The work is finally finished here in Brazil. My interpreter, Renata (pronounced Heh-nah-tah) breathed an enormous sigh of relief. I have never preached with an interpreter, and while that makes it tough for me, I'm certain she's the one suffering most from my lack of experience.
Tonight in particular was a difficult message, I'm sure. I wanted so badly to encourage the church here, and the way I know to do that is to teach them who they are in Christ and show them what God has given them. I have tried to keep the number of scripture passages in a message down to three or four, but tonight I think I at least doubled that. Sorry, Renata.
Of the seven interpreters on our team, I think she was on stage the most, since at every service, no matter who was preaching, I was singing, and she had to come up with me. These seven ladies have done tremendous work this week. They not only interpret, but in homes and other ministry situations, they often minister from their own hearts as the Spirit leads.
I should also mention the sacrifices these young women have made to be a part of this ministry. All of them are giving up vacation time from their regular jobs in the Rio area. I can't remember if they're paid, but it's not much if anything. They do it because they love Jesus. Renata was married just three months ago, and has been away from her husband now for nine days...if you've ever been a newlywed, you know that's an eternity.
Our interpreters are women of God and they are heroes to all of us on the team. There's no way we will ever be able to thank them enough, but I thought it would be appropriate to mention them here at least. Thank God for servants who don't care who gets the credit!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Brazil Day 7
Today was a beautiful day of ministry. Many people heard my simple, uneventful testimony and again, almost every single one prayed to receive Jesus. It's almost overwhelming...distracting at times to look into their eyes as I speak, because I see their hearts yearning and being filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
My favorite visit, however, did not end in any salvations. The lady at one house had scheduled a visit with us for today, but had gone to the church on Sunday and received Jesus that night. I told her she destroyed my plans by getting saved too quickly!
We usually refuse to visit Christians. The reason we decided to visit her, however, is that this lady had complained often of depression, and they decided we should go and pray for her. We walked in and I thought, well, she seems ok right now, but depression is sometimes below the surface a little. It didn't take more than a minute or two for me to see there was no depression in sight.
Over and over during our visit, she just kept saying, "I'm so happy, I'm so happy!" She said she used to feel something terrible inside, but now only joy! I counseled her briefly about depression and prayed, but I doubt she will ever struggle with it again.
She told us how a few months ago her son had met a young man from the Baptist Church, the son of one of the ladies accompanying me on the visit. She said that all the other boys his age are involved in drugs and trouble, but that since he met these new friends and subsequently accepted Jesus, life in her home began to radically change.
Her husband is away all week working as a truck driver, and she used to always want her son to be home so she would not have to be alone. However, when he accepted Jesus, she began to let him spend much more time with this Christian family because she loved how he made her feel when he came home. Now she tells her son to go and be with his new family, but just to spend a couple of nights at home with her each week!
Listening to her rejoicing in how Jesus had changed her life, I felt tears of joy welling up in my eyes. My interpreter said, wiping her eyes, "Everyone is crying!" What a miracle to see! I will remember that woman and her joy for the rest of my life. If you're ever in Brazil, and you have any doubt that Jesus changes lives, you should look her up.
Tonight I preached at First Baptist Church, Sao Marcos. It was an amazing service. God's presence was so powerful and sweet. One of the most exciting times of ministry I've had. God is good.
My favorite visit, however, did not end in any salvations. The lady at one house had scheduled a visit with us for today, but had gone to the church on Sunday and received Jesus that night. I told her she destroyed my plans by getting saved too quickly!
We usually refuse to visit Christians. The reason we decided to visit her, however, is that this lady had complained often of depression, and they decided we should go and pray for her. We walked in and I thought, well, she seems ok right now, but depression is sometimes below the surface a little. It didn't take more than a minute or two for me to see there was no depression in sight.
Over and over during our visit, she just kept saying, "I'm so happy, I'm so happy!" She said she used to feel something terrible inside, but now only joy! I counseled her briefly about depression and prayed, but I doubt she will ever struggle with it again.
She told us how a few months ago her son had met a young man from the Baptist Church, the son of one of the ladies accompanying me on the visit. She said that all the other boys his age are involved in drugs and trouble, but that since he met these new friends and subsequently accepted Jesus, life in her home began to radically change.
Her husband is away all week working as a truck driver, and she used to always want her son to be home so she would not have to be alone. However, when he accepted Jesus, she began to let him spend much more time with this Christian family because she loved how he made her feel when he came home. Now she tells her son to go and be with his new family, but just to spend a couple of nights at home with her each week!
Listening to her rejoicing in how Jesus had changed her life, I felt tears of joy welling up in my eyes. My interpreter said, wiping her eyes, "Everyone is crying!" What a miracle to see! I will remember that woman and her joy for the rest of my life. If you're ever in Brazil, and you have any doubt that Jesus changes lives, you should look her up.
