Ministry Update — July 2024
Dear Pastor and Church,
We have some exciting news to share with you. Last August we took our survey trip to Portugal. As we traveled each city we prayed about, we felt the Lord's peace in the city of Coimbra. About an hour away from Coimbra, we met a sweet missionary family, the DaCunhas, in Travanca, a suburb of Porto. We were able to meet their church plant, preach one service and attend two other services. They have been in Portugal for about 8 years now and have 16 members with several visitors. They have recently been able to see 2 men and a woman saved, praise the Lord!
Portugal, as of late, has been making changes to their visa laws which has presented a challenge to us on how we will move in once that time comes. I have been in communication with Bro. DaCunha on different ways we can get in. We have been praying about possibly working with the DaCunhas at first and then eventually moving to Coimbra to start a church once the door opens.
We got a call from Bro. DaCunha two weeks ago to start praying about something a little different. The DaCunhas feel God's call to take associate Pastor at their sending church back in the states. Although we are sad they will be leaving Portugal, we are glad they are being sensitive to God's leading. Bro. DaCunha asked us to pray about taking over their church plant. We prayed and it wasn't long before the Lord gave us peace about it. We are called to start churches in Portugal and we would hate to see one baby church close, while trying to start a brand new one less than an hour away. This doesn't mean we won't ever be in Coimbra, it is just a change to where we are starting our ministry.
The church in Travanca has a deacon that is willing to serve and help where needed, they have a Bible institute in the ministry there as well. In the institute they have 4 students, 3 Men and 1 lady. Lord willing the Lord will raise someone up in the ministry to answer the call of God as a national pastor. Then we would be able to move our ministry to Coimbra and start another church plant in God's time. The church will be able to offer us a contract of work, this is an answer to our prayer on how we will enter the country.
Because of all the recent changes, we will be taking a last minute trip to Portugal on August 6-15. We will meet with the church and also be able to talk with the DaCunhas before they come off the field in October of this year. This will leave a gap from when they leave to when we arrive. Due to us just starting deputation this year, we still have some support to raise. We won't be able to move this year but the deacon will be preaching to fill in the gap until we arrive to Portugal.
God Bless, The Carters to Portugal