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This was written by Harry and Elaine's daughter Robin and was read at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Many of the people mentioned in this narritive were present.
| HARRY AND ELAINE – A LOVE STORY |
| Source: Pes Formosos www.pesformosos.com for English click on the British flag |
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| Married for fifty years and still in love. Fifty years in ministry together, and still active and fruitful. Forty-five years in Brazil and they still have a fire for missions in their hearts. Together, always together... united in dreams and fulfillments. Today we celebrate a Love Story which we all are part of. Right from the beginning we want to give all glory and honor to Jesus Christ our Lord, who has allowed us to take part in his redeeming plan. Thank God we are here as one family – God’s family! Let’s go back to our Love Story. Harry Dawes Scates and Helen Elaine Scates, for us here in Brazil, Ary and Helena, knew each other when they were still quite young. But, they only became good friends and fell in love at the age of 21. Three months after they had renewed their friendship they got married. A primary factor in this decision was their mutual commitment to serve the Lord in other lands. At the age of 26, (they are the same age with a 4 month difference) they came to Brazil by ship and arrived at the harbour in Santos after a 12 day journey. The date was January 04, 1963. But, how did it all begin? Well, Harry was born on February 14, 1937 in Palisade, Colorado, the fourth child (of six boys) of Erskine Edward Scates and Faith Marie Scates. His parents were people of faith and his father was the founder of many churches in western Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah and co-founder of Intermountain Bible College in Grand Junction. Harry accepted Jesus’ Lordship while still a boy he heard about Brazil for the very first time, through David Lloyd Sanders, a missionary who was a guest speaker at his church in 1947. Harry’s brother Richard used to say that he wanted to be a missionary. But, in 1950,Richard (Dick) passed away at the age of 16 due to a severe kidney disease and in the midst of the pain of that loss, Harry in tears said to the Lord that if Dick couldn’t be a missionary, he would take his place. Then at a summer church camp it became clear to Harry that the place he would serve the Lord was Brazil. Ever since then all his academic and professional preparation were directed to his calling. After high school he attended Mesa College and Intermountain Bible College. What about Elaine? This virtuous woman, with firm character, the second of 06 children was born on October 4, 1936 in Arthur, Nebraska to Chalmer and Coral Wade. Like everyone in her family she learned to work hard and at an early age, especially through the influence of her mother, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. She prepared for Christian service by going to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago specializing in children’s education. She was always close to her folks and siblings and her sweetness and faith were captivating. After their wedding, Harry and Elaine moved to Grand Valley(Parachute),Colorado to pastor the Christian Church there. That’s where they received their practical ministry training. Later, Harry got a master’s degree in history at Kansas State Un. at Hays and after 3 years of marriage their first born, Robin Renee arrived. One year later they left for Brazil leaving behind their relatives and their nation, very much aware that they would never again come back to reside permanantly in the USA. The Lord had given them this conviction, that they were to be sown like seed into this new country that they had decided to love without first seeing it. After studying Portuguese for one year in Campinas, they were invited to help with the newly established church in the new capital, Brasilia. They served the Christian Church there under the pastoral covering of veteran missionaries David Lloyd and Ruth Sanders. In Brasilia, they adopted a beautiful baby boy, and they named him Todd Marcos. In 1965, another daughter was born, Ann Valette, and in 1968 another son, Lance Sergio. In January of 1969, under God’s guidance, the Scates family moved to Uberlandia, MG. They knew they were to start a new work there. God had given them a vision of a New Testament church with Holy Spirit power and love to win and unite people. Their conviction was that the Lord had told them to put roots down and learn to live off of the land. In order to do this they opened a private school to teach English as a second language. They named this school Escola Speak English, and initially Harry and missionary colleague Lynn Cleaveland taught. The Cleavelands helped out in several ways until they returned to the USA in 1974. A young Brazilian named Geser was their language lab technicion. When the children got old enough to go to school, Elaine helped out. This school served its financial purpose of providing a living for the family and it opened up contacts in the city during the17 years it was functioning. And with the profits from the school, the couple was able to buy several pieces of land behind the army base at a time when there was nothing but scrub forest there. Later on this property which