December/January Update

Family Reunion

During the month of December 40 of the 58 members of the Alexander family were able to reunite at the Wilds Christian Camp for three days. This is quite the difficult task seeing that nearly everyone in our family is in full-time ministry. We are spread over a number of countries and American states - Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, California, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Our time was spent discussing ministry, reminiscing about childhood times and rejoicing in God's goodness to our family. My father, Ed Alexander, was especially honored to have 28 of 40 grand and great grandchildren present. (Picture below is with great grand kids) I believe each of us returned to our ministries encouraged about how the Lord is using our family for His glory. 

Teen Comes To Christ

Since July we requested that you pray for Thiffany's (3rd from left) salvation. During September and October Anna and I did a six week Bible study with her from the gospel of John. She continued to come to youth activities and most services. When our Thursday evening platform changed to 1 on 1 discipleships one of our adult disciplers recently walked her through the Bridge tract. When they reached the final page Thiffany pointed to the page and said I am on the side separated from God, I need to be on this side with God and I want to be saved right now. We are thankful for the sincere decision she made that day. On Sunday she gave testimony that she has been reading her Bible to her grandfather who needs Christ. Thankful for the fruit that comes from planting the seed of the gospel!

Construction Team Need

Our church auditorium has been a tremendous blessing since we began using this area a few months ago. There are a few projects to complete and one of those is the drywall near the pulpit and in the rear of the auditorium. Would you consider bringing a group of experienced workers to help with this project? What benefits come from going on a team? Seeing the work personally, meeting our church family and making life-time friendships and returning with a greater knowledge and burden for the mission field. Come on down!

November 2018 Update

Friends,

Maranatha Baptist University
​
Last month Andrew and I had the opportunity to spend 5 days on the Maranatha Baptist University campus. We spent our meal times ministering to the students, shared our philosophy of team work in a missions class, met guys during devotions in the dormitory and challenged the students with messages on missions during the chapel hour. It was our privilege to interact with many mature students ready to serve the Lord. Our prayer is that God would use these interactions to challenge the students to consider a people group that they could minister to in some corner of the world.

First Sunday In Our Auditorium

This past Sunday was our first time using our new sanctuary. Our members seemed to be delighted that we are finally able to worship together and use this building for God's gory. We are very grateful to each of you that have given so graciously to this church plant. Click HERE to take a look at the video to see pictures of our auditorium.

Need For A Team

We still need a team to come soon to help put up drywall in the auditorium. Would your church be willing to set aside the time and funds to come our way and help us complete this project? 

Men's Fellowship

On the 10th of November our churches held and area-wide men's meeting. Our men were challenged to stand firm in the faith and encourage others to do the same.  

We Have A New Granddaughter

On November the 13th Jenna Rae Alexander was born in Greer, SC to Jordan and Kimberly Alexander. We are grateful for a healthy granddaughter that Kim is doing well after giving birth. Of course a picture will be included in this update.

October 2018 Update

​Dear Friends,


Missions Conference at the Seminary

Just this past week a Brazilian missionary and I had the opportunity to challenge the students at seminary in the area of missions. During the three day conference a number of students indicated that the preaching God's Word brought to their heart decisions that needed to be made with the Lord. These students are the future leaders of our churches and missionaries that will be sent out around the world. Pray for them!

Our Children Doing Bible Studies

For the past 9 weeks Andrew has been accompanying my new convert Bible study with Rian. Recently I had to miss a study and Andrew agreed to do the study on his own with Rian. Sounds like he did a good job.  About three weeks ago Anna Shae began helping with an evangelistic Bible study. A teenage girl named Tiffany came to our July youth outreach and has been attending church ever since. She needs Christ and Anna is right there explaining different passages to her during our study.

September 2018 Update 

Friends,

Recently I began a series on discipleship where we plan to train our members to work one on one with younger believers in our church. Our ultimate goal is to see individuals being discipled in the church as well as members using this training to then begin long term Bible studies with unbelievers. It seems to be going well and we are praying that we get about 90% participation from our church family.

The tile is being laid as I write. Probably will be done in about two weeks. We are also welding our surrounding platform structure and hopefully soon completing our baptistery as well. Our need at the present time is for a construction group to come and frame up our platform area with steel framing and drywall. We are praying that the Lord will provide a team and funds to do this project in the month of October or November. 

During the month of August our co-worker Ben Jacobs presented for three weeks a series on eschatology. Of course this was well received and our folks were very talkative about all that was presented. Our seminary student, Alex, is in his third year of Bible training and during the months of December through February he will be doing his internship. We are excited to see how God is going to use him in the ministry.

