The “One Another” Verses

The Bible has a lot to say about how we are to treat those around us.

When you are in doubt about how God wants you to respond to a certain relationship situation, here is God’s council. (I copied this list from Contagious Disciple, by Watson J., & Watson P.).

COMMANDS FOR LIVING IN COMMUNITY (“ ONE ANOTHER” PASSAGES)

Accept one another. (Rom 15: 7)
Agree with one another. (1 Cor. 1: 10; Phil. 4: 2)
Bear with one another. (Col. 3: 13)
Remember that we belong to one another. (Rom. 12: 5)
Consider one another as better. (Phil. 2: 3)
Do not break faith with one another. (Mal. 2: 10)
Build up one another. (Eph. 4: 29; 1 Thess. 5: 11)
Do not be a burden to one another. (Gal. 6: 4– 5)
Carry one another’s burdens. (Gal. 6: 2)
Do not compare yourselves to one another. (Gal. 6: 4– 5)
Have equal concern for one another. (1 Cor. 12: 25– 27)
Confess your sins to one another. (James 5: 16)
Do not covet one another’s spouses. (Ex. 20: 17; Deut. 5: 21)
Do not desire one another’s property. (Ex. 20: 17; Deut. 5: 21)
Let no debt remain outstanding to one another. (Rom. 13: 8)
Do not allow stealing, lying, and deception to be a part of your relationships with one another. (Lev. 19: 11)
Do not devour or destroy one another. (Gal. 5: 15)
Be devoted to one another. (Rom. 12: 10)
Discipline one another. (Matt. 18: 15– 17)
Do good and share with one another. (Heb. 13: 16)
Build up one another with your faith. (Rom. 1: 11– 12)
Encourage one another. (1 Thess. 4: 18; 5: 11; Titus 1: 9; Heb. 3: 13; 10: 25)
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10: 24)
Do not envy one another. (Gal. 5: 26)
Judge one another fairly. (Lev. 19: 15)
Do not do anything to cause one another to fall. (Rom. 14: 21)
Fellowship with one another. (1 John 1: 7)
Forgive one another. (Matt. 18: 21– 35; Eph. 4: 32; Col. 3: 13)
Serve one another with your gifts. (1 Cor. 12: 7; 1 Peter 4: 10)
Give to one another. (Prov. 3: 28; Luke 6: 30; 17: 3– 4)
Greet one another. (Rom. 16: 16; 1 Peter 5: 14)
Do not hold a grudge against one another. (Lev. 19: 18)
Do not grumble against one another. (James 5: 9)
Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward one another. (Deut. 15: 7)
Do not plot harm against one another. (Prov. 3: 29)
Live in harmony with one another. (Rom. 12: 16; 1 Peter 3: 8)
Do not hate one another in your hearts. (Lev. 19: 17)
Honor one another above yourselves. (Rom. 12: 10) 39.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4: 9)
Have humility toward one another. (1 Peter 5: 5)
Do not do things that will hurt one another. (Rom. 14: 15)
Be full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and competent to instruct one another. (Rom. 15: 14)
Do not charge one another interest on personal loans of money or goods. (Deut. 23: 19)
Do not judge one another. (Rom. 14: 10, 13; 14: 13; James 4: 12)
Be kind to one another and everyone else. (1 Thess. 5: 15; 2 Tim. 2: 24; Eph. 4: 32)
Do not lie to or about one another. (Ex. 20: 16; Deut. 5: 20; Col. 3: 9– 10)
Look after one another’s interests. (Phil. 2: 4)
Do not gloat over the destruction of one another, or boast about your good fortune when others are in trouble. (Obad. 1: 12)
Do not look down on one another. (Rom. 14: 10)
Love one another. (Lev. 19: 18; Matt. 22: 36– 39; Mark 12: 28– 31; Luke 10: 25– 27; John 13: 34– 35; 15: 12; 17; Rom. 13: 9; Gal. 5: 14; 1 Thess. 3: 12; 4: 9; 2 Thess. 1: 3; Heb. 13: 1; James 2: 8; 1 Peter 1: 22; 4: 8; 1 John 3: 11, 23; 4: 7, 11– 12; 2 John 1: 5– 6; see also 1 Corinthians 13: 4– 13)
Have mercy and compassion for one another. (Zech. 7: 9)
Be openhanded with one another. (Deut. 15: 11)
Be patient with one another. (Eph. 4: 2)
Be at peace with one another. (Mark 9: 50; 1 Thess. 5: 12– 13)
Pray for one another. (James 5: 16)
Do not provoke one another. (Gal. 5: 26)
Rebuke one another so you don’t share another’s guilt. (Lev. 19: 17)
Be reconciled to one another. (Matt. 5: 23– 24)
Show respect to one another. (1 Peter 2: 17)
Gently restore one another when caught in sin. (Gal. 6: 1)
Do not seek revenge against one another. (Lev. 19: 18)
Seek the good of one another. (1 Cor. 10: 24)
Serve one another. (Gal. 5: 13)
Do not slander one another. (James 4: 11)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Eph. 5: 19– 20)
Do not steal from one another by stealth, force, trickery or deceit. (Lev. 19: 13)
Do not put stumbling blocks or obstacles in one another’s way. (Rom. 14: 13)
Submit to one another. (1 Cor. 16: 15– 16; Eph. 5: 21)
Do not take advantage of one another. (Lev. 25: 14, 17)
Teach and admonish one another. (Col. 3: 16)
Make sure there is a good reason to testify against one another. (Prov. 24: 28)
Do not think evil of one another. (Zech. 7: 10)
Speak truth to one another. (Zech. 8: 16– 17)
Do not plot evil against one another. (Zech. 8: 16– 17)
Wait for one another. (1 Cor. 11: 33)

