Real Persecution

Hey everybody!!

In this post I want to share with you guys a very joyful, yet heartbreaking story. The story begins about a month ago when we first arrived here in Brasil. As you have probably read in one of the previous posts, the first week we were here in Brasil, we went on a boat trip with a group of college students from Baylor. On that trip we visited a village called São Sebastão do Juruá. The president of the village is a woman, and during the time we were at her village she came to know the Lord. She was so overwhelmed with the truth of Jesus Christ that she shared with her husband about Jesus too and he also accepted Christ. Ironically enough, the husband was actually the leader of a very corrupt catholic church in the village. He explained to us that he no longer wanted to lead his people through manipulation and lies. Now that he knew the truth about Jesus Christ, he realized that he had to lead them in the right direction. We were so incredibly thrilled that we now had two new siblings in Christ, and now they would be able