We recently had a area-wide picnic with our churches and 170 people were present. My wife and I were thrilled as we were able to see many young families that at one time were youth in our former churches that we started. It was especially exciting to see those that are serving full-time in the ministry. 

God bless,

Shawn 

August 2018 Update

Tile Project 

I wanted to share with you the progress on the amount that has come in since last month when we challenged our friends to give toward our TILE PROJECT. A total of $2710,00 has been donated! This is two-thirds of the total. We are amazed at God's people and grateful that this project can begin soon. 

Our auditorium is progressing very quickly. Our windows have been installed. The next project is the laying of tile. Take a look at our video to see the progress!

July - A Month for Music

On July 3rd Mac and Beth Lynch arrived (their suitcases were left in Canada) in Sorocaba and on the following day after purchasing some clothes they presented a sacred concert for the area churches. What an encouragement our families received from this time of adoration to our Lord.

Two weeks later David and Kristin Chapman visited Sorocaba and presented an evening of sacred music at Victory Baptist. Once again our members were blessed by hymns that reminded them of God's goodness.
Medieval Time Youth Outreach

On the 12-16th our youth held a Medieval themed outreach. Nineteen first-time visitors attended. Pray as we have been into many of their homes. Two teens accepted Christ and one has already begun a Bible study with our seminary student.

Monday Updates - A Weekly Reminder

​Construction Progress

With just a few projects remaining on the parsonage we look forward to focusing on our church auditorium over the next few months. Our members have commented that there is not much room in the fellowship hall for services so we hope to soon begin the work on the sanctuary.

Youth Fellowship

On the 7th the area youth groups came together to be challenged by God's Word. Teens were encouraged to consider what "giants" were their lives from I Samuel 17 and how to conquer those areas of spiritual defeat.

Seminary Students

Alex has begun his third year of Bible training and is very busy. He is a Resident Assistant in the dorm, responsible for a weekly missions emphasis with students, works in two local churches and of course he is studying Greek! We are so grateful for his sweet spirit and teachable heart. 

Thiago (James) is completing his first semester of online theological graduate classes. Most every Sunday he comments on how much he is learning and that the classes have helped him with preparing for teaching his class. He has been preaching in our monthly rotation since January and bringing some very challenging messages.

Pray for Alex and Thiago as they prepare for ministry!

Church Family

Recently we have had to work through some areas of sin in our members lives. We are thankful for the good response and repentance of one member. Please pray for one of our youth that needs to return to the Lord.

Amazon Visit

After 30 years in Brazil (we arrived on April 24th 1988) we finally visited the Amazon river and had the opportunity stay in the Rain Forrest. Take a look at our video to see the Amazon!

For Brazil,

Shawn, Donna, Andrew and Anna Shae
​Church Anniversaries, Christmas Cantatas and Visitors

In November and December we attended the anniversary of two churches that our family was involved in planting. In December the church choirs in Sorocaba performed Ten Thousand Hallelujahs in four churches and many visitors were present at each church. 

In the past month Victory Baptist has had a number of new people attend services. Please pray as we meet them in their homes and share the good news of salvation.

Parsonage Project

During the months of September and October our family visited 13 of our supporting churches presenting the need for construction teams and funds to build a parsonage. So many of our supporters responded by graciously giving to this project. While in the States a few churches expressed interest in coming to our ministry in Sorocaba and helping with construction on the parsonage. Friendship Baptist in Raleigh, NC will be arriving in late February to give us a hand. Looking forward to their arrival! Thank you again to everyone that graciously gave to make this project a reality.


Our original plan was to build a house on the existing property to cut cost and have the project done quicker. After returning to Brazil we began discussing with our deacons about how to wisely use the funds that were donated. The shorter version is that the Lord placed before us a house already built with three bedrooms and two baths for a reasonable price. The projects to be completed are the laying of tile, hanging doors and windows, completing the wiring and installing kitchen and bathroom fixtures.

We are thankful for the Lord's provision from our supporting churches as well as providing a house. Pray for the final part of the funds to come in so that all can be completed in the next few months.

May the Lord bless as you serve Him in 2018.

Shawn, Donna, Andrew and Anna Shae
Monday Update November/December 2017

VISITING OUR BIBLE COLLEGE

On November the 2nd 5 from Victory Baptist Church traveled to visit our Bible College about 5 hours away. We were able to visit classes, interact with students, meet seminary professors and get a glimpse of everyday life at the seminary. I am asking that you pray for some from our church that are considering full-time ministry - Rebecca, Thiago and Gisele. Our video shares our visit to the Seminary.

