thoughts

[Sister Alvear]

How deep is the darkness of the soul of the person that has never heard the true gospel and lives in the rituals of paganism!

So great is his need for the one who is the Light of the World, the one who exchanges the heavy loads of idol worship and endless chanting to the assurance of a living Lord that both ears and answers prayers.

The millions of Temples that are filled with grimacing gods, burning candles and offering boxes seem to multiply. People live their whole lives in constant fear of evil spirits. It reminds me of what I once read:

We fear…
We fear the elements with which we fight to wrest our food from
land and air…
We fear the cold and famine…
We fear the sickness all around us…
We fear the souls of the dead…
We fear the spirits of earth and air…
We fear…
An Eskimo shaman to Rasmussen,
Danish Explorer, ca. 1918…

Many are the fears of those that do not know Jesus....



Though I have live in Brazil 43 years I have not become accustomed to the heathenism. The minor tones of temple bells that ring to awaken the gods still pain me. Seeing people worship gods of wood and stone, gods who cannot hear or help send a pain to my heart. Idol temples that fill the cities and dot the hillsides and valleys, and the roadways, all filled with stone and chalk images so that some desperate soul can kneel down and try to find an answer to life's problems.
It still brings tears to my eyes to watch them burn candles to help the dead find their way in the beyond. What light other than the light of Jesus can light our pathways? May our hears beat with joy, and our lips tremble with praise to Him that among all people, He has chosen us, and called us out for His service.
Yes, I know very much about the dreary solitudes of a pagan world, the heart-rending trials, and the soul-harassing temptations. The feeling of being separated from friends, home, and country. Cut off from the consolations of Christian Fellowship, a stranger in a strange land, hearing an unknown tongue, surrounded by scenes of lust, blood, paganism, and spiritual darkness.
I know what it is to push on when others go back for an easier way of life. I know even at this moment what it is for my desk to have stacks of bills to pay and sigh each time a preacher needs funds for some unreached area, the pain of having bills to pay not for a new dress or some material thing but for Bibles, tracts, gasoline bus tickets and etc to reach the lost. I know what it is to trust when the night seems dark and long, the cupboard bare.
But, I also know the joy of seeing the witchdoctors converted, idol gods being thrown away forever, seeing a shack become a home in which the presence of Christ Himself dwells. Yes, I have watched this glorious company of blood-washed saints keeping time with music with uplifted hands in praise and worship to Him who brought them out of darkness into this marvelous light. I could not leave these dear people without violating the most solemn convictions of conscience. I would not exchange my humble toil among them for all the positions on the earth.

We face many dangers such as bandits, (just yesterday a robber entered our headquarters church) extreme poverty, hunger and disease. Even now as I write we are facing a severe challenge just making ends meet!

The gospel, in Brazil is often mixed with the local customs, traditions, and superstitions creating an often-confused culture, which is steeped in fear and power. It is not uncommon to find “Faithful, church-going, Christian” who also visits witchdoctors and wearing charms for protection from spirits. It takes many years working among the people to see them completely set free from the interwoven idolatrous culture that they are born in.

We rejoiced this weekend as 7 new souls went down in the precious name of Jesus. We rejoice with those that are embracing Jesus and breaking free from bondage to evil spirits. The Light has come for many yet in our rejoicing we know we have so much more work to do yet so little time to do it in.


There is a strong influence from so-called Pentecostal churches that mix spiritism and Catholicism rituals and practices deceiving the people.

We need great wisdom to reach as many people with the pure gospel before it is forever too late. We can only do this with your help.

Leisure we do not anticipate nor desire until reaching the fair land where it is said of the redeemed, "They shall rest from their labors." Someone once said, "The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him, the more intense missionaries we become."

An Oxford University professor once said to his students, "Beware of having earthly future." God would have us with our hearts and minds on His heavenly kingdom, and not on the perishing things in this transitory world. May we always remain untarnished in our devotion and in our love for the souls of men.

We who know Jesus have great knowledge and power and with great knowledge and power comes great responsibility.

God bless you for your faithful support and prayers.
His for a hurting world

Brother Raul and Janice Alvear