Tonight I preached at First Baptist Church, Sao Marcos. It was an amazing service. God's presence was so powerful and sweet. One of the most exciting times of ministry I've had. God is good.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Brazil Reports
Day 4:
Saturday night's crusade was a great start to the trip. I had the priviledge of opening the service with a few worship songs with the Brazillian praise team from our host church. They are a wonderful group of mostly teenagers with lots of talent and an inspiring amount of passion for Jesus.After the service, the other praise team for the night, a group from a local Indian Reservation, played an incredible mix of...Hillsong United and...Salsa! There were drums and percussion instruments EVERYWHERE! If you know me, you know I love drums, and I like them loud!
We danced and jumped and sang for at least an hour after the service. The praise team I played with and the other youth from the host church had a great time getting all us old people to do their latin dance steps with them. You may get an opportunity to see some pretty humiliating pictures of that soon...we'll see.
I preached today at two churches and saw great evidence of God's Spirit flowing out and encouraging His people. One lady in particular spoke in tears after tonight's service about what a blessing it was to feel the presence of God and to be reminded that we are one spirit with Him. That's big.
Thanks for praying.
Day 5:
It's only 5pm, but I have finished all my home visits and have a break before our evaluation time. Then it is off to our evening service, where I will preach in an outdoor evangelistic gathering. This is miles outside my comfort zone. It's something I've just never done, but I know the One who is in me has absolutely no problem making it a home run...so no worries.
The home visits today were great...Brazillians are very open and courteous, so almost everyone agreed to pray the prayer of salvation after I shared my story through an ingerpretor. That might have bothered me, but I could tell in the Spirit that many of them were truly being touched by God and meeting Him. Probably 25-30 people received Jesus today in homes and in a daycare where I spoke to the staff. Good stuff, Maynard.
Please pray for my wife and kids...they're the ones really making the sacrifice for me to be here and have all the fun.
Day 6:
I preached last night at an outdoor gathering in one of the nearby towns. At the end of my message, I had one of our team members share her story...magnificent. It's one of those stories that makes you wish you could get saved again. I'm trying hard not to be frustrated that no one came forward, but they say that while people here worship freely and respond verbally, they don't come forward easily. I know God's presence was strong and moving.
Many more people received Jesus in homes today. It's a cool process. All these visits are set up by friends or family members who are believers and they all know a missionary is coming to talk about their need to be saved. Sometimes it seems too easy, and once or twice I think people have prayed just to get us out of the house, but almost without exception, when we finish the prayer, I look into moist eyes and see that they feel the presence and love of God.
Please pray for my church, as they are without their worship leader for two more services while I'm here.
Saturday night's crusade was a great start to the trip. I had the priviledge of opening the service with a few worship songs with the Brazillian praise team from our host church. They are a wonderful group of mostly teenagers with lots of talent and an inspiring amount of passion for Jesus.After the service, the other praise team for the night, a group from a local Indian Reservation, played an incredible mix of...Hillsong United and...Salsa! There were drums and percussion instruments EVERYWHERE! If you know me, you know I love drums, and I like them loud!
We danced and jumped and sang for at least an hour after the service. The praise team I played with and the other youth from the host church had a great time getting all us old people to do their latin dance steps with them. You may get an opportunity to see some pretty humiliating pictures of that soon...we'll see.
I preached today at two churches and saw great evidence of God's Spirit flowing out and encouraging His people. One lady in particular spoke in tears after tonight's service about what a blessing it was to feel the presence of God and to be reminded that we are one spirit with Him. That's big.
Thanks for praying.
Day 5:
It's only 5pm, but I have finished all my home visits and have a break before our evaluation time. Then it is off to our evening service, where I will preach in an outdoor evangelistic gathering. This is miles outside my comfort zone. It's something I've just never done, but I know the One who is in me has absolutely no problem making it a home run...so no worries.
The home visits today were great...Brazillians are very open and courteous, so almost everyone agreed to pray the prayer of salvation after I shared my story through an ingerpretor. That might have bothered me, but I could tell in the Spirit that many of them were truly being touched by God and meeting Him. Probably 25-30 people received Jesus today in homes and in a daycare where I spoke to the staff. Good stuff, Maynard.
Please pray for my wife and kids...they're the ones really making the sacrifice for me to be here and have all the fun.
Day 6:
I preached last night at an outdoor gathering in one of the nearby towns. At the end of my message, I had one of our team members share her story...magnificent. It's one of those stories that makes you wish you could get saved again. I'm trying hard not to be frustrated that no one came forward, but they say that while people here worship freely and respond verbally, they don't come forward easily. I know God's presence was strong and moving.
Many more people received Jesus in homes today. It's a cool process. All these visits are set up by friends or family members who are believers and they all know a missionary is coming to talk about their need to be saved. Sometimes it seems too easy, and once or twice I think people have prayed just to get us out of the house, but almost without exception, when we finish the prayer, I look into moist eyes and see that they feel the presence and love of God.
Please pray for my church, as they are without their worship leader for two more services while I'm here.
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