AREA WIDE YOUTH CONFERENCE

From November 9 - 11 the area churches held a Youth Conference and each evening the service was in a different church in our city. We averaged around 80 each night. Warren Vergiels, a short term missionary and missionary kid (MK) was our speaker. Earlier in the year the pastors requested a few topics of concern to be addressed during the three days and Warren did wonderful in addressing these youth oriented subjects. A number of teens each evening made decisions and after the final message on "The Type of Person God Can Use" 7 youth/adults stood indicating that God was calling them into full-time ministry. Praise the Lord for hearts that are sensitive to God's leading in the lives of these who surrendered. 
Monday Update May 22 2017

​Ladies Retreat

For the past few months Donna has been organizing a ladies retreat for our area churches. The original goal was to have 30 women participating. In the end 60 women came to the retreat. God blessed with good weather on Saturday and many of the ladies gave testimony on Sunday that the Lord used the theme of purity to encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

Youth Activity

Every few months the youth in the city have what they call "Rescue".  Any youth group can come and join another churches youth activity on that chosen day. Saturday Victory Baptist joined with our forth church and had a fun time of games and fellowship. 

New Families Joining our Church

Last month our church added a new family to our membership and this Sunday two more families will join our fellowship. Another family that has been visiting for two months asked for a visit this week to talk about joining our church. We are grateful to the Lord for those added to the family. Because of this recent growth our adult SS class has had to add another table to accommodate everyone.

We would appreciate your prayers for a few in our church that have not been faithful in their attendance.

In His service,

Shawn 
Monday Update March 8th 2017

Friends,

Teen Camp

Every year our churches plan a teen retreat/camp similar to summer camp in the States. Shortly after arriving last October I realized that a schedule for this years camp had not been organized. The Lord blessed and in about 6 weeks the plans came together along with a place to rent for our 4 day retreat.

The week was filled with competition between the teens. Everything counted for points for your team. Even cleaning the bathrooms! The Lord blessed with two preachers that brought powerful messages on allowing God to transform your life into His image. Many teens gave testimony of the power of God's Word in their life that week. Thank you for praying!

Seminary Students

Alex along with 3 new students from Sorocaba have begun classes this week at seminary. Our family has taken on some of their financial and prayer support. Would you consider praying for these students that are training for the ministry? Here are their names: Alex, Herbert, Mirella and Michelle.

For Brazil,

Shawn, Donna, Andrew and Anna Shae
Monday Update February 24th 2017
​Dear Friends,

Teen Service

The teens were responsible for planning the Sunday evening service the 12th of February. Giovanna had recently come to Christ and immediately volunteered to give her testimony of salvation. Following her testimony our son Andrew shared how a convert is a new creature in Christ. The teens sang specials, gave announcements, took up the offering, did a presentation on running from sin and our seminary student gave the message. It is thrilling to see God working in their hearts. Pray this next week as we will have our annual camp with four other churches. Our theme is "Transformed into His Image". 

A Special Gift for Alex

In response to our last "Update" a family from one of our supporting churches has offered to pay for one month of Alex's tuition at seminary. We are thankful for their part in Alex's preparation for ministry. If you are considering helping Alex please feel free to send me an email with any questions you may have about his training.

Grateful,

Shawn Alexander
Monday Update December 7th 2016
Dear Friends,

TEAM FROM USA

For the past 8 days our church received Bible Baptist from Hampton, GA. The Lord used this team in every ministry that we planned for them this week. On Saturday, the day they arrived, we held an area-wide Youth Rally emphasizing that teens bring friends without Christ. About 120 youth played games and then heard a powerful message from Pastor Loren Regier. Five youth came to Christ that evening!

The team had the opportunity to visit Brazilian homes and share their testimony of salvation. On Thursday we had Thanksgiving at Fisk English School and 40 people heard the gospel.

Thank you for praying for this past week. The Lord answered your prayers!

Shawn and Donna Alexander

Recent Video - Missions Team

Victory Baptist Church - Church Plant #5

In June of 2012 our family along with the Ben Jacobs family began a new church in the garage of a Brazilian Christian. As they made new friends, passed out pamphlets and invited people in the community they also began the construction of a permanent location. God blessed those humble beginnings and in 7 months a group of 25 people moved to a rough skeleton of a church to hold their first service. Along the way God touched the heart of churches in the States to make the overseas trip to help the ministry. Now five years later many adults and children have come to Christ and they are ready to organize their believers into a body called the church. 
Paulo e Lucia recently accepted Christ!
New Members of Victory Baptist in 2017