When was the last time that you dedicated your life to Christ with the words, “Lord, I'll go wherever you want me to go and do whatever you want me to do.” Those words don't just tumble off the tongue do they. One doesn't say them in jest. But, when uttered to God and followed in faith they are life changing!
During my work with the Habiteto team I have gotten to know a young couple who are on fire for Christ. Sandro and his young wife Gislene are just four years old in the Faith but are about to embark on one of the biggest adventures of their young lives. They have expressed the above mentioned dedication to the Savior and will be moving their family to Curitiba to study at our Bible College this coming February. This is a huge step of total dependence and trust in God and His provision.
Sandro was lead to Christ by one of his furniture making coworkers and after accepting Christ he began to look for a Bible preaching church. He discovered Calvary Baptist not too many weeks later. “I went to several churches but either they didn't preach the Bible or they had very worldly music standards.” He told me in a recent conversation and mind you these words come from a young man who was extremely involved in heavy metal rock music!
Sandro comes from a background which in his words “Was full of Godlessness and foul language.” But now, the energies that he used to spend on swearing and lying is used in telling others about his Savior. He is the type of person that you simply cannot talk to with out him mentioning over and over again his Lord and the salvation He provides.
Sandro and Gi had been living together for four years before he came to Christ. Not long afterward the Lord began to work in his life and he realized that they needed to be married.
Gislene's came from an evangelical background but in all of her years of going to church she had never heard the Gospel until she received a visit from some of the members at Calvary. As these visitors explained the Good News in a simple way she realized that she too needed to be saved.
Sandro, as I mentioned, is a furniture maker. He does excellent work. However, in a conversation just the other day he told me that he has never been able to get into a furniture factory, which would guarantee contracted employment (this is not uncommon for furniture makers here in Brazil). He said, “I know that the Lord has a purpose in all of this. He knows that if I did get a steady job that I might take my eyes off the goal that Christ has for my life.”
He proceeded to recount how that on many occasions God has met his family's needs in wonderful ways. One turn of events in particular grabbed my heart. He said, “We were down to just one liter of milk. That was all the food that we had in the house. That one liter was for our baby Joshua. Gislene said to me, 'Sandro what are we going to do?' I told her, 'I don't know but I do know this, God will never let us down!'” He continued, “As we knelt to pray and ask for God's help there was a knock at the door. It was a friend from the Calvary church with a 12 pack of one liter boxes of milk and many other groceries!” He wept as shared this testimony of God's goodness and provision.
Now this precious couple is depending on God's provision for more than just a liter of milk. Sandro, Gislene and their sons, Ruan, and little Joshua, will be moving six hours south to Curitiba to study God's Word. They are walking by faith and not by sight. They will need His help to provide for their studies, rent, food, and clothing, and the children's schooling! How will God provide for these needs? We all know that God uses people to help people. I don't know about you but this is the type of investment that I want to be a part of! So, won't you please pray with me for God's continued direction and provision for this young couple. And, could it be that God would use you to help them?
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