Bringing One’s Sweetheart to Christ, by David McKinney

Rivaldo Café’s daughter, Rebeca, meets with us at the Luna church of Christ. When she started dating Wesley, she brought him to church. He is a physical therapist, but felt the need for spiritual therapy, demonstrating the desire for Christ in his life.

The same week I invited Wesley to study the Bible, Café was visiting from Cajazeiras. He had already decided he wanted to be baptized, and Cafe baptized his future son-in-law for the remission of his sins.

I knew very little about the guy, but I knew I needed to connect with him. Samuel McKinney and I started giving him Spiritual Milk lessons to ground him in his new life with Christ. The first Bible study was spent mostly listening to him and letting him tell his story.

One side note: Wesley is a big fellow, and we were a little worried Café might not get him out of the water. Somehow he did.

I ask that you pray for God to help Wesley build relationships with other Christians and that he can find weekly time in his busy, busy schedule to let us care for his newborn faith.

Comments

"What About Baptism?"

Edda and I went to a nearby city to study the Bible with a family, Genilda (who is already a Christian), Ana, Mariana, Luiza, and Jefferson. While we were reading God's Word, Ana's husband, Silva, came in and sat down, and then blurted out: "What about baptism?" It took me by surprise because he has barely studied with us, but, most certainly, is already thinking about spiritual matters. Our Bible study then took a lot of detours, answering this question or that. Silva said he still has a lot of questions, and we pray that the Lord will use us to answer them, bringing him to understand the Good News!

For the Kids, Part III

In the USA, there are two special days during the year that children love: birthday and Christmas. Brazil adds one more: Children's Day. On this day, children receive a present and since it coincides with Our Lady of Appeared Conception, Brazil's patron saint, it is also a national holiday. Each week we get kids from the Castelo Branco neighborhood together at the square in front of Dona Terezinha's house to talk about Jesus. For Children's Day, we invited the parents to watch the kids perform a play of the "Prodigal Son," then each kid receives his or her fill of cotton candy, cake, and a sack full of goodies. The parents who came received a Today's Portuguese New Testament and an invitation to the weekly Bible study at Terezinha's. Lori Hagewood has organized this activity for three year with the help from Terezinha, Joseph, and Michel (from the China Taiwan restaurant). Michael, Ashton, and Tif...

The Planting, the Watering, and the Increase

Emesson started coming to Bible Club over a year ago, when Neil Schultz and Cait Beckloff, our AIM team, were teaching it. For several months, they planted the seed in his and his sister's hearts. Unfortunately Neil and Cait's time in João Pessoa ended. In 2014 Bible Club received a boon when Erick and Jenny Paddy, former AIMers, returned to the field and picked up teaching the Bible Study for English speakers. They watered the sprouting seed in Emesson's life until God's Word became more important for him than just practicing his English. Last Wednesday night, God gave the increase, adding Emesson to the Family of Christ. Sometimes things don't happen when we think they should, but God is in control; His time is best, and we must thank Him for playing a small part in His plan.

McKinney Report

Search This Blog