The Congresso Cristão is an annual conference
that has played an important part in the strengthening of the church in the
Northeast of Brazil. Started in 1987, when we lived in Recife, at a time when congregations were
small and isolated, the Congresso gave us a sense of being part of something
much bigger than ourselves, and it was always encouraging. Today, because of
the internet and several other events throughout the year, isolation is not a
big factor to combat, but this event is still a great moment for congregations
to renew ties, to share problems, to pray together, and to be exhorted through
biblical teaching.
This year’s Congresso was in Maceió
(about a 6 hour drive south of us), and João
Pessoa took four cars. We had over 270 participants
together from Thursday to Sunday, representing approximately 25 congregations.
Many more people wanted to come, but the camp limited the number. The theme was
Work Out Your Salvation, Philippians
2:12. The lecturers gave us some food
for thought.
Our
Jeremy Newlin taught a workshop on Financial Peace. Five congregations invited
him to give the full seminar in their cities.
We spent hours talking and talking to
people about the problems they are facing in the work. Isn’t it interesting
that no matter how smooth a work looks from the outside, it is hit with
challenges right and left, difficulties that sometimes seem without solution,
the reality that we all are faced with in this spiritual war. Good disciples
don’t give up, even when women in the congregation put down their husbands in
public, or there seems to be irreconcilable differences between two preachers
in the same congregation, or a church leader is controlled by his wife who is
acting more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or the church in one city is
ripped asunder when the most evangelistic worker in the church is arrested for
child abuse - did he do something inappropriate or is Satan trying to put him
out of commission? In Christ we never
give up. No matter where we are, no matter what the enemy is doing, we work
and God works it out. The word is that the brother in jail is talking to fellow
jail mates about Jesus.
And
there was a lot of great news too: a congregation planting another church in a
new neighborhood, news of brothers and sisters faithful throughout the years in
spite of health problems, new evangelistic efforts, and people coming to
Christ.
While
at the Congresso, a young man from Maceió, Kevin, decided to give his
life to Christ and was baptized for remission
of his sins.
I think the best thing about this
Congresso was that my kids couldn’t get enough of it. While Edda and I were
ready to get home after nights of not sleeping well, Lucas couldn’t believe
that Sunday had come so soon. No TV, no internet, but they had a blast. They
played hours and hours of ping pong, and had fun with dozens of other kids from
other churches, listening to the Bible studies and special moments with the
young people, a great way to spend summer vacation.
As
brothers and sisters work out their salvation in Brazil by never giving up in spite
of huge difficulties, let us remember that our Father, who loves us immensely,
is bigger than any problem or any enemy that attacks His church. He is our Refuge!
He is our Defender!
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| At the camp there was a tree growing in the middle of the ocean, talking about hanging in there in a difficult situation. |
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