Tim and Martia Franklin

Furlough
Blessed be the Creator of Heaven and Earth for protecting, blessing and sustaining us through our second term of service.  We arrived in the U.S. in June and plan to be here about a year, returning mid-2012.

The primary purpose of this trip is to report on the past four-year term to those who serve with us on the home front—prayer supporters and financial sponsors.  We have reported among nine churches thus far and continue to schedule more meetings.  One of the challenges we face is identifying these churches or individuals, potentially hundreds since deputation, some who have “fallen off the radar.”  The mission sends us confidential financial reports but only the LORD knows all our spiritual supporters.  If we can serve you in the ministry together please let us know through one of the contact information below.  We would gladly try to schedule a personal visit, send information, etc.

Additionally, due to significant increases imposed by the mission agency over the last four years we have some sponsorship needs.  We thank the LORD for providing thus far including unscheduled gifts that, in the end, enable us to serve.  However, there is something we feel especially urgent about and that is prayer support.  Our goal is to add seven more churches to our prayer support team.  Towards that end we are trying to schedule as many ministry presentations as possible.  We thank the LORD that nearly every weekend is scheduled through the end of the year, except of course, around Christmas.

Blessings
Most of our time in Brazil we were extremely busy.  Praise the LORD for His mercies, especially during the last six months of our term in which we were led to take on a church rescue ministry in spite of a projected double teaching load at seminary: N.T. Survey 1 and 2 (also N.T. 1 by extension), Gen 1-11 and Acts .  With all this lined up, God gave us still more responsibilities with the sudden resignation of a key co-worker from the seminary two weeks before the semester began.  Praise the LORD for His sustenance and thank Him for our Brazilian fellow servants.  Thus, furlough responsibilities come as a respite compared to where we’ve been, even though we still have a few responsibilities to keep up with at the seminary.

Our family has enjoyed numerous American cultural experiences ranging from automatic faucets in clean bathrooms to camping in the great outdoors.  We’ve also “done” Fourth of July fireworks, a live rodeo, sleepovers with cousins, working the orchard with grandpa, learning to shoot (in Brazil guns are basically outlawed), boating and fishing.

We’ve also enjoyed renewing contact with God’s people and meeting many more.  God has blessed us with Christian hospitality and lately, spending three weekends at the same church, our sending church.  November through February we plan to be mostly in CA and March through May in the Pacific Northwest.

Points of Praise

• Completion of term and arrival on furlough.
• Provision for furlough travels and vehicle.
• Salvation of Sra. Dalvaneide (Jessica’s mom).

Points for Prayer

• To be a blessing to God’s people.
• To schedule reports and safety in travels.
• For Pr. Almir as he leads the seminary.

Servants of  Jesus,
Tim and Martia and family

Please click on the following links to load (*.pdf format).

Dec2010 p1

Dec2010 p2.

May the LORD be exalted for granting mere humans the privilege of working for Him.  We are on semester break from seminary classes (the school year goes from March-Nov.).  The first semester was very busy for us.  In addition to teaching seminary classes we took on more load at church so that Jordão, the seminarian helping us, could finish his senior paper.  We have already begun shuffling some responsibilities especially in light of an additional class for Tim to prepare and teach beginning in August: “Analysis of Galatians.”  We also had several speaking engagements: in Mossoró with a Genesis class fossil hunt; conferences in João Câmara, Carnaubais and S.J. do Mipibu; a Sunday School series on spiritual gift; a men’s retreat and a missions conference.  We thank the LORD for sustaining us.  Thank you also for praying for us.

Through a large gift, we were put in charge of updating the seminary library.  Please pray for wisdom in administrating this.

God has also granted a fruitful season of souls.  In the last several months there have been ten to twelve salvation decisions at church.  Most of these have been through the expanded children’s ministry, one of which is a Saturday afternoon Bible club.  Martia is teaching the 4-6 year olds.

