This past weekend, we were so blessed to have a team of five ladies come down from C3 Church in Atlanta. The team was led by Dr/Pastor Jill Sweetman and Pastor Kim Tymchuk. Three other great friends were part of the team, Sandee Scyoc, Brittany Sharp, and Jennifer Bryan.
“The world should not be where the Church gets its view on sexuality. The Bible is full of God’s thoughts on the matter.” Jill Sweetman
The primary reason that they came down was to be a part of C3 Curitiba’s very first Everywoman Conference. The anticipation was high and the conference sold out. Eighty women registered and came for sessions over three days. Dr. Jill, Pastor Kim, and others spoke and many women really were impacted by God’s love and grace.
Annie said, “This conference was everything it was advertised to be. God touched so many of these ladies! There was a lot of crying, a lot of laughing, a lot of bonding and a lot of memories made.”
One of the other things that made the conference so successful was that Pastor Dani Aguieieras, of C3 Church Santos, brought a group of 15 women down to Curitiba. She and her husband, Fabio, pastor the first C3 Church that was planted in Brazil. They are great pastors, great leaders, but more importantly, great friends!
Dr. Jill also speak during the weekend service at C3 Curitiba. Her message on relationships and sexuality was incredible. Her
book God Sex: Sexuality, The Bible, and the 21st Century
provides a Biblical view for sex, relationships, and sexual issues. As she said in church, “The world should not be where the church gets its view on sexuality. The Bible is full of God’s thoughts on the matter.”
While Dr. Jill’s message was full of humor and light-hearted pokes at both sexes, she also was very vulnerable, sharing some of her own struggles. When a speaker starts her talk with her own story of hurts suffered and mistakes made, it tends to draw the audience in. There is a power in being vulnerable that causes the audience to drop their own emotional walls.
The Church grows when people connect with God and with each other. Both are equally important!
Dr. Jill presented the traditional, Biblical view of marriage, relationships, and sexuality. This is not the politically correct view but it is the same view that the Church has held onto faithfully for over two thousand years. The beauty of Jill’s message lay in the fact that while she clearly shared God’s truth, she wrapped it in a thick layer of His grace. Failure does not mean our life is over. If someone has fallen morally, God forgives and helps them to start fresh. There is no sexual sin or issue that God cannot forgive and heal.
Annie and I had a great time with our friends from America. We were also thrilled to see so many of our Brazilian friends connecting with our American friends. The Church grows when people connect with God and with each other. Both are equally important.
Annie and I are serving the Lord in Curitiba, Brazil. Would you consider being a part of our support team? Click the link below to set up a one time or monthly support. Obrigado!
https://c3church.wufoo.com/forms/brazil-mission-trip-dave-and-annie-spell/
