New Dreams

Resurrection Street

In 2002, having been in Brazil at that point for about a year, I began door-knocking in a neighborhood of Uberlândia called "Aurora." It was one of those neighborhoods that was half-built, on the edge of the city. I set up a few Bible study with people who lived there, but before anyone made a decision to follow Christ, my brother-in-law Marcelo baptized a household on the other side of town. He invited my wife and me along with another couple to join him in the work he was doing. In late 2003 I relocated my family to the United States, and I haven't been back to Brazil yet.

Today the inaugural service of the Church of Christ in Aurora will be held. A few months ago when Marcelo
told me about the Bible studies going on there and the prospect of a new congregation, I felt a bit down. Then when he came to visit he told me that next year (2012) when I go down to visit, I'll be able to see my "dream come true." That made me feel worse.

On further reflection, I realize there's no cause for disappointment. My dreams at that time were far different from what I have in mind now, and really were never a good "fit" for me.

Walking around Aurora I remember seeing and feeling the needs of the community, but I didn't explore them further. All I could think about was the "doctrinal" angle and how I wanted to start a church. This would be just fine, if I were actually meant to be an evangelist. Simply put, that is not my role in the mission of God.

Marcelo is the evangelist. He does it quite well, with the blessing of God. My heart is in community development, not church planting. Lord willing, one of these days I'll walk the streets of Aurora and other neighborhoods in Uberlândia again. This time I'll be asking people about resources available in the community as well as needs. I'll seek out officials and leaders of other NGOs for cooperation. I'll organize HOPE worldwide teams locally and coordinate the work of such teams arriving from other Brazilian cities and the United States.

Perhaps my role in the church someday will officially be as "deacon," and by the mercy of God I can live to see HOPE worldwide missions from Brazil reaching the Portuguese-speaking nations of Africa.

These are new dreams, better than the old ones.

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday." 

                                                                                              Isaiah 58:10 ESV