WHO WE ARE

Children are the future—the Living Stones that build tomorrow's foundation. Living Stones comes alongside local churches or church plants (with training and resources) to help them reach out to the poorest children in their community, with LEND: Love, Education, Nutrition, and Direction. We (currently) work with Glory Sports ministries, Athletes in Action, Massa Humana, and the soup ministry. We are under the umbrella of World Renewal Brazil (www.wribrazil.com ), who works under World Renewal International (www.worldrenewal.org).

UNIQUE

Like Compassion or World Vision, we work with children, families, and communities to help them break the cycle of poverty. The difference is that each program is based out of a local church run by local Brazilians who are sharing Christ and providing the practical and eternal needs for those in poverty. A pastor/leader of the church heads up the Living Stones program, working with different volunteers and helpers such as teachers, cooks, and interested friends. Each leader is to raise their own support so that money donated to Living Stones goes directly to expenses with the children: transportation, food, and supplies.

HISTORY

In 1998, Pastor Assuario (a church planter through World Renewal Brazil) saw the children in the street outside his church, hungry, and with no place to go. So they opened the doors of the church throughout the week, giving food, hope, and educational assistance, and invited them and their families to come to church on the weekend. In 2010, Pastor Flavio started a Living Stones ministry in a rural town, loving the children until their parents began to ask questions about this Jesus. Through Living Stones, a church was also planted.

INDIVIDUALITY

Each Living Stones works within the system that is most efficient for their community: distance ministry (once a month, when there is no local church yet), weekend ministry (can meet once or twice a week), rural or urban ministry (each having their different needs), and sports ministry (working with Glory Sports). But all of the programs have the same focus and goals: to LEND: provide Love, Education, Nutrition, and Direction.

OBJECTIVES

• ·        A growing church plant (if there was no previous church) and community outreach
• ·        Sharing and receiving the love and saving power of Jesus
• ·        Providing a safe place to learn and be educated spiritually, mentally, and physically
• ·        Children and families receiving the nutritional health and hygiene that they need

Training and direction for families to become self-sustainable, breaking the cycle of poverty and making and becoming leaders in the community 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auwa1OI8fE

Gary Wright & S.O.S. Renewal Band at Fulton Creek Evangelical Friends Church, 10950 Fulton Creek Rd., Richwood, OH 43344. Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 10:15 a.m.

August 3rd @ 8 p.m.

Christian Comedy

A fundraiser benefiting CHIP www.CHIPindy.org

Tickets: $20 (www.brownpapertickets.com/event/382425)

Family friendly, general admission seating in the sanctuary.

MONDAY, JULY 15, 2013

Our first day of VBS was a hit!

More than 100 children packed into the Contreras church here in Mexico City to play game, have snacks, sing songs and learn about Jesus and the good news. It was a great day for our team as well. Cameron and Marisa raced on ... well, not sure exactly what they're called ... kind of like overgrown roller skates with handle bars. Morgan shared a testimony with a room full of kids. Debbie held and smooched babies on and off. Jaye and Scott battled the language barrier and helped kids with crafts about Paul's conversion in Acts 9. Matt shared his testimony and interesting details about life in Indiana and the United States. These first few days have uncovered some discoveries about the culture and people of Mexico City. Some reflections include: The people are all very friendly and are very happy to battle through language issues to talk. The children are very respectful. They sit quietly and listen to messages and interact very well with us. Teens are a huge force in helping with VBS and making sure that everything goes off without a hitch. They are focused and driven. They don't need to be told what to do; they just jump in and help where they need to. Some teens -- and even some of the younger children -- are very strong leaders. Pastor Mario and his wife, Betty, have huge hearts for The Lord and are doing everything they can to spread his love and the gospel. Five women squeezed in a kitchen the size of many people's closets and mass-produced spaghetti, hot dogs and oranges -- very impressive. We had a great hourlong debriefing time at the end of the day where we discussed what had happened and what we had seen God do during the day. Karla, Renata and Maria Jose very graciously took us downtown to see the fine arts palace and the downtown square. We visited a cathedral, saw an Aztec temple and had a metro ride. Karla and Matt almost got closed in the metro doors but narrowly escaped! Tomorrow is day 2 of VBS. Please pray that more children will come, that children's hearts would be opened to the gospel, and that our team would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.

            Our group going to Mexico 2013

New Field “Kibera” World Renewal-Africa We have entered a new relationship with Pastor Imbumi and Martha Makuku in Kenya, Africa. Kibera is a neighborhood of the city Nairobi and is the second largest urban slum in Africa. We are thrilled to have Pastor and Martha Makuku. [Shown above]

There are four areas Pastor Makuku and his congregation, Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church are focusing on. Here Pastor Makuku describes Kibera and those ministries:

Feeding Program  [Sponsors Needed]

Read more »

A Note from the Brazil Living Stones Coordinator Half way through the year already! This past semester in six words would be “Growing in ways I never imagined.” God opened doors for two new Living Stones programs—neither one traditional—but both divinely planned. Four more churches are getting ready to begin Living Stones programs (Carpina, Paudalho, Lagoa de Itaenga, and Guadalajara) as soon as the finances are ready: That makes 7 for our 10 Living Stones in 10 towns in 10 years goal! The $10 for Them program has bloomed, and we have celebrated over 50 birthdays so far this year! The International school is getting more involved with Living Stones, helping with our Easter program, and in the fall, our Children’s day program, $5 for 5 campaign, and our Birthday Party for Jesus. It has been exciting to start a Bible study for these children as well, who are mostly from upper-middle class families, and are eager to learn and see what God has for their lives and future. As they serve at Living Stones, they are realizing the needs around them—and how they can make a difference. I am excited to be home for the summer, heading up a 4k Trek for Transportation, with our goal to raise $25,000 to purchase a vehicle for Living Stones: www.wribrazil.com/trek. I would love to meet up with as many people as possible who are interested in hearing about Living Stones--you can reach me at (317) 601-2446. I will be returning to Hong Kong with Supercamp, and celebrating my own 30th birthday the end of August. Please keep my visa difficulties (one again) in your prayers as I hope to return to Brazil August 29th. Thanks, — Rachel Winzeler Trek for Transportation: This Saturday, June 9th, 2012 With three Living Stones Programs, and seven to go, we need a vehicle to keep up! Please help us raise $25,000 for a Kombi (vw van) so that we can reach rural Northeast Brazil where the needs are the greatest. This Saturday, June 9th, at 10:00am at Southeastway Park, we are going to join in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Brazil by walking/running 4 kilometers--the distance the Living Stones workers walk every day to Cajueiro Claro. If you cannot make it yourself, please support those who are running/walking. You can donate anytime at www.wribrazil.com/trek. There will be a prize for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place runners, and participation awards for all who bravely trek. The path is freshly paved if you would like to bring bikes, rollerblades, or strollers. Bring the whole family! There is a lovely playground, and an option to rest after 2 kilometers for smaller legs. Join us and hear about all the new things God has been doing at Living Stones--can't wait to see you there! Any and all information is at www.wribrazil.com/trek, and you can reach me at (317)601-2446 with questions. Mid-year Updates Our three Living Stones programs are going strong! For the mid-year update, go to http://buildinglivingstones.blogspot.com/2012/06/mid-year-updates-on-our-three-living.html. If you would like Rachel's Newsletter (a hard copy with all of this information) just e-mail your address to amobrasil99@hotmail.com, or come to the Trek for Transportation and pick up the information yourself. Thank you so much for your continued support and care!
Thanks for Stopping by.