Love Wins - A Testimony of Grace and Forgiveness
A couple of weeks ago in a Brazilian slum we witnessed one of the most powerful testimonies of forgiveness and grace we have ever seen. While leading a short term mission team ministering among our church plants in Porto Alegre, Brazil we got word of a terrible situation. A young boy from the church plant in Vila Safira had been hit by a motorcycle driven by a local drug dealer. He was not killed, but had some rather serious injuries to his mouth and face.
The boys had placed four large rocks in the street to use as soccer goals, like using cones. Apparently, the drug dealer was angry because the boys left the rocks in the street and it was assumed that he hit the little boy on purpose as retribution. Needless to say the scene got out of control. When the boy's family began to confront the drug dealer his friends brought out guns. It left the community in a very volatile situation.
On our last day in Brazil we were listening to a devotion led by the pastor of the church plant in Vila Safira. A young man and his girlfriend came and quietly stood in the doorway of the little chapel. When the devotion was over the pastor greeted them and invited them inside. He then told us that the man was the person driving the motorcycle and it was his first time to ever visit the church.
His girlfriend began to weep as they shared how heartbroken they were over the situation and they began to ask for forgiveness. Immediately, the mother of the little boy who had been hit went to them and began to weep and tightly hug the young woman. The pastor hugged the young man and shared the Gospel of grace with them both. The little boy who had been hit came in and told them that he forgave them and hugged them.
That young drug dealer and his girlfriend experienced something they had never imagined. They encountered people who have been transformed by the love of God who demonstrated that same love and grace to them. It was such a sweet time. In fact the young couple spent the rest of the morning with us. I fully expect that in the future this young couple will be gloriously saved and will join the body of Christ in transforming Vila Safira for the glory of God.
The boys had placed four large rocks in the street to use as soccer goals, like using cones. Apparently, the drug dealer was angry because the boys left the rocks in the street and it was assumed that he hit the little boy on purpose as retribution. Needless to say the scene got out of control. When the boy's family began to confront the drug dealer his friends brought out guns. It left the community in a very volatile situation.
On our last day in Brazil we were listening to a devotion led by the pastor of the church plant in Vila Safira. A young man and his girlfriend came and quietly stood in the doorway of the little chapel. When the devotion was over the pastor greeted them and invited them inside. He then told us that the man was the person driving the motorcycle and it was his first time to ever visit the church.
His girlfriend began to weep as they shared how heartbroken they were over the situation and they began to ask for forgiveness. Immediately, the mother of the little boy who had been hit went to them and began to weep and tightly hug the young woman. The pastor hugged the young man and shared the Gospel of grace with them both. The little boy who had been hit came in and told them that he forgave them and hugged them.
That young drug dealer and his girlfriend experienced something they had never imagined. They encountered people who have been transformed by the love of God who demonstrated that same love and grace to them. It was such a sweet time. In fact the young couple spent the rest of the morning with us. I fully expect that in the future this young couple will be gloriously saved and will join the body of Christ in transforming Vila Safira for the glory of God.
Posted by Patrick at 3/29/2011 9:00 AM 
Categories: Testimonies, Kingdom of God, Praises, Mission Trip Updates
Tags: Brazil Christ church planting global missions global poverty kingdom of God Jesus Christ mission trip poor and needy whole Gospel forgiveness
Categories: Testimonies, Kingdom of God, Praises, Mission Trip Updates
Tags: Brazil Christ church planting global missions global poverty kingdom of God Jesus Christ mission trip poor and needy whole Gospel forgiveness
That is a very powerful story and I will pray for this young couple. Praise the Lord.
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