Another area that God has helped beyond ourselves is a joint church plant with Igapó Baptist Church in the community of Upper Serrinha about 50 minutes away.  Our main role (that is, through you) has been helping supply the construction materials.  Both churches have mobilized workdays, mostly on Saturdays, although a few of us have been out during the week also.  Even Rachel helped lay bricks.  On more than one occasion humanly speaking I was unable to go, yet because we have a pick-up, it was absolutely necessary for us to haul the boards, scaffolding, wheel-barrows, implements, ect.  The shell of the building is up.  The next step is plumbing, plaster and concrete floor.  Sand and gravel there is cheap.  Cement is about $10 a sack.  Time is… please pray for us!  The community is in a state of expectancy.  Igapó church did a Saturday children’s program with 30 kids from the community.  Please pray that God would continue to open a door for the gospel. The Moves:  We are thankful to be in our new house.  It is well ventilated–so much so that the rain occasionally blows in.  However with lows in the 70′s and highs in the 90′s the only concern is the crop of mold.  Were learning to deal with it and thankful we’re not renting.  Thank you to those who make it possible.  Also it’s only half a block from the new seminary campus.  They are still working on an apartment block and the multi-purpose building.  Landscaping will come later, however the existing cashew trees already contribute to the beauty, along with newly planted trees.

Home school, last lap:  Today Rebecca declared, “I only have nine more lessons of math!” (not her favorite subject).  Natalie is close also.  Rachel is enjoying her “Vacation Station” summer fun papers.  Hannah chatters and sings around the house.  Martia has done a good job.  We thank the LORD we can home school and the flexibility it affords, given our ministry.  Please pray that we can work into our schedule lessons in music and Portuguese grammar.

Servants of Jesus,
Tim and Martia and family

Mid-Semester Break
The school year follows the calendar year so July means we are in the mid-semester break.  We have been looking forward to a time of getting caught up with miscellaneous items.  These include correspondence, the “Books and Bibles” project and the seminary library project, in addition to next semester’s class preparation.

The first weekend of this month we were with the church in Carnaubais.  Last time I was there was when I was “knee high to a flee” when dad helped them relocate out of the flood plain.  Pray for “Klzn”–he’s been leading the church there and wants to go to seminary but still needs to finish high school in November (and turn 18 next year).

Dear Friends,

Seminary
Thank you for serving together with us in prayer. The semester at the seminary has been going well. The LORD has given us a good group of students and unity among the staff. We consider it a privilege to teach “Old Testament Survey” and “1 Corinthians” to about 15 students in each class. Please pray that we all will finish well this semester (June 19^th). We have continued the “Books & Bibles” project. Thank you to those who have given extra towards this.

The seminary is in the process of building a new campus across town. We thank the LORD for providing for the purchase and remodel of a house nearby. We look forward to being moved in by the time the seminary relocates in December 2008. In the meantime, we are in a spacious four-room building on the current campus.

A Special Opportunity
Recently one of our students, Yuri, who also studies at the Federal University in our state (UFRN) approached us about helping coordinate a lecture on Biblical creationism. The LORD has brought together the details to have fellow missionary Randy Pollard (with Baptist Mid-Missions) to bring three lectures on “Fundamental Flaws of Evolution” on May 29^th. Our tone is intended to be Biblical and analytical rather than polemical and argumentative. Many Brazilians uncritically have accepted evolution without attempting to reconcile it with their own religious beliefs much less, have been exposed to a defense of the Biblical teaching. Please pray that the Creator will be exalted.

A Milestone Moment
The Lord made it possible for Tim to make a quick trip to Utah as a surprise to his mom for a milestone birthday celebration. Although the respective families were not able to attend, all four of her children surrounded mom and dad for the occasion. We thank the LORD for these moments of closeness even though our ministries lead us far away. Dad and mom are isolated in a very difficult church planting context among the Mormons. Please pray for them. Brenda and Tommie are active in their local church in CA. Ellen and Barry are on deputation to serve in south Brazil. Deborah and Trent lead the music ministries in their local church in CA (see below).

Prayer Requests

• Finishing well the semester (us and the students)
• Outreach into the federal university
• Dad and mom church planting in Utah
• Home schooling and hospitality
• Construction of house and seminary.

Thank you for serving together with us.

Tim and Martia and family

Deborah, Brenda, Ellen and Tim with Dad and Mom

Dear friends and supporters,

Blessed be the LORD for refreshing His people. Since our last correspondence, the LORD has blessed us in a variety of ways for which we thank Him. I have noted the highlights and added a few details.