Watson, David; Watson, Paul (2014). Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery (p. 166-168). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Jul, 5

Surprising Thoughts About Unity

Moving towards conflicting ideas may be more helpful than moving away from them. Here is why.

Robust Unity

I used to think that one way to have a more unified team was to somehow avoid conflict. Then I heard this statement:

“A pastor who avoids conflict has a bigger chance of experiencing a church split.”

I was surprised and a little incredulous by what I learned this at the Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, in Fresno California.

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

Jul, 4

July 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers and support. They are greatly appreciated.

We have been in the midst a whirlwind month, but wanted to give everyone a small update. This has definitely been one of the most memorable and enjoyable months I’ve had since my arrival to Brazil two years ago. It started out with a trip to the city of Portel to meet up with a short-term mission team out of my home church, Vineyard Church of Delaware County. From the moment we met up with the team, it felt like a breath of fresh air. It was so nice seeing some familiar faces and to meet some others for the first time. This team was led by my good friend, Michael Hansen. For those of you who know Michael, you know that it is an understatement to say that any team led by him will be fun. The whole trip was filled with laughter. Denise and I could both sense a weight lifting from our shoulders during this trip. It is true what they say: “laughter is sometimes the best medicine” (unless you have diarrhea)….

Goofing off with the VCDC team

Some of the VCDC team with Brazilians

The ministry during this trip was also monumental. I saw two themes on this trip: proclaiming the Kingdom of God and the simplicity of the Gospel. Most of the trip was spent on a boat and the lead missionary in Portel, Richie, focused primarily on bringing us into new areas where he had just recently made contact. Many of the people we encountered didn’t have much (or any) biblical knowledge. There was a conscious effort to simplify our message for them. What many of us were reminded of was how powerful the simple Gospel message is, that we don’t need to be master theologians to impact people’s lives. We just need the Holy Spirit. We saw many conversions and people lives changed. After two weeks on the river with the VCDC team, it was sad to see them go, but we built some strong relationships that we know will continue for many years.

