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October 8, 2002
Greetings from Brazil!
By the grace of God and the good offices of the Presbytery of
Rio Grande do Sul, the congregation of the National Mission Board
of the Presbyterian Church of Brasil in Sapiranga, Taquara and
Caxias, has been dissolved and the 51 adult members in good standing
have been transferred to the Presbyterian Church of Sapiranga.
The following four men were elected as our ruling elders: Wagner
and Idalino (Sapiranga), Gersoni (Caxias) and Evaldo (Taquara).
All had served more than once on the administrative board and
were actually serving this year too.
We also elected four men as deacons: Jose Fabio, Cicero and Gilson
(Sapiranga) and Edion (Caxias).
Henry was officially installed as the organizing pastor. At the
time of his installation the commission called for me, Lottie,
to come forward too. They graciously mentioned my ministry and
the many ways I work along side Henry in evangelism and Christian
education. To God be the glory! It is a privilege to be Henry’s
suitable helper.
At the end of the worship service, and following the benediction,
our congregation stood and sang a song written to the tune of
a popular Gaucho folk tune. It says that the Gaucho (native of
Rio Grande do Sul) is a valiant person who urgently needs to know
of the redemption found in Jesus Christ alone. (Singing this song
was our way of announcing that we do not see October 5, 2002 as
an end but as a beginning! It is our desire to continue to work
for the evangelization of Rio Grande do Sul.)
I wish each one of you could have been here for the congregational
meeting where we received one new adult member and 32 non-communicants
(baptized children) in addition to the 51 other communicants.
I wish you could have shared in the God-honoring and joyful worship
celebration that followed. There were over 400 people present!
The Women of the Church (SAF) served a lovely reception following
worship.
There were representatives from the other six organized churches
in Rio Grande do Sul, several other fields of the National Mission
Board, along with our supervisor, Rev. Dilson, and the director
of the National Mission Board, elder Alvaro. Also, one missionary
of the Transcultural Mission Board and about six pastors from
other denominations in Sapiranga attended the service. The mayor
of our town, the honorable Renato Molling, was present. He sat
up front with me, where he had the privilege of hearing a wonderfully
biblical and Reformed sermon preached by the Moderator of the
General Assembly, Rev. Roberto Brasileiro. There was lots of special
music too.
One of our most faithful supporting churches, St. Andrew’s
in Houston, Texas, sent a representative who arrived on Wednesday
and will be going back today. John Juzswik was given a real baptism
into mission life as he worked beside Henry and the men of the
church spreading gravel in the parking lot, moving benches, setting
up 150 extra chairs, and doing a host of other errands. John also
helped rig a video camera to transmit the service downstairs to
a TV screen for the overflow crowd. John took many photos of the
worship service. John’s visit has been a beautiful example
of the "servant leadership" that Henry both models and
teaches.
On World Communion Sunday we came to the table together after
hearing a message from Henry based on Matthew 21:33-45 in which
he told us that the "vineyard" has been purchased by
God and we have been chosen by God to work for him in that vineyard.
He warned us of the danger of wanting not only the benefits that
are rightfully ours, but the "fruit" that belongs to
the owner of the vineyard. He exhorted us to "give to God
the glory due his name!" (Psalm 96). I hope wherever you
worshiped on October 6 you too heard the prophet of the Lord speaking
and were able to reflect on the awesome privilege we each have
been given. May we never be unfaithful servants!
There is so much more that I would like to tell you, but I hope
this short report will cause you to reflect on your own commitment
to Christ and his "vineyard". To rejoice with us in
all that God has accomplished through his weak and imperfect servants.
To pray for the Presbyterian Church of Sapiranga and her congregations
in Caxias and Taquara. Our purpose is to bless the nations for
God’s glory!
Thank you for your prayers!
Lottie B. Haswell
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258
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