• The seminary graduated 7 students the end of November (the school year is from March through November). All of the students had already been involved in ministry but now continue more intensely. Adamo and Mayara want to start a church in another suburb out of their home church in the city of Mossoro (where Tim’s parents served for 20 years). Sebastião and family who were helping at Planície das Mangueiras Bapt. Church were called to the church in Monte Alegre. Camilo continues to serve as missionary in his Baptist denomination. Felipe and Wiarla were formerly invited for a 1-yr internship at a church plant out near the airport. Michaelly (also from Mossoró) continues to serve in a church here in Natal and is now full time as the Seminary secretary (note: Tim’s sister Ellen was a flower girl at her parents’ wedding). We thank the LORD for the double cab pickup that not only serves as our family vehicle but also has been useful to help the students move.

• The LORD enabled us to purchase a house near the seminary’s future campus. We see God’s hand definitely working in bringing us through a series of improbabilities. It is best described as “a real fixer upper” but we trust God’s continued leading as we try to turn it into a home. Two attractive factors are the proximity to the future campus and the size of the yard. It will take at least another couple of months of work but in the meantime…

• The LORD has provided a more spacious temporary housing that also has a better breeze during this hotter time of year. Through a series of unplanned events we spent the last 6 months in a one-bedroom apartment but now we are in much more spacious accommodations until we can move to long-term housing.

• We had a good Youth Camp preaching four times on the theme “Origin and Destiny.” January is vacation month which means many ministry opportunities at camp. (By the way, is anyone interested in a 4-8 year ministry, training a national couple in camp directing?) This year we spoke to over 200 young people at one of the youth camps. Four hours later we boarded a plane to attend…

• We attended a conference for ABWE Brazil missionaries in the deep south of the country and appended a 1-week vacation to visit Iguassu Falls (Foz do Iguaçu) on the border with Argentina and near Paraguay. Gramado, a Bavarian-type tourist town, was a pleasant change of weather. Even though summer, the wet weather cooperated with the higher elevation to make for a pleasant week. Afterward, we rented a car and took 2 ½ days “putting” through interior South Brazil which is totally different from our North-East. With the strong European colonial influence about the only commonality is the Portuguese language which also is heavily accented. Although our blondes were much less noticeable we still had to answer inquisitive local “a paulista (born in Sao Paulo) to American parents, grew up in Mossoró, studied and married in the States and now live in Natal but are visiting the South.” After all this justification for an accent that didn’t fit our looks they would delightfully introduce us to others as visitors being from “up top” which is the term they use for our part of Brazil. Martia put together a letter about the trip which we would be glad to send upon request. Besides the spectacular Iguassu Foz we also had a delightful day at a zoo emphasizing birds (Parque das Aves).

• Planicie das Mangueiras Baptist Church called us to be interim pastor. We are working on the transition still relying upon limited help from the two sister-church pastors. Jordão and Amanda, a seminary couple in their third year, are also doing their practical ministry requirements along with us.

• Pr. and Mrs. Suko came for a one-week visit. It was a delight and blessing to have our sending church pastor and wife come for a visit. This week there is some information on the church sight (www.discoverybaptist.org). He also composed a “Pastor’s Field Report” which we would be glad to send upon request.
  

• Seminary classes are off to a good start with Tim teaching O.T. Survey I and Analysis of 1 Corinthians. We thank the LORD for the refreshing break and are encouraged at the start of the new school year. Enrollment seems to be good with over a dozen new students. Although our focus is not upon size, we desire that God would raise up many quality servants of the Savior.

• On the home front, school has fully resumed. The last couple months have been a delightful break (from the book learning part) and now have come the sitting and thinking.

Prayer requests:

• Please pray for God’s safety upon us and His prosperity upon the ministry: teaching at the seminary, pastoring the church plant; running the home and homeschooling.
• Praise the LORD for a house; pray for God’s direction as we turn it into a home.
• Praise the LORD for the refreshing time in South Brazil.

Thank you for your interest and prayers for us,

In our Savior,
Tim and Martia Franklin

Dear co-servants,
We find ourselves in the midst of a very busy schedule expected to continue for another month. It has been some time since we have wanted to give a general report of the ministry upon our return to Natal. We thank the LORD so much for the privilege to be a part of His work sweetened especially by those with whom we get to work both there and here. Thank you for your fundamental part in the work here.