Denise translating for our good friend, Dan, for a service on the boat

Denise leading worship with Michael and Ramon in a small community outside Portel

Denise and I with our good friend and fellow missionary, Phil, sitting on a porch in a small community

We didn’t have much time to recover from this trip. Within 17 hours of returning to our home in Altamira, we were headed back out on the river with the Alive Vineyard team from Newark Ohio, led by their Senior Pastor, Steve Osborne. Prior to this second trip, Denise and I were a bit unsure whether it would be wise to go out with a second short-term team so soon. Going out on the river on one trip can wear you out and starting the process over with a brand new cast of characters felt a bit intimidating, especially since Denise and I had never met one single member from this team prior to this trip. But within one day of our first encounter with the Newark team, we were both VERY happy that we agreed to participate. We felt a connection to the team right off the bat – like we’d know them for years! Their passion for Christ and desire to share the Gospel and God’s love was such an encouragement to us.

A few shots from the trip

While in Brazil, the Newark team had a two-fold focus. The first was a series of teachings they prepared titled “Come Follow Me”. They held two-day conferences in Altamira and in the city of Gurupa based on this material. We also made multiple stops in other communities and cities to teach this material. “Come Follow Me” is a very teachable, down-to-earth approach to the basics of following Jesus. The teachings were based on writings by the author David Platt. We saw the Holy Spirit do some amazing things. After each teaching, there would be an opportunity for prayer. The people really responded to the message and we saw many decisions to follow Christ

Newark team ministry time

A Vineyard Church that was planted in a small community years ago

The other focus the Newark team had was for children. They offered a number of activities for the children in each community we visited. What we have found here in northern Brazil is that many church plants and much church growth starts with the children. With both of these river trips, it is always the children who are first to greet us when stepping into new territory. After making a connection with the children, the rest of the family will follow suit and slowly warm up to us.

Me with a little boy in the community

Newark team doing activities with children

Newark team with the children

We are now back in Altamira. We will be here for about three weeks until we leave for a short trip to our future home of Macapa to do some house-hunting and continue to prepare for our move there. Joining us on this trip will be our good friends, Cleide and Allison, who will be looking into some schools for Allison’s continued education. We are very excited to catch up with pastor Felipe and Uana and the rest of our Macapa family.

We are also excited for Intervinha (our Northern Brazil Vineyard Conference) next month here in Altamira. Vineyard folk from all over the northern region will be attending. Denise and I are in charge of the music for the conference. We have a lot of preparation ahead of us. Also, my dad is one of the guest speakers for the conference AND my nephew, Emerson, will be joining my dad for the trip! Denise and I are so excited to spend some time with them!

Prayer Requests:

Please pray with us as we get ready for our move to Macapa. There are many details that have to be taken care of. All of our possessions, including our vehicle, will have to be taken by a barge on the Amazon for this 200-300 mile trip.

Finding a house that we can afford in an area that is reasonably safe would be something else we’d love you to pray for.

There will be many financial expenses, both in the move and in becoming base leaders in Macapa. We have been strongly encouraged to increase our monthly support. Won’t you please pray about that as well?

We couldn’t be doing any of this without your support, financial, relational and through your prayers. Thank you!

In His Service,

Christopher and Denise

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/meyer-ministries/

Jun, 23

June Amazon Update! – Steve and Elba

The church had a “Pink tea party” for the women in the community. The women members of the church were asked to invite one of their friends to come to the church to participate in the event. They served food, played games, did a raffle giveaway, had a small fashion show, and then shared the Love of God. It was a fun and a great way to introduce Jesus into these women’s lives who did not know Him as their Savior. It was also a very special time for some of these woman to get a little pampered and to step away from their lives that at times can be very complicated.

