Prestoncrest Missions

Heiderich News Brief - October, 2007

Family Institute of Latin America Website

Financial Crisis for Ministry!

After nearly 30 years of Ministry in Brazil, we are in the third year of the most challenging financial crisis ever with the Brazilian Economy. The dollar exchange rate is exactly HALF of its value from three years ago. That means, not counting inflation, everything now costs TWICE as much. We have worked hard to discipline and cut our expenses but now funding has become critical. In order to continue vital ministries throughout this huge country, we are appealing for your generous help. If you can help at the end of this year or in 2008, please send contributions:
c/o Prestoncrest Church
12700 Preston Rd. Suite 210
Dallas, TX 75230
Attention: Family Institute of Latin America.

Curitiba News:

In August the first graduating class of the Biblical Institute of Southern Brazil (IBSB) received its honors. The Institute, which operates in the Curitiba church building and is run by the evangelists here, granted diplomas to 4 couples who studied for two years. Three of these couples are now working full-time as evangelists for the new church plant here in Curitiba in the Sitio Cercado neighborhood. Jerry meets with these three one morning a week for mentoring and prayer.
Jerry taught an intensive class on Spiritual Growth for Leaders to the second class of students at the institute in September. Today he began a bimester class on Interpersonal Relationships with the same group.

Travel News:

Jerry attended a Pastoring Pastors Consultation in São Paulo. There, together with 100 leaders from 33 denominations and 17 parachurch organizations in Brazil, Bolivia and South Africa, he contributed to a study on how to best help church leaders to grow, remain dedicated and overcome difficulties. Jerry also attended the Willow Creek Summit that was presented for the first time here in Curitiba as well as in several other Brazilian cities.

We spent the last two weeks in September in the city of Campo Grande. 30 couples, including several first time visitors participated in a marriage seminar on the weekend. Jerry preached at two congregations on Sunday and taught a weeklong intensive course on Counseling to the students of the SERCRIS preacher training school. We also spent some important ministry time with the two elders and the preacher of the church there.

Prayer Needs:

1. Jerry is traveling to the US this weekend to teach at the World Mission Workshop at Oklahoma Christian University. Please pray for his safe travel and for God to bless his time in the states. He gets to see Kris and Angela and Joel!
2. Please be in prayer about our next retreat with the Brasília team, which will take place in mid November.

God bless each of you with His power and grace!

Chile News
Grant Family News
August to October 2007

Church News

Living in Community Study

The 40 days in community study ended with great enthusiasm and fellowship. We had our church service with a picnic and games following. Afterwards, people in general seem more unified and connected since the beginning of the study. One group in particular has really bonded. It is neat to see members that usually left immediately after church or didn’t talk to many others, now standing around after service visiting and sharing.

Chilean Independence Celebration

On September 16, our congregation combined for a joint service with the Wenceslao Sanchez congregation for the purpose of celebrating Chile’s Independence Day on September 18th. There were approximately 110 people including many visitors in attendance for the service and almost that many for the cook-out afterwards. We enjoyed our time together and hope to make it an annual event.

Marriage Encounter

Our 6th Marriage Encounter was held last weekend with 17 couples participating. The majority were not members of our church, and many of them expressed interest in knowing more about God and our congregation. We will begin small group Bible studies with these couples in the next few weeks and look forward to seeing how God is going to work in their lives. Jeff and Carrie Williams, Prestoncrest members who are living in Chile, were able to attend the Encounter and are now being recruited to help with the next Encounter in May! Also, approximately 40 additional couples worked the weekend either directly with the couples or behind the scenes.

Team News

The Mark and Denise Dean family announced to the church that they will be returning to the United States in March 2008. The announcement was received with much sadness and tears. Mark and Denise have plans to move to Abilene, Texas. After the announcement I (Kelley) found Duncan sitting by himself on the second floor of the church building crying. He told me that he was really going to miss Pierce, Mark and Denise’s 7-year-old son. We forget sometimes how hard it is on our kids to see their friends leave. In reality the other team kids are more like cousins as well as friends. Please keep the church, the Deans and the mission team in your prayers as we prepare for this latest transition in our work.

In other news, Scott and Holly Emery are looking for a new sponsoring congregation. The commitment from their current sponsoring congregation will end at the end of June 2008. If you know of any congregations that are looking for experienced missionaries to support please let me know. Please also be praying for them as they have some anxiety about their future right now.

In September, we traveled 8 hours south for our annual team retreat. Although the weather was cool, we truly enjoyed being out of Santiago and being together. We discovered some beautiful waterfalls on the way home.

Family News

Duncan played in his first rugby tournament last month. He was proud to be selected to the first team. We assume he played well. The truth is we don’t know much about rugby so it is hard to know how he did. He said he had a good time, so we were happy about that. Abby was 1 of 12 second grade girls selected to participate in the annual “district” gymnastics exhibition. Victoria and Konner performed in their preschool’s independence show last month. Our not-shy-at-all Victoria did great dancing a dance from the south of Chile. Surprisingly, Konner also did well. He ran to the side and hugged us but then went back to finish the dance with his group. The older 2 also did folk dances at school (this is a nation-wide thing in all schools!) but it was during school hours and parents weren’t invited. They assure us they did well! At the end of September, Victoria celebrated her 4th birthday with a very pink & purple princess party here at the house.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED!! We are very much enjoying warmer weather and no long johns! The girls thank God for the flowers blooming almost daily!

Kids’ Education

Victoria was accepted to the same school where Duncan and Abby are currently attending. She will begin Pre-Kinder there in March 2008. If you would like to make a monthly or annual contribution to the kids’ education please let us know. We are currently in the process of trying to raise funds for all three kids’ education for 2008. We have approximately 30% of it already committed.

Prayer Requests

1. Praise! Baby Sofia, daughter of Juliana & Michel Kure was born on Sept. 22. Baby Josue, son of Rocio & Juan Andres Muñoz was born on Sept. 24. Continue to pray for the Muñozes as they are still waiting to hear more about their son’s kidneys.
2. Please continue to pray for Jean Claude Redard- 13 yr. old son of church member Narda Davis for emotional healing. He is out of the hospital and doing much better but still has a ways to go.
3. The Deans as they transition out of the work and move to the States
4. A supporting congregation for the Emerys

Thanks for your prayers and support of our family and our work.

In His Service,
Kelley, Julie, Duncan, Abby, Victoria, and Konner Grant