Public Faith

The challenges against the gospel to advance.

There is great joy in heaven when a sinner repents and returns to God, as Jesus tells in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). However, this celebration of transformed lives does not happen without struggles.

Recently, Pastor Abimael Sicsú reported that he was prevented by the local leaders from entering a community on the Mamuru River. Faced with opposition, the residents moved to another community to hear the Word of God and receive medical care, offered by a team of Brazilian doctors and American volunteers.

Despite the resistance, the Gospel advances and we have witnessed many baptisms in our churches spread throughout the Amazon. In many cases, when someone comes to Christ, the door of the house opens, and the gospel reaches and transforms the whole family, as happened with Cornelius (Acts 10).

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:31)

The missionary Marcelo Paixão, from the Peniel Campus, on the Jacu River, shared that some families who have come to Christ are facing opposition in their communities. There was even information that the local leadership would try to organize a movement to expel these families from the village. Fortunately, this time it did not happen.

Just as it was with the early church, opposition awakens the people of God and makes the gospel reach even more distant places. This is happening in the Amazon, and we praise God for the privilege of participating in this work of transforming lives.