SÃO PAULO (BNc)- Forty-two men spent the day together Saturday, June 21, for a conference on the family.

The Jardim das Flores congregation hosted for the third year the Encounter of Christ’s Faithful Ministers, with the theme “Real Christianity Starts at Home.”

Besides the hosting congregation, brethren were present from six other churches in the São Paulo area, as well as five congregations from other cities in the state.

All the speakers but one were Brazilians: Francisco Bezerra, from the hosting congregation; Ricardo Samaan, an elder from the Bauru church; Renato Costa Pereira, from the Itaquera church; and João Cruz, evangelist with the Vila Guilherme congregation.

Missionary Randal Matheny, from São José dos Campos, also spoke at the event.

After each lesson, several men offered short reflections and appeals based on the message they had just heard.

Daniel Polato, a young Christian from the Jardim das Flores congregation, served as emcee.

Among those present, three were non-Christians, one the student of the local School of the Bible outreach program.

A book of the five speeches is in preparation.

The 2009 event is set for June 20 at the church in Embu-Guaçu, a city in the greater São Paulo area.

The Jardim das Flores congregation is one of the older churches in the state of São Paulo. It was established 44 years ago last April.

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