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From the sweltering December heat in north-east Brazil EAB's team of directors, pastors and project workers send you warmest Christmas greetings thanking one and all for their support and prayers throughout another year.
Church activities are intense at this time with the Patos Bible College Graduation on the 19th, and special Christmas and New Years services on the 24th and 31st, on top of the regular services. People seem to be more aware of the importance of God, as one year comes to an end and another begins, and we endeavour to lead as many to Christ (the centre of Christmas) at this time.
Latest photo: Baptism in Itaporanga last week.
Last week, Patos Bible College Workshop on HIV/AIDS was superb. We gathered the whole college at the Independent Presbyterian church, which is close to the college, and what an excellent workshop we had! It was led by EAB/ACEV's social worker and HIV/AIDS project leader, Marah Danielle, together with her team composed of Lila, Jucineide and Márcia.
Straight after the workshop a 1st Baptist leader came and asked if the workshop could be done with their youth at his church? Of course our answer was yes, or rather, YES! It is wonderful to see this project, which is not a full 10 months old, taking off and making a profound impact in the interior of our State of Paraíba already. It is changing the image of the Evangelical church before the authorities who when they first heard of our project said, "Oh no! Not evangelicals and HIV!” The evangelicals are the group that has most messed up our HIV programme by telling people not to take the medicine but to be healed only through prayer.
Latest photo: HIV/AIDS team