The Vineyard Institute (VI) also had its kick off here in Brazil. Vineyard Institute is an educational provider for the Vineyard movement, formed to develop leaders at all levels of church life through high quality theological training. Training our existing and future leaders is one of the keys to planting more churches and making more disciples. These courses will hopefully help the leaders realize the giftings that the Lord has given to them so that they will use them to promote the Kingdom of God. It will also assist us to instill the DNA of the church as we pass the baton onto the future generation. We have more than 80 participants signed up in the program just here in Altamira. http://vineyardinstitute.org/

We will be coming back to Ohio for the International Vineyard Conference being held at the Vineyard Church of Columbus. Elba was honored with an invitation to speak and she will be sharing on July 9^th between 2-4pm. Please keep her in your prayer as she prepares her message and that the message she speaks will be according to the Lord’s will.

The big highlight for this month was Camilly’s public decision to get baptized. It was a really special moment for us as parents. It was even more special because I got the opportunity to actually participate in her baptism. We were all very excited. Here is a picture of Alyssa. She makes these bracelets and necklaces out of little rubber bands and has been selling them to the students at CDR. She is saving up money for her trip to the States.

Please continue to pray for spiritual, physical, and emotional health for us. Also, please pray for our trip back to the States and that our time may be filled with family, friends, joy, peace, safety, and more importantly full of the Holy Spirit. Thanks!

Love and blessings, Steve, Elba, Camilly and Alyssa

Tax deductible donations can be written and sent to:

The Xingu Mission

P.O Box 340785

Columbus, Ohio 43234

Or On-line donations at:

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/dolan-ministries/

One of our members during Mother’s Day being touched by the Holy Spirit.

Jun, 20

Coming Home

Hello Everybody!

In just a few short weeks, I will be back on US soil! I am so excited to come home again and visit with all of you and see my family. It has been a year and a half since my last visit, and it was in the middle of winter. I think this visit will be just a little more enjoyable since I will be able to go outside!
When I think about going home, other than friends and family, there are a few things I look forward to: Hound Dog’s Pizza, Grater’s Ice Cream, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Thai food, Indian Food, fast internet, bathtubs with hot water……mostly, it just revolves around food! All these earthly comforts will be a warm welcome to me.
I will also be attending the International Vineyard Conference at Vineyard Columbus in the beginning of July. I am really excited about this conference as many missionaries will be attending, as well as other members of the Vineyard from all over the world. It will be such a privilege to meet them and learn about the work that God is doing through the Vineyard Movement around the world.
Also while I am home, I have a few needs that I am hoping you can help with. One, I will need a car while I am there. If you know anyone who would be willing to let me borrow a car for the month of July, I would greatly appreciate it. Please, send me a message if you can help. Having a car will allow me to meet and connect with all of you, so I can tell you more about my experiences here in Brazil. The second goal of my trip will be to raise my support. I need to raise my support by about $600 every month. I ask that you please prayerfully consider supporting me monthly for any amount that you feel comfortable. Consistent, monthly giving is the best to help me prepare for the future. I will put information below of how you can give.

*You can allocate the funds at church for me by check or cash for: Xingu Mission-Allison Rupert.

*You can mail your supportdirectly to the mission:
Xingu Mission-Allison Rupert
PO Box 340785
Columbus, Ohio 43234
USA

*You can also donate online at:
https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/rupert-ministries/

Over the past few weeks, I have been wrapping up things with the English school. We just had our final class for the semester and had the opportunity to invite some American visitors to our party. A team from Vineyard Church of Delaware County came down on a short-term trip. The students loved the chance to practice their English with some native speakers! I think the team had a good time, too!


Our students with a few members of the team

I also traveled back to Altamira to take Manoela home and also complete my permanent visa process. It was sad to see Manoela go as she has been so much help to me here in Portel. However, I am looking forward to introducing her to many of you when we go the States. While I was visiting Altamira, I also got to spend a lot of time with Ronã. We had a lot of fun together as you can imagine!


Ronã and I at the March For Jesus

If you want to see more pictures from my trip and from our English classes, check out the link below.

June 2015 Pictures

See you soon! Love you!

Allison

Jun, 16

Emma and Bella Leave Brazil

Off to study abroad…

Do they look like world travelers? Emma moved to Canada on Thursday, and Bella flew with her for the summer. Deanna will fly home later this summer for a month or so, and return with Bella, who will finish her Grade 12 in Brazil and then decide what she wants to do next.

