Newsletter - Summer 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Portugal and beyond.

I remember in the summer of 1971, just a few months after I had accepted Jesus as Savior, that I had a vision of myself before an abyss. I was standing on the edge of this high cliff and, looking down, I couldn’t see the bottom. I heard a voice saying, “Jump.” This wasn’t an evil voice tempting me to commit suicide, but rather I understood it as the Lord saying to trust Him with my life, even when the future was not clear. Previously, I had been wavering in my walk with him, trying to be friends and comfortable in both worlds. What God was wanting was my whole commitment to Him and to trust Him with my future. I had my plans for my life, which included being a follower of Christ, but I also had other desires and goals. That vision provoked an inner struggle. I knew that I needed to “let go” and trust the Lord on His terms, not mine. I did let go and I am sure glad I did.

38 years have gone by now since receiving that vision and there are no regrets. That “leap of faith” has been repeated over the years as challenges arise and new hurdles had to be crossed. In these varied situations there is always the temptation to stop, retire or even to go back, but as I have pondered these options, I just think about how boring of a life that would be. The thrill is in the jump. I interpret the “abundant life” that God promised in His Word as being an adventurous life; not mundane or boring, that is for sure.

In this report, I will summarize some of the areas we are involved in, so that you can pray for us better and experience our adventures with us.

PORTUGAL: Our home and our base

The church we are pastoring, “Logos Comunhão Cristã”, has been growing and doing well. We began a second meeting on the weekend to accommodate the growth. We have seen much fruit among Cape Verdian youth in a ghetto area of Lisbon that is known for a high level of crime. It is so great to see the transformation of lives and the restoring of dreams and purposes.

In October we are hosting the Fifth Iberian Peninsula convention. This convention brings together Portuguese and Spanish churches and has been greatly used to break down barriers between our nations. It is becoming more international than just regional in that this year we are having delegates from France, Germany, Switzerland, Angola and Russia. These delegates are fruit of our investment into the nations and we are excited to have them all with us during this time of celebration.

Helen is continuing with her prison ministry, (22 years now), as well as a once a month ministering to the children of the prisoners. She has a team working with her and they are doing a great job in touching these needy lives. They really need a van for this work as well as other mission projects we have. Do pray with us about this need.

MOROCCO: Sowing into the 10/40 window

For over 15 years we have been going into this nation. For the most part we have gone there to pray on site for a move of God among the Muslims, but also to serve and encourage the missionaries, sent out from our church in Portugal, who have been living and ministering there. Our concentration has been to love the unloved. This has been primarily in the area of helping unwanted children/orphans as well as in raising three girls of a prostitute.
This last spring, we coordinated teams to go into all the nations of North Africa and Israel, to declare the Word of God and pray for the reopening of the wells of Salvation across this land. This was a great success and we saw God’s hand leading and guiding in each nation. Doors opened in specific ways, many divine appointments were made and we all felt that the next step was to concentrate on the unwanted children, especially in Egypt and Morocco.

ANGOLA: There is nothing like Africa

The end of September, I will go once again to Angola. This former Portuguese colony has been undergoing an economic transformation since the end of its 30 civil war. The country is rich in oil, diamonds and gold and now can use its resources to develop the nation. It is like the “Far West” during Gold Rush days. So many Chinese and other immigrant workers have come in, looking for the gold pot at the end of the rainbow.

In the 90’s, at the height of the war, we began investing in Angola to train a new generation of pastors to do pioneer mission work. Now that the provinces have opened up and there is peace in the land, these same young pastors have opened up churches all over the place. This coming trip will be to go into the South to visit the churches and strengthen the believers.

EUROPE: God is not finished with them yet

I love being European; such a heritage and such a potential. Though it has declined into the depths of reason and unbelief, she will rise again. As I have ministered across this great continent, I have seen signs of revival and change. There are many challenges and difficultly, but with humility comes grace. God is using the “third world” immigrants to awaken and bring revival to Europe. It is definitely humbling, but it is God’s way for sure.

FAMILY: Our heritage

This September, Sara and Jamie will give us our 12th grandchild. We are blessed! The only down side to this blessing is that most of our children and grandchildren live so far from us. We have it as our goal to see them each year and so we revel in these short times together. This year, we plan to be with our New York side of the clan for Thanksgiving and the Californians for Christmas. In between these dates we will try to touch base with other extended family members and our many wonderful friends.

Seth needs your prayers. He has been suffering with a herniated disc in his lower back and has been off work for a month or so now. He has had one operation, seven years ago, on another disc and does not want to go through that again. He and Silvia are so needed in the ministry with us here in Portugal and we are standing with him for complete healing.

Back to my “leap of faith”…well a couple of weeks ago, I literally did so by jumping out of a plane. This was my first skydive experience and was it ever thrilling. It was one of my goals before turning 60. Helen wasn’t so excited with the idea, but didn’t object. Now that that is over, I’ll get back to just faith adventures…far more rewarding and lasting.

Love you all

Jim and Helen Reimer

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Strategic Indigenous Missions
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