Satuday Visitation

This past weekend I had the great privilege of going soul-winning with my parents. As we got in the car to head out, I thought— “Wow, so this is what it feels like to have your father lead in a spiritual activity.”

We went to our assigned area and all agreed to take turns speaking at the door (I thought of Mrs. Hosaflook, a dear lady in my home church who just loves to be the one to speak at the door). Although we didn’t have too many actually come to their door, we were able to speak to a handful of people. Thus, I had the privilege to hear my dad speak. Wow! Who taught him?! He caught the attention of his listener and made sure to mention the importance of reading the tract to know if they were in fact going to heaven. Dad has a true heart for the lost and a burden for missions. I just praise the Lord for these great blessings in my life.

IF ANY TWO AGREE IN MY NAME

One of our dear, precious ladies has an intense struggle with depression. She has been in this battle for twenty-one years. We rejoiced in her conversion this past year and began to see a difference in her countenance and spirit. More recently, however, her struggle has intensified. Tonight a group of ladies from our church went out to her home for a singspiration and blessing time. The Lord brought many verses to mind as different ones shared promises from God, examples from the Word, or personal situations in which the Lord had brought them through a difficult time. We spent three hours together and it was just such a blessing to hear our ladies give counsel to her using the Word of God. When our time came to a close, we joined hands to pray for our sister, Tânia (white shirt, flowered skirt). She´s in a real battle, but the battle is the Lord´s. Remember her in prayer!

The 84 year old Lawyer

I ride the bus a lot and on many occasions I have had an opportunity to speak with someone about the gospel. This past week as I took a bus to go downtown, I made my way in and found it full, thus standing room only. Making my way towards the middle of the bus to increase the probability of a seat becoming free, I saw that there was one open towards the back. I sat down next to an older gentleman who began to thank me for sitting there. Oh boy, this is odd, I thought. After a few moments I gave him a tract and the conversation opened immediately as he began to share what his personal belief and life perspective is. It was obvious that he felt justified by his works, citing his faithful attendance to mass, prayers to God and high ethics by which he maintained his life. He shared two grievous statements: first, that he preferred not to dwell on the thought of life after death and second, he believed that Jesus had sinned. In the first, he errs because willful ignorance cannot negate truth and the second in that we could never obtain forgiveness of sin if Jesus were not sinless (as well as His death would have been in vain, etc.)! A lawyer, age 84--I do not know how open he was to accepting something opposite his belief, but I was surely thankful for the opportunity to share what God says, which, is promised to not return void. How important it is to give God's Word to those who have been blinded by false beliefs!

Tell It Again

Last week, Vera and I went out to visit a lady who came with her husband to our church’s anniversary conference. She was home but asked if we could come back later in the afternoon. That would not be a problem—we made plans accordingly. We then went over to visit Juliana, a young girl who participates in our 10-15 year old club. She was not home but her older sister, Pamela, was. We chatted and talked and sought to turn the conversation to Jesus Christ. Bridging our conversation by asking if she had a Bible, we shared with her how a Bible teaches us many things—the most important, however, is in how to have a relationship with God. This was not the first time in this home—nor was it the first time talking to Pamela. But in previous visits here, Pamela had never shown or expressed that she would like to receive the Lord as her Saviour. As we shared the gospel with her again, she listened carefully. When the gospel had been presented and she was asked if she would like to pray to receive the Lord as her Saviour, she surprised us by saying, “yes,” she did! We reviewed some points of the gospel to make sure she understood, asked her again if she wanted to receive the Lord as her Saviour, and again she said yes. She prayed and we rejoiced. We encouraged her to take opportunities to learn more, as in Sunday services or beginning a Bible Study. Please pray for her that she will come out and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spreading Rays of Light

This week I have been participating in EXPOINTER-- a weeklong,

expansive event. The range of events are great, covering horse, cow, heifer, sheep, buffalo competitions to selling enormous tractors and latest cars, an amusement park, cotton candy, art-craft booths, "guacho" or cowboy gear booths, sessions for learning how to cut meat for a true Brazilian barbeque and then some!

