ONE MORE IN THE FOLD....

A few weeks ago on a Sunday morning we received an answer to prayer. Anderson, Thais´ friend, received the Lord as his Savior. Our church family had been praying for him, witnessing to him, and encouraging him each opportunity possible. During our Sunday morning blessing time, Anderson raised his hand and declared, " Last Sunday, on March 29th, I prayed to receive the Lord as my Savior. Pray for me, because I am like a young baby in the things of the Lord."

And pray we must, that this seed may have strong root! Praise the Lord and to God be the glory!

I Must Turn the Conversation to the Theme of Themes...

Thais came to us about five or six months ago. Years before she had heard the gospel, participated in Bible studies, but had not become a believer. Time passed and through different circumstances that occurred in her life, she recognized her need, turned to God and placed her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. In those first services that she visited at our church she had many questions about the Bible, about God, and what He desired of her. It was evident that she had a thirst to know more about the Lord. Thais is 26 and she has been growing, serving, and taking every opportunity now to live for the Lord. Thais is participating in the ladies seminar class and in referring to our class on evangelism, she came to me recently and said, "Tati, I was on the bus today and as I was sitting there, this man started talking to me and after a little while the thought came to me....I must turn the conversation to the Theme of themes (from the material Come and See). How could I do this without him cutting me off? I began praying, asking the Lord to show me what I could say. Then...the man did the sign of the cross (many people do this here when they pass by a Catholic church). I asked him, "Sir, are you a Christian?"

"What? What's that?"

"It is what I am, I am a Christian."

"Oh, well I am Catholic."

"A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus died on the cross for their sins" she replied.

"Oh, well, everyone believes that."

They talked a few more minutes and she asked where he lived. The bus was arriving close to that particular area. I need to give him a tract! She offered one and he, hesitating slightly, said he would accept it--but only because she had talked to him and, well, because he really could use something--his wife had a surgery recently and had been suffering. Our world is needy! And what they need most is the powerful, penetrating work of the Gospel through faithful servants speaking and sharing His Word!

Easter Blessing

TURNING CONVERSATIONS TO JESUS CHRIST

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God... I Pet 3:18a


"Tati, there is someone downstairs asking for you."
"Oh, is it my dad?" I teased. I went downstairs from our Sunday school area to meet the mysterious Sunday morning guest.
*****
Saturday morning after evangelism, Vera went back to the church, which is also her home (the pastoral home is located on the church property), and I went to the bus stop to get a ride back to the seminary. The bus was basically empty and I chose a seat by the window. Every few minutes the bus would stop and more people would get on--children, adults, ladies with babies, elderly folk. I closed my eyes to rest a little when some moments later I could sense that someone had sat next to me. I couldn't tell the person's age because of my straight ahead angle but I could tell that the man was tall. Taking a tract out of my bag I handed it to the man.

"Sir, this will tell you how you can know for sure you are going to heaven."

He thanked me and began to share how there were so many problems in this world and how his vision was to re-educate parents and grandparents on how to educate their children. "It starts with the parents!" he said. "Yes," I agreed, "the parents need to train...and the starting place is with the Bible." We read Deuteronomy 6:6-9. He politely disagreed that the starting place couldn´t be the Bible since most people don't know the Bible. He continued to share his opinions and plans, yet, they were still incomplete because God was not in the picture. "You know," I tried to share carefully, "only when men and women give their heart to God and apply His Word will they make right choices and make a good impact on society. How would you describe your relationship with God?"

The next few moments took us through some truths about God and the exchange God offers to every person--acceptance of Jesus' payment for all our sin in exchange for eternal life in heaven with God . It was a hurried few moments because my bus stop was really close. His last comment was, "hmm, I never heard this before." Well praise the Lord, the conversation got him thinking! Quickly giving him one more tract, I got off the bus.

Have you guessed? Our Easter Sunday morning surprise was this man, coming to Sunday school twenty minutes before the starting hour. He had come from Canoas, a city about 30 minutes away if you come by car, which he did not.

"I started thinking about we talked about," he said, "and I wanted to hear more."

Edi-Luiz didn't receive Christ that morning, but we pray that very soon he will!