This may be the best place to eat in Belem. We’ll take you here if you come to visit us.

Last meal together at the airport.

And they are off to study abroad.

Jun, 8

The Birdies

A letter from Emma and Bella to their Mom

Emma and Bella surprised us with this book just before they went through the security gates, on their way out of Brazil.

Deanna and I are empty-nesters for the summer. Bella will come back in the Fall to do Grade 12.

Jun, 8

The Birdies, by Emma and Bella Bergen

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Jun, 5

3, I Want To Go Home

I Want To Go Home

Standing in our hallway, my daughter looked up at me with her big, brown, tear filled eyes and asked me, ‘Mommy, where is home?’

I paused, took a deep breath and told her that home is wherever we are, that our family is home. Four walls don’t make a home, a country doesn’t make a home, a family does.

“But Mommy,” she protested, “Canada feels like home, but now we are here and we are here for two years and then we only go back for a few months and come back here again. So, it’s like Brazil is home but it’s not, because I don’t feel normal here,” a tear left a wet trail down her cheek.

I fought my own tears. It’s a battle I have in my own heart almost daily. I have a heart in two places. As a child, a missionary kid, she’s considered ‘third culture’ a mixture of where she’s from and where she is she isn’t strongly part of either one. It’s a tough place to be in some days.

Yesterday was one of those tough ones.

Faith lay with her head on my lap, tears fell from her eyes and I wiped away each one. She cried for the friends she left behind, for the family she longs to see at holidays, she cried for the way kids make fun of her when she speaks English, she cried for the middle ground she lives in.

I held her and whispered in her ear that some days, Mommy feels exactly the same way.

‘I just want to go home, I just want to feel normal’ she said through tears and a trembling bottom lip.

What I couldn’t bear to whisper in her ear is that the reality is, there is no going home.

Even when we land in Canada a year from now, home will no longer feel the way it did. The comfort of ordered streets that are well paved, clear of litter and stray dogs will be replaced with a feeling of estrangement. It will feel oddly sterile. Friends have made new friends. The landscape has changed.

The puzzle you once fit into with ease, is still there but you, the piece of it that flew away to a far away land, you are no longer the same shape. Try as you might, your shape no longer fits the same way into the void you left behind.

No, I couldn’t tell her that part. She’ll learn that on her own.

Many times, often daily, I have to remind myself that God called not just Phil and I into this adventure, he called our kids too. They aren’t skin tags, along for the ride. They are part of this thing. There is purpose in it for them too.

This week our base leaders took there two youngest daughters to the airport to see them off, back to Canada where one will stay to go to University and the other visit with her sisters before returning to Brazil for her last year of high school. Another missionary family recently took their oldest son back to the U.S. for the same reason. My heart aches for the mothers who now live with thousands of miles between them and the children who have been beside them, working with them, doing life as a family in a way that most don’t get to experience. They have been together for every victory and every tear.

But all that closeness, it comes with a high price tag. One day, if we are still doing this missionary life, we may have to do the same.

My own words ring in my head, ‘home is our family’.

But what happens when your family is now in two places? It’s normal for your kids to grow up and find a life of their own, but normally they move maybe a couple hours away, not a continent.

The gifts in this life, they are enormous. The sacrifices are too.

The daughters of our base leader wrote a children’s story for their Mom. About a Momma bird and her four babies and how the Momma bird feels like her heart is flying away with her babies as they leave the nest. In the end, the Momma bird learns that she can learn to sing a

gain, she finds her song.

One of the biggest challenges as parents is letting our kids fly, letting them go and figure out this life. Even if they are still doing it with us. When Faith’s heart is breaking for home, I want to fix that hurt, I want to get on a plane and take us back. But that would be robbing her of the richness God has planned for her, that the pain and the struggle are some of the best nuggets in life.

Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:35

I know in my heart of hearts that the things she is learning here, the character that is being built in her at such a young age will prepare her to fly higher than I ever have or will in my life. And isn’t that what we want as parents? For our kids to fly higher, live larger?

If only it didn’t hurt so much in the midst of the struggle.

May, 28

3, May 2015 Newsletter

May 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers and support. They have been greatly appreciated.

I wanted to start this newsletter by saying how much I love being a missionary. I really do! I love how every day’s purpose is to advance the Kingdom of God. Although I believe that this should be the mission of any follower of Christ, I love the freedom I have to pursue this calling full-time – that my job description is to advance the Kingdom of God. I wouldn’t change a thing about my career choice. I hope to be doing this until the day that I die.

Although I love what I do and have not one regret, there are difficulties being a missionary and during the last several weeks I have experienced one of them. As many of you know, my mother was in a horrible car accident last week. She has multiple breaks in her arm and wrist, a huge laceration across her head that needed to be stapled shut, and scariest of all, she fractured 2 vertebrae. When I initially found out that my mom was in a bad accident, I had trouble getting through to my dad by phone. Eventually I did get through and he explained what had happened and that the doctors where doing test to find out the severity of the injuries. The following day Denise and I woke up hoping to hear an update on my mom’s condition, but we were unable to get through by phone and, not surprisingly, the internet was also out. It’s not that I could have done anything, but it’s a terrible feeling being cut off from the ones you love in times of crisis. It’s these moments when I feel the most isolated.

As of now, my mom’s prognosis is looking much better. After a few surgeries to her arm and wearing a neck brace for three months, the doctors believe she is going to make a full recovery. I am so delighted and relieved by this news! It could have been so much worse. But this situation has made me think a lot about how far Denise and I live from my friends and family. Throughout this year, there have been multiple situations when I wished I could have been home to love or comfort a friend or family member going through a hard time. I have had to get good at handing these feelings of helplessness, sadness or isolation over to Jesus. I have had to get good at asking Jesus for help – and Jesus has shown himself to be very good at answering this prayer. This might sound a bit silly, but I am constantly reminding myself that my missionary life needs to be dependent on Jesus. Imagine that! It’s important to have Jesus if you’re a missionary! 🙂

Prior to this difficult week, the last month has been great. My mom was actually here in Altamira with me for ten days! There was a pastor’s conference here for all the Vineyard pastors in Northern Brazil and my mom was one of the guest speakers. We had such a great time. Denise and I loved having my mom around. There is no sweeter person in the world than my mom. I love her so much and we had a great time together.

Mom preaching at Mirante Vineyard and Denise translating

Denise and Mom

Mom and me

The conference was also wonderful. God really seemed to show up and do some cool things in people’s lives. It was also a great experience for Denise and me! We are really excited for our move to Macapa, but we are also experiencing the anxieties of stepping into the unknown. We both felt that this conference was extremely helpful in equipping us for this next stage of our life. We were very encouraged by many of the pastors there as they blessed us in our upcoming adventure.

All the pastors who attended the pastor’s conference here in Altamira

Mom speaking at the conference

Another thing that we are excited about is our upcoming trip to Portel where we will meet up with a short term mission team from Vineyard Church of Delaware County which is my home church. We are excited to spend some time in Portel and on the river doing ministry together. We are also looking forward to being able to hang out and catch up with some old friends as well as good missionary friends who will be joining us in Portel. There will be missionaries from Portel, Maraba & Altamira along for the ride. It should be a great time!

Directly after this trip we will be heading back out on the river with another short-term missions team also from the Central Ohio area. We are excited about spending time with this team, too. Both Denise and I love meeting new people and making new connections. It should be a busy month, but also a very exciting month!

Prayer Requests:

Please pray continued healing for my mom.

Pray for safety and discernment as we continue to travel.

Pray for grace and wisdom through the summer as the time of our move grows nearer.

Pray for continued growth in our financial support.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. We love hearing from you!

In His Service,

Christopher and Denise

Contribution link:

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/meyer-ministries/

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