From Murder Suicide to Hope in Christ
Oraci worked as a caretaker in the community of Vila Nova in Porto Alegre, Brazil. This job not only provided his family with income but a place to live. Recently, without warning, he lost his job and was left with nothing. As a husband and father this situation devastated him. Seeing his wife and children hungry and without shelter was more than he could bear. He was hopeless and desperate.
In his desperation Oraci decided that he would poison his family and kill himself. By God's grace his wife came to our church plant seeking help. She told the pastor and his wife about their situation and her husband's plan. The church immediately mobilized to help this family. They provided them with food for their immediate need and Pastor Magioli began ministering to the family.
Oraci, Salete, and Rafael
As a result Oraci and his wife Salete have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Their son Rafael has also received Christ. They have found the hope that comes in being reconciled to God through Christ Jesus! Pray for their remaining children who have not visited the church yet.
This is a perfect example of the need for church planting among the poor and needy. It also illustrates why it is essential that the local church be able to minister incarnationally among the poor. Humanitarian ministry among the poor is not enough; our missions efforts must be centered on church planting. I shutter to think what might have happened to Oraci and his family if Christ was not building His church in Vila Nova. It is a joy to be a part of the Lord's plan of redemption for the 1 billion urban squatters in the majority world. To learn more about our church planting efforts among the them visit www.livingbread.org.
In his desperation Oraci decided that he would poison his family and kill himself. By God's grace his wife came to our church plant seeking help. She told the pastor and his wife about their situation and her husband's plan. The church immediately mobilized to help this family. They provided them with food for their immediate need and Pastor Magioli began ministering to the family.
Oraci, Salete, and Rafael
As a result Oraci and his wife Salete have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Their son Rafael has also received Christ. They have found the hope that comes in being reconciled to God through Christ Jesus! Pray for their remaining children who have not visited the church yet.
This is a perfect example of the need for church planting among the poor and needy. It also illustrates why it is essential that the local church be able to minister incarnationally among the poor. Humanitarian ministry among the poor is not enough; our missions efforts must be centered on church planting. I shutter to think what might have happened to Oraci and his family if Christ was not building His church in Vila Nova. It is a joy to be a part of the Lord's plan of redemption for the 1 billion urban squatters in the majority world. To learn more about our church planting efforts among the them visit www.livingbread.org.
Posted by Patrick at 9/30/2010 3:32 PM 
Categories: Testimonies
Tags: Needy Christ mission trip Christmas Latin America South America school ministry hunger poor Jesus world poverty poor and needy global poverty missional homeless global missions feeding ministry world missions church planting whole Gospel missions Church camp world hunger poverty hungry Gospel short term missions share Christmas Brazil Living Bread
Categories: Testimonies
Tags: Needy Christ mission trip Christmas Latin America South America school ministry hunger poor Jesus world poverty poor and needy global poverty missional homeless global missions feeding ministry world missions church planting whole Gospel missions Church camp world hunger poverty hungry Gospel short term missions share Christmas Brazil Living Bread
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