The Next Chapter : Ministério Ágape

Ministério Ágape:
Until All Have Heard

What is the "Next Chapter"? Well, as you know the past 4 years God has been sending me to Brazil on short-term mission trips. I knew the first trip down to the Amazon that God would one day bring me back as a full time missionary. i truly have fallen in Love with the country, the people, and the ministry that God has been using me for. Throught this ministry, God has taught me somuch about Himself and how much he cares for His children and for the Lost. He has shown me more about myself and has continued to grow and steach me outside of my comfort zones. I have learned much. The Past 5 years God has used me to disciple youth at my local church, giving me a place to train and learn to teach. These students have have wonderful minds and ask all kinds of crazy questions. This made me constantly have to dig into the scriptures to find answers and be prepared for what may be asked next. This ministry has given me the opprotunity to walk with students through life, helping them to work though lifes problems and challenges. In good times and in bad, This has truly been a blessing. I have been able to cry with my guys, pray with my guys, do battle with and for my guys, and also rejoyce with my guys. I thank God for this and praise His name, Knowing that God is sovereign and will continue what He started with these Guys.
God Has also sent me on 5 trips over the past 4 years down to the Amazon.These trips have been a huge blessing in my life, and to know that God would chose to be glorified in using me for HIS kingdom, is so amazing beyond words. Through these Trips with Amazon Outreach, i have made many friends with my Brazilian brothers and sisters in Christ. These relationships have grown so much that the past 3 trips i have have the opprotunities to go ahead of our missions teams and spend time, loving and encouraging, as well as learning fro our Brazilian family. I call them Family, they truly are Family. i have been taken into there homes, fed and been giving a place to sleep. They have truly served me and blessed me more than i could have ever asked.
This past summer, I had been seeking God more in what the future held for me in Brazil. i knew God was calling but I was unsure of when this would happen. Before our July 2012 trip I asked God for clarification on His timing. The answer was cristal clear. I have prayed and fasted seeking confirmation and I say with boldness and confidence that next summer, 2013, i will be a full time missionary in the Amazon region of Brazil!!!! Praise God!!! This is such a beautiful thing God has done and is doing. i Thanks God everyday for His Grace and Mercy in my life.
With all this said, I am being sent out by God, to take the GOOD NEWS to the people along the Amazon River, however the Body of Christ is the means by which i am sent.
Friends and Family, I need your support for this, this is not a short term trip that i will be back in a couple weeks and the need is over, this is a continual mission where my provision will be in the hands of the Body of Christ, YOU!!. I need your prayers!!!!!!! and Finantual support for this. Please send me an email to www.rwh4christ@yahoo.com so that i can send you updates as well as way that you can be praying for this mission and our ministry. Also please check out this link to find out how you can support financially to this ministry. http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=9377&url=ministriogapeuntilallhaveheard

Thank you all, and God Bless.
Richard Hanks

Feb 2010 post 6

Final Trip Thoughts-

I dont know why God has chosen to allow me to be apart of this ministry, But He has called me to this ministy. I thank God for that calling. These experiances have been the most amazing of my life. Being able to see God work, to see His Spirit, and the love of Christ spread across the globe is so Beautiful, as is our God.

Thank you so much for your support of this minisrty. Without your prayer and financial support i wouldnt be able to be apart of this ministry. My next Trip i scheduled for July 31. please keep this trip in mind and continue praying for the Brazilian people, as well as the Amazon Outreach Ministry

Feb 2010 post 5

Ive been told, by those with the most experiance down here in the Amazon, that every trip is different, and that i would see many different things, as well as see God work in many different ways. Now, being on my second trip i can seewhat that ment. Last september i came down with a team (many of which are also on this trip) to the exact same area. Then it was like Harvest time. God choose to glorify Himself by using us to share the Gospel. The Spirit was so powerful and so many lives were saved! This time however was a little different. The strong sense i get is that, God has brought us back to plant new seed in the souls of those who are still lost and encourge the Saints that are here. But i must honest, many here believe that the enemy liked to have those previous in the dark, and now having lost that battle to our Lord, he is starting to fight back. The Truth that the Spirit has shown us, is allowing us to see the spiritual warfare going on here. Many unbelievers that we would speak to knew the Gospel and could tell us exactly who Christ is. Some even said they had seen the power of Christ, but then they would tell us that it wasnt for them and that they didnt want to accept Christ as their savior. Many of the team would testify that they could feel something fighting against the Gospel that they were sharing with the people. I am reminded of John 3:8 "The wind blows whereever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but cant tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you cant explain how people are born of the Spirit" The Spirit comes when He comes and goes when He goes. So God will save these people when He has planned to and not before. We just need to do what we've been told and tell the Good News. In the words of a fellow team member, "We serve a Big Big God". it is clear to us all, that God is far from done here.

Feb 2010 post 4

This prayer was written by one of our team members:

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God, right now i feel as though i can understand this language. I am amazed by you. You turn the Rain off, then on, then off, then on again. The world is at your command. This man seems to know of you, but he dosent know you. Lord God, heal him only so Your Glory can be shown. Save his life Father, Spare his old soul. Izzy (Brazilian team member) has placed his hand on the old mans heart. I believe he is telling him how important it is to know You personally by accepting You with his whole heart.The old man just looked up at me. Though blind, i felt he could see me. God if You dont heal him on this earth, then i have faith that You will save him, and make him new in the Kingdom.I cry a plea for this man. I see his heart, but not as You do Lord. I'm standing here thinking of Your glory,and what You've done. God your amazing, Your always on time, and forever mine. I have realized through this trip that You are calling me to search Your scriptures. You want to show me great and mighty things.

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I think this shows the kind of hearts that God has placed on this mission. The comment was made tonite that we have these seperate groups from different parts of the counrty that God has brought together and now there are no divisions, its one team that God and pulled together, each with different talents and abilities that God has used for his purposes. The power of the Spirit is so beautiful to witness and be apart of. I fell so unworthy and this amazing sense of joy. That i get to be around other people with such beautiful servents hearts.

Feb 2010 post 3

Sunday was our first full day in the village of Sao Sebastiao. the Team shared in an amazing devotional led by team member Don before heading out to begin the days ministry. Our team doctor was now with the team and the villagers were anxious to see him. as i learn more about the villages i know that this is one thing that they are in desperate need of... Medical attention. The doctor had to hit the ground running to see all of the villagers, as well as the dentist. The VBS ministry had many more children than a few days ago. Womans ministry gave out 25 braclets and had an amazing bible study about the worry they have in their lives. The mens ministry talked about how to be men of thunder. as the afternoon closed, their was another youth rally where Stuart spoke about trusting the Lord to give you strength to beat the enemy. The rain poured down as we listened to the Word, and after the rain we headed down to the boat to rest from another day of ministry.

After dinner we sang worship songs in the dark and watched a dramatic lightning storm that God blessed us with. That was followed by the evning share time. This time involved sharing from the last two days because we were not able to share the nite before due to the evning service at church. This was a sweet time to bond as a team, and open our hearts and minds to God's will for our trip! all in all it was a great day!

feb 2010 chidren