramped!! Then we took a week
in Goias, 500 miles south of here, visiting the Moreland families, missionaries. We
visited a spectacular waterfall, as well as these friends.
We are making a monthly detailed report on progress and growth in the new churches
here, including others besides those I've reported on here. If you are interested in
receiving it, write us in Brazil. Please write anyway! Mark plainly "Air Mail" and
310 postage for each ounce. You write to us and we will write to you!
Yours in Christ,
im
PRESENTING
David & Beveriy Bayless, Missionaries
Christ For The Amazon Valley
Caixa Postal 926 66,000 Belem, Para, Brazil
(Write to them at this address Air Mail only)
David
^ m
Beverly Joanne (12)
These Missionaries are Sponsored by
RIDGECREST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
5300 Eastern Avenue S. E.
ALBUQUERQUE, NEWMEXICO, 87108
Forwarding Agent
J FRED BAYLESS
5300 Eastern Avenue, S. E.
Albuquerque, N. M., 87108
John (6)
The Work and Workers
David and Beverly Bayless went to Brazil in 1959 to join
a group effort of the Christian Churches begun in 1952 by
William Loft. Their work is in Belem, capital of the state of
Para, city of 800,000 people, on the south bank of the Amazon
River, 100 miles south of the equator.
Their work is threefold, involving evangelism, leadership
training, and printing of teaching materials. They are personally
involved in personal evangelism, and train men and women to
evangelize, by example and tiurough classes. David is in charge
of a print shop which exists mainly for producing materials for
teaching leaders to evangelize, teach others, and lead the
churches.
Leadership training consists of showing men how to evangel
ize, by personal example, and by giving them classes to teach
the next step required, at whatever stage any man has reached,
in teaching and leading.
Material is prepared to teach profound truths of God's
Word on a very simple level for men of limited education.
They grasp any concept if it is presented on a level they can
understand.
In weekly classes men relate what they have done and
discuss and plan the next step required. They give a brief
talk about the study they have done during the week, and deal
with any problems which have arisen. They get the proposed
solution in class, so they can go back out and apply it during
the week.
The basic principles followed are obedience and imitation,
motivated by love (I Cor. 11:1). All teaching is obedience-
oriented. No one studies for study's sake. It is for the purpose
of taking the next step in obedience to commands of Christ,
to build the church, train others to evangelize, and raise up
new churches.
The Bayless family consists of David and Beverly, with their
children Joanne (12), and John (6). Support for their work comes
from a number of churches, classes, women's groups, and
individuals. They greatly appreciate the interest, prayers, and
support of these Christian friends, without them they could not
continue in God's work in Brazil.
PRESENTING
David & Beveriy Bayless, Missionaries
Christ For The Amazon Valley
Caixa Postal 926 66,000 Belem, Para, Brazil
(Write to them at this address Air Mail only)
Joanne (13) David John (7)
These Missionaries are Sponsored by
RIDGECREST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
5300 Eastern Avenue S. E.
ALBUQUERQUE, NEWMEXICO, 87108
Forwarding Agent
J FRED BAYLESS
5300 Eastern Avenue, S. E.
Albuquerque, N. M., 87108
Beverly
1/^
THE WORK AND THE WORKERS .^2^,7
David and Beverly Bayless have been working in Belem, the
principal city of the Amazon Valley, In north Brazil, since 1959.
The population of the area is near one million.
Their work is evangelism, new church planting, training of
Brazilian leaders in the churches, and preparation of teaching
materials for these leaders. These materials are used in many
parts of Brazil.
Leadership training and new church planting consist of
showing faithful and obedient men how to evangelize in their
home churches and in new areas where they have contacts.
This includes weekly orientation in making plans, as well as
practical Bible teaching.
This type of evangelism and teaching is called obedience-
oriented education. The object of all teaching is to enable the
faithful men to take the next step in obedience to Christ's
commands. This is resulting in greater growth in most of the
churches, and the establishment of new churches. Brazilian
men are doing this, with orientation from the missionaries.
Studies on a very simple level are prepared in the print shop
which David directs. These include how to tell about Christ,
how to teach repentance, how to organize a new church, how
to get other men to doing the same. They teach how to counsel
people with many different types of problems, how to deal
with error in the church, how to deal with poverty, how to teach
a new Christian to live the Christian life, how to do the job of
elder, and many other practical aspects of evangelism and new
church planting.
David and Beverly h^ two"chlltiren: iJoanne, 13, and John, 7.
The family owns their own home and plans to stay In Brazil.
They are very happy to receive letters and telephone calls.
Mall letters only by Air, marked plainly "Air Mail", postage 31c
each half-ounce, to "Calxa Postal 926, 66000 Belem, Para,
Brazil.",c^^^hone, you may dial the international operator
direct, an3request to be connected to Brazil 092-227-0220,
any time on Sunday, or after 3 p.m. Central Standard Time,
any other day.
Several churches, classes, and other groups, as well as
Interested individuals support this work. Without this support
and prayer for God's guidance and help, the Baylesses could
not continue In this work for the Lord in Brazil. They express
their thanks to all who help in any way.
November 1977
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