April 19, 2008

        Several weeks ago I asked a Missions Pastor what he thought of our newsletter.  He suggested that I do some follow up with the testimonies that I have shared.  I think this is a really good idea and so I am going to use this forum to give you these updates.  The first person I want to share about is Ms. Teresa, who is a member at Igreja Batista Viva, our church plant in the Porto Alegre neighborhood of Vila Nova.

                                                        

                            Pastor Magioli's wife, Rosangela, serving Ms. Teresa breakfast before Sunday school.

        A couple of years ago Bárbara and I went with Pastor Magioli and Rosangela on a visitation.  We had just found out that a woman's house in the slum had burned down and she had lost everything.  We were going to share the Gospel and to tell her that the church was going to add her to the list of people we provide food kits for.  When we arrived we found out that Ms. Teresa was a Mãe de Santo, which is a priestess in the spiritualist religion of Macumba.  She was a very influential woman in the community.  When people wanted a curse placed on someone they would come to Ms. Teresa.  She was considered to be one of the most powerful Mãe de Santos in the area.
        She began visiting the church as a result of receiving the food kits.  After several months she eventually accepted Christ.  She gives testimony that the fire destroyed everything she had, even the altar to the false gods she had built in her home.  She praises the Lord that through the fire He drew her to Himself.
        Ms. Teresa has become a faithful member of Igreja Batista Viva.  She still has people come to her home asking her to cast spells and curses.  She tells them she doesn't do that anymore, that she serves Jesus now.  She then invites them to come to the church.  Praise the Lord!
    She has been bringing her children and grandchildren with her to church as well.  One of her daughters lives with an abusive man who has AIDS.  We assume that she and their children are HIV positive.  The church has been ministering to their family and now provides a monthly food kit for them.  I want to praise the Lord that in March while a group of Americans, on a short term trip, were doing visitations this daughter accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.
        We rejoice in the Lord's blessings!  This is why church planting is so important.  Without a local church in their community Ms. Teresa and her daughter would still be in bondage to Macumba.  Now they have not only been reached with the Gospel but they are being discipled and they have a place to come together and worship the Lord our God.  In addition, their physical needs are being ministered to by the local church.  It thrills my soul to see the God given vision of Living Bread Ministries in action.  To God be all the glory, honor, and praise!