Jesus said, 'He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”
Luke 3:11
{If you were to trade places with your fellow Christians that were born in 3rd world countries, what would you want wealthier Christians to do for you? (Matt. 25:34-46 and Matt. 7:12) If you can perceive this concept, you will grasp that Christ was teaching (Matt. 7:12-27) a summary of the whole Law and the Prophets--charitable and gracious words are not only meaningless without aligned actions (behavior) but it also determines your status in eternity. He who once stood by the treasury still stands by it today noticing our gifts to further the gospel.}
Yesterday evening was one of the most exciting services I have been in, here in northeast Brazil. In south Brazil when we lived and worked for many years we had raised up a home and foreign missions departments in many of our churches but since things have been so hard here in the northeast we at times have received a home missions offering but never a foreign missions offering. We have been feeling to tell our people to reach out to others and God will reach out to them. So almost 2 months ago our people started talking about Africa and set the date for a special “Africa” service.
What was the service like? It really begin with an all night prayer meeting on Saturday night and fasting on Sunday until 1 PM. then a small “African type cornmeal” cake with a little meat on it. By 4 most of us were already in the church preparing for the 5 O’clock service. Everything was beautiful. A huge “world” hung at the front of our church and the word MISSIONS wrote above it.
Our projector showed scenes of Africa. We had probably 10 or more songs about missions and Africa. Some of the songs they acted out. It was so touching and so well planned. They started at 5pm and we finally got out around 9:30. You could feel the presence of God as missions is the closest thing to His heart.
Close to the end we received a missionary offering. It was so touching to see many who are so poor giving their bread money so a good offering could be received. I stood by the offering box with tears streaming down my face watching our people give. I am always touched by the real move of God.
They took the offering and counted it. They came smiling at me informing me that 186 reais had come in. A record offering for this area of Brazil! That was over 90 dollars in your money. They had sold cakes and different things to help. I thought how they were reaching out in their deep poverty to others. What a sign of Christian love. Here, they need help to get their bus fixed and they were so willingly helping others.
The Catholic deaf and dumb choir came with their instructor. They had never been in a Christian service before! Through the instructor one of the girls told us that she thought she could hear the music and in her soul she felt something she did not know how to describe. We explained to her she felt Jesus. It was so awesome as each one of them told what they felt deep inside even though they could not hear one word we said. "For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water..." (
Isaiah 35:6-7).
There is no God like our God. We are continually reminded of God's goodness, and His bigness, and His faithfulness as we see His dealings with us earth creatures.
Missions must be at the heart of the Church and the Christian Life. In fact, a church without missions isn’t a church at all. Through missions the reign of God is made real and tangible in our broken world. We process all the pieces to their scattered puzzle. We have the answer to their situation. We have the cure for their wounds. We cannot sit comfortable in our fine homes and fashionable clothes while the world rushes to hell. We must come OUT of our castles and realize we are in war.
In our quest for souls we ask that you especially remember us this weekend as we will be conducting our regional national convention. Please pray that Brother Alvear and I will be faithful and true guides to our people. Bach wrote “To the glory of God” on every work he penned, yet that glory wafts past us and we perceive it not. While I am painfully aware of my own weaknesses and have absolutely no confidence in my ability to do anything of value in the Kingdom on my own, I am keenly aware of the life of Christ within me; knowing who I am in Him and who He is in me.
To deny who He created me to be; to deny His gifts, His calling, and His authority on my life is in effect to deny Him, and this I cannot do!
My confidence lies not in who I am, but in He who lives within me!
So, amidst poverty, despair, trash filled streets and people begging on street corners, God's goodness is shining through and people are coming to know their Savior for the first time in their lives. Thank you for being involved in this great project. Thank you for caring and giving. Thank you for praying and praying again.
It is the church against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. Thank you for being a part of this great church!
Your friends in Brazil Missions
Brother and Sister Raul Alvear and family
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:17-18
Linear Mode