was named Shalom was donated to the church that was to be birthed. From 1969 to 1975 many Bible study groups were formed. Harry and Elaine opened the first Christian bookstore in town, prepared a correspondence Bible Course, did radio evangelism, evangelized in the schools by projecting Christian movies and Harry and a team of men preached and taught regularly in the city jail. They were involved in social assistance of the most various kinds, but little fruit was gathered. It was time for much sowing, but still not time for the harvest. Many did not trust these foreigners and many times they were misinterpreted. But, they remained firm. They raised their four children teaching them to love God above all things and to love people regardless of colour, race or economic standing. They loved Brazil to the point they were willing to abnegate their American citizenship to become Brazilians. The law at that time did not accept dual citizenship. They wanted to vote, be like the people, and in many ways participate in the building of this great nation. Also, the country was under a military dictatorship and Harry was threatened by a local authority because he was hosting a meeting where the only crime was hearing the witness of an ex-drug trafficker they had won in the city jail and who had served his time. At that time, because they were foreigners, the family could be expelled from the country within 48 hours without any legal recourse. They decided to become Brazilians to make that possibility a little harder. (Today, they have both their Brazilian and American passports). As of 1975 Harry and Elaine together with new missionaries Jim and Carol Sturgeon and Jim and Sandy Bunch began to reap the first fruit that has remained to this very day. Jose Pereira and his wife Ana were baptised in June of 1975 and Marcia Batista in September of that same year. In 1976 something wonderful began to take place...dozens of young people began to come to Christ, and their lives were profoundly changed. This fire began to spread from some meetings held Saturday afternoons at a school. Robin Scates (16) was one of God’s instruments in lighting this fire. Most of these young people had no family reference and were helped by Harry and Elaine, who opened their home for these youth. They needed to be taught and needed orientation. Above all they needed a father figure... This revival and love time was remarkable! The church that was then birthed had a face: Love! Harry and Elaine’s care was a consolidating force in this Godly move in the lives of so many. Their home seemed to be a bus station... and many ended up living in this home-bus station. Some had no home and ended up being included in the family as children. The family went from 04 children to 09. Beginning in 1980, leadership training became the emphasis of Harry and Elaine’s ministry. Leaders and pastors were prepared for the local church and in order to open up new works in other cities in Brazil and in other countries. During those years the coming of pastor Iron Bernardes and his family was really important for the structuring of the church in areas in which Harry felt weak. (Evangelism, and Prophetic gifts). His humility in sharing the ministry with Iron turned the church into a richly blessed community with the flowering of many gifts among so many and it grew a lot. Beginning in 1983 and until now (2008) leaders were sent to the cities of Cuiaba, São Miguel, Anapolis, Ribeirao Preto, Maraba, Patos de Minas, Ibia, Coromandel, Capinopolis, Prata... and daughter and link churches from these and other cities and towns (almost 60) were adopted; Araguari, Uberaba, Belem, Brasilia, Ceilandia, São Paulo besides the churches in other nations such as France, England, Ireland, Spain, India. One can say that one of the main attributes of the couple’s life and ministry is that they are always PRESENT... they are accessible, they are wonderful friends, they are wise and humble. They are an example of a lasting marriage, of good parenting, of family values, of Christian ministry. Their hearts are generous and their acts full of compassion and love. They are always inclusive and hospitable. They are servants... Tonight we want to honor you! The city of Uberlandia has already honored you. The city’s ministerial council honors you as one of its founders. The local church that you founded composed of 3,500 members honors you. Your co-pastors honor you as father and mother of this ministry. Ministries of other cities and nations honor you. Your children honor you, they are an extension of your lives and ministry. Your grandchildren honor you for they carry a precious inheritance of faith, love, character and faithfulness. We were all marked by God through your lives. You have always given us your best and we want to give you our love. Your marriage Harry and Elaine is an example of companionship, mutual care and marriage covenant. Always together... be it walking around the park for exercises, or be it during the great number of trips around Brazil and to other nations. Wherever you pass by, your influence continues on, each person is treated as special. We feel special for being part of your lives, your family, your ministry... Time goes by... but your influence remains... you will never be forgotten... we will be together |
Todd Scates
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