January 10, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We are at the dawn of many uncertainties. The earth and the seas are shaking. Millions of confused people are asking many questions. Natural catastrophes are taking place almost every day. The church seems to lack conviction in its faith when confronted by the questions of a sceptical world. From an apocalyptic perspective, we can ask: Is tribulation beginning for the church? Many Christians are asking today, “Where is God leading the church?”

Let me share with you the story of a recent graduate of the seminary. Last year I was on the committee on ministry of the Presbytery of Ceara and was the liaison for a candidate to the ministry, Reginaldo Martins. During the process of his ordination, Reginaldo was assigned to work in a new church development in Aquiraz, a nearby city. After Reginaldo was ordained as a minister of the Word and Sacrament last December, he then became the organizing pastor of the new church development.

During his years as my student in the seminary, I thought that Reginaldo would never finish his theological studies. We have the tendency to put stickers on students and to measure how far they are from the ideal student in the ideal seminary for the ideal church. This prejudicial attitude of mine taught me that the final word in the lives of others shall not be ours. As the Scriptures remind us: “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:34).

Though I now have tremendous respect for Reginaldo as a colleague in ministry, I always had my doubts about his call into the ministry. We easily forget that when we were first called by God we were confronted with one of the most difficult decisions that we had ever faced. Both the Old and New Testaments remind us that to be called by God is not an easy decision to deal with it. The greatest figures of the Bible, beginning with Moses, and followed by Jeremiah, Jonas, Peter, and others, were always reluctant to respond immediately to God’s call. The confirmation of a genuine call from God to one of his servants is an attitude of resistance, confrontation, and struggle. Reginaldo was just another example of someone hearing a genuine call.

Working closely with Reginaldo during his years at the seminary was both an exciting process and a learning experience for me and my family. Since his graduation in December 2003, he has been committed to this ministry with all his heart, body, and soul. Reginaldo might not have the qualifications of a brilliant or an ideal student, but he has a tremendous passion for people who have not yet had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

Under his leadership, the new church development in Aquiraz decided to begin construction of a new building. Despite the lack of resources and many financial difficulties, the construction was completed in August.

More than 300 people came to the first worship service in the new building. Many leaders of the community, including religious leaders, were invited to participate. This great event in the life of this church made a tremendous impact on the life of the community as well as on the Presbytery of Ceará.

The new church development is now developing a social ministry to the community, which includes an adult illiteracy program, a children’s ministry, and a food pantry. Being Reginaldo’s liaison until his ordination, I was immersed in this growing church in a special way, which helped me to recapture a servant attitude.

At present, the new church development in Aquiraz now has 42 members and has an average of 70 worshipers every Sunday. The goal is to be organized as a church by the end of this year. Reginaldo and his wife Adriana are expecting their first child this April. They plan to name her Peróla, which means “pearl.”

Please keep Reginaldo, Adriana, and their ministry in your prayers.

Yours in Christ’s service,

Ricardo and Reyna Green
Mission Co-workers
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44