To use the direct language of a copywriter I declare… Brazil is on Fire (Revival Time!). I have no other way of describing the reports we are receiving from the many regions where the Apostolic Churches of Brazil are planting churches!
Yet, in the mind of many readers, revival comes across in a very vague way (Souls? Renewal? Neither? Both and more?). So, to help you understand how I see revival, let’s do some simple arithmetic:
Yet, in the mind of many readers, revival comes across in a very vague way (Souls? Renewal? Neither? Both and more?). So, to help you understand how I see revival, let’s do some simple arithmetic:
ONE HAITIAN MAN - We were blessed this last Sunday with our first breakthrough in the growing community of Haitian immigrants. He introduced himself as Ceide, traditional catholic that left his island on a journey to Brazil in search of any job to support his poor mother back at home. Missionary John-John met him wandering the streets of Porto Alegre and invited him to his first Pentecostal (Apostolic!) service. Ceide, few semesters away from a university degree, fluent in five languages, he quickly grasped the Bible concept of One God (Jesus!). After his baptism he streaked around the pews and then took a diving slide to grab the altar in a thrilling show of praise and thankfulness!
ONE TRINITY PASTOR - All Brazilian Apostolic lay-ministers are expected to open and maintain preaching points as a basic outreach tool. Brother Clovis from the Apostolic Caxias do Sul Church is no different: he is fully committed to The Cause. So much so that Clovis never even blinked when, unexpectedly, a trinity pastor walked into his meeting hall just as worship service was beginning. What caused “pastor” Francisco to choose an Apostolic Church over his own regular church engagement for that night? We may never know… however, we do know that the Spirit of God was moving in a unique way as the small congregation sang and shouted “Amen!” to the anointed message that Brother Clovis preached that night. And, for the first time, “pastor” Francisco was truly challenged in his soul about about One God, Jesus Name baptism! After church, “pastor” Francisco declared “I must know more about Jesus Name baptism!” Evidently his yearning for Truth was answered: He (too) was baptized this last Sunday night at the HQ Campus!
TWENTY PRISONERS - For about two years now the Apostolic Churches of Brazil has significantly impacted hardened prisoners with New Birth preaching. Now, the ACB prison ministry has gradually expanded from an early start among female inmates to other successful outreach spearheads among long-term male interns. The latest opportunity was an open door at the Apanhador Prison which houses a “tougher” type of inmates… men that have nothing to lose, if you know what I mean. Can revival break out in a prison yard? To answer that question, let’s add another number to our simple math exercise: According to the latest report, TWENTY convicts have already requested permission with the penal administration and will be baptized this coming Thursday afternoon in Jesus Name!!! Some may back down and others may not receive authorization; even at that, this will be the largest single baptism inside a Brazilian prison… EVER! A milestone!
So, back to math:
ONE + ONE + TWENTY = TWENTY TWO new souls.
That is how we spell REVIVAL in Brazil!
Representing the Lambeth Missionary Family,
John “Brad” Lambeth
ONE TRINITY PASTOR - All Brazilian Apostolic lay-ministers are expected to open and maintain preaching points as a basic outreach tool. Brother Clovis from the Apostolic Caxias do Sul Church is no different: he is fully committed to The Cause. So much so that Clovis never even blinked when, unexpectedly, a trinity pastor walked into his meeting hall just as worship service was beginning. What caused “pastor” Francisco to choose an Apostolic Church over his own regular church engagement for that night? We may never know… however, we do know that the Spirit of God was moving in a unique way as the small congregation sang and shouted “Amen!” to the anointed message that Brother Clovis preached that night. And, for the first time, “pastor” Francisco was truly challenged in his soul about about One God, Jesus Name baptism! After church, “pastor” Francisco declared “I must know more about Jesus Name baptism!” Evidently his yearning for Truth was answered: He (too) was baptized this last Sunday night at the HQ Campus!
TWENTY PRISONERS - For about two years now the Apostolic Churches of Brazil has significantly impacted hardened prisoners with New Birth preaching. Now, the ACB prison ministry has gradually expanded from an early start among female inmates to other successful outreach spearheads among long-term male interns. The latest opportunity was an open door at the Apanhador Prison which houses a “tougher” type of inmates… men that have nothing to lose, if you know what I mean. Can revival break out in a prison yard? To answer that question, let’s add another number to our simple math exercise: According to the latest report, TWENTY convicts have already requested permission with the penal administration and will be baptized this coming Thursday afternoon in Jesus Name!!! Some may back down and others may not receive authorization; even at that, this will be the largest single baptism inside a Brazilian prison… EVER! A milestone!
So, back to math:
ONE + ONE + TWENTY = TWENTY TWO new souls.
That is how we spell REVIVAL in Brazil!
Representing the Lambeth Missionary Family,
John “Brad” Lambeth
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