Many of our regional churches of like faith and practice came together to rent a stand, thus creating an opportunity for us to be inside the fair's gate with full permission to pass out our material. "Our material" has been thousands of tracts that have now circulated most all the grounds. Everyday there are new people and new opportunites to spread God's Word.

Yesterday I was at a craft stand and began chatting with the lady. The crafts she had were similar to the ones in Manaus, AM where I had just been. Sure enough, she was from that region. She also shared that she lived in Belem Novo, a town next to Ponta Grossa!! As I sought to direct the conversation to spiritual things, she began sharing her philosophy of life-- you reap what you sow, so try to do your best in life. It was a little hard speaking with her as she didn't seem open to hearing a different point of view.

But, the Lord has a way of changing things around. I was carrying pens from our booth and when I offered her one, she accepted the pen and ask for one for her friend. He came over and the conversation generated to my accent (as many conversations do) and our group increased to two more people who were their friends.

One of the friends asked me if I was working at the fair. I shared with her that we had a stand and that I was passing out the following tract: "Bah Gaúcho! Where will you spend eternity?"

She read that phrase out loud and looked at her friend and asked the question. He said, "I don´t know!" Yeah!! an opportunity to explain! And it was awesome. That was my lead in to share that you can know--God tells us that in I John 5:13. The Lord opened the door for me to share the Gospel and to address the lady´s philosophy of life in contrast to what God says. Praise the Lord!! She gave me her address and phone number to contact her later.

What a blessing when people listen to a presentation of the Gospel!

luciana

While in Manaus with my family, I had the opportunity to meet Luciana, a friend of Amanda's who was temporarily living with her family. One evening as we were in the living room together I asked Luciana if she believed in God. She said she did. "How would you describe your relationship with Him?" I asked. She gave an elusive answer and so I asked her another question that would probably bring a response she could give. "Did she believe that there is a heaven and a hell?" I like to ask questions of what people think, so that, through the help of the Holy Spirit, I can better address any area needed to explain the gospel. She began to explain her view of God and how people become a part of His family. After we talked for a little bit I asked her if she would be interested in doing a four lesson Bible study about God, relating that while we have our own idea or opinion on these issues, it is important to know what God thinks regarding these issues. The Come and See Bible study is evangelistic and great to use with people who want to "learn about God" more. She said she would like to do the study. As it was my last week in Manaus, we figured out what days we could do the study and started the next day. Amanda joined us in the study and understood well what was taught. The following day we received news that Luciana had found a place to live and would move out the same day--thus, we didn't finish the study. However, I was exciting to hear from Amanda that she would continue it with her. What a blessing to see her desire as a young Christian to see someone saved! Pray with me for Luciana!

A Blessing in Broken Things

I broke my glasses yesterday.

Right in half! I was just cleaning them. I wonder if the Lord is telling me to go get my eyes checked. They really didn´t look repairable but hey, why not give it try. This morning I got out some super glue to do the trick but when that had no effect, I went by an eye-glass store and showed the poor state of my glasses to the employee. After talking for a few minutes he stated, "You're not from around here." "Are you part of that church?" he asked, referring to a church nearby started by one of our missionaries. I explained my association and he started sharing about the different missionaries who had come by his store and their friendliness.
Hmm....sounds like planted seeds.

The conversation later turned to current events as he shared his thoughts on Michael Jackson's death. I listened as he talked about the unjustness of his upbringing and his father's treatment toward him. I don't mind hearing out people's thoughts and reactions to his death but I do share that his death takes my thoughts to a different angle...as with any death I wonder, did this person know Christ?

Life can be quite "unjust." But that really is not important. The response, rather, deserves more focus...what is your reaction to that situation and where did that road take you? Closer to God or farther away?

For believers, "all things work together for good to them that love God..."

If one doesn't know Jesus Christ-- what does it profit if a man's gains everything the world has to offer, yet loses his soul? There is nothing sadder. No, I don't know the standing of an individual before God. I do know that rich or poor, every person dies and takes nothing with them. A memory or a legacy is but a dot when we consider eternal life.

We continued to talk and the man allowed me to share the gospel, showing genuine interest in hearing the gospel. That's my blessing. I had an opportunity to share the gospel because my glasses broke. Praise the Lord! Pray for him. His name is Gilberto.