Arrival and Family
Upon our arrival the end of July we “landed” to an on-campus apartment graciously provided by the Bible school. Our plan was to rent something nearby within the 10 days before classes resumed. The LORD’s plan was different. We’re still on campus, confident and content in Him, though still in question about His causes. Two benefits are the non-commute and the closeness of campus quarters enabling frequent contact with students contributed additionally by an office also graciously availed. It also functions as Natalie’s DVD home school center. Martia stays quite busy in the home, school and caring for Hannah besides frequent service opportunities.

Church
We returned to find the LORD building Planície das Mangueiras Baptist Church in strength and number even without a pastor. Besides several conversions we also noted more men serving. The latter has been the result of the LORD leading the main deacon and his family to serve full time in a different ministry. It is delightful to perceive how the LORD shuffles His servants to stretch them and to multiply His work. This is also the case with Sebastião and Marilza, he now a senior, having been called to pastor a small church interior. Now Jordão and Amanda, sophomores, have begun taking up the teaching and preaching. We continue to have one main problem–space.

While on furlough we reported the attempts at finding more adequate property. Last month the seller reported the LORD was really trying to tell him to sell (they had backed out a year ago). It remained a good deal–especially since the exchange rate has dropped and prices have risen while the deal stayed basically the same. With a couple thousand they had in their general fund they finished walling the perimeter. They are really eager to get into a larger meeting space. Please pray for them and us. We need God’s wisdom and provision to continue, especially as it relates to long term planning, wise use of the property and prudent funding.

Bible School
Berean Baptist Seminary and Institute remains our primary ministry and source of weekly marathon. “Our” two classes from last semester were rescheduled alongside “our” three for this semester so that we teach a total of 12 hours Monday through Thursday evenings. In spite of the load we thank the LORD for His help especially through a couple of former students, now seniors, who do a portion of the grading. Please pray that we would finish well the semester.

co-servants of Jesus,
Tim and Martia and family

Class of 2007
Back: Camilo, Felipe, Sebastião, Ádamo, Handerson;
Front: Wiarlla, Michaelly.

The purpose of a prayer card is to post in a location to remind oneself to pray for a particular ministry. If you would like one, please contact us or click below to download a printable version.

May you experience the true meaning of Christmas as found in the gospel according to Luke.

Tim and Martia and family

NEWS FROM THE FRANKLINS

“Helping Brazilians to Know God and to Make Him Known”

Tim and Martia Franklin to Natal, Brazil. August, 2006

Dear friends and loved ones,

Our hearts are overflowing with gratefulness to LORD for the privilege He
has given to us these past four years in Brazil and now, as we have arrived
in U.S., rejoicing at the wonderful times God has already given us. We look
forward to renewing fellowship with many others-getting caught up with what
God has been doing in your lives and sharing what He has been doing in ours.

We had a very busy first semester of 2006. Teaching at the Bible school in
Natal occupied most of our attention topped off with frequent weekend
speaking responsibilities. We thank the LORD for His strength, sustenance
and safety. June brought the end of the semester with term papers and exams
to evaluate. By the third week of July we turned over the house we were
renting, moved some earthly possessions into storage and packed for the
flight which landed us in Utah. The time of fellowship with Tim’s parents
was wonderful. God be glorified through the miracles He has done in Mormon
country. Besides finding someone willing to sell for a baptist church, the
LORD provided the necessary funds to purchase the prime lot within the
stipulated time. Please pray for Mormons to be saved and the church in
Roosevelt to grow. Like all religions devoid of regeneration, Mormonism is
but another godless, pagan and superstitious alternative. They need the
LORD.

We thank the LORD for providing an apartment in northern CA. It was a
special blessing to be able to arrive to a furnished place, even with food
in the cupboards and milk in the refrigerator. Throughout the next year we
will be reporting to as many participants in our ministry as possible. We
are still putting together our schedule. Please note our new contact
information listed below.

Please thank the LORD together with us:

for the blessed first term of service in Brazil.

for the safety in our many miles of travels this past term.

Please pray specifically for the following:

that we would bless believers with an accurate and concise picture of our
time in Brazil.

for wisdom as we set up our reporting schedule.

that we would be used of the LORD to bring salvation and growth among many.

Your co-servants of Jesus,

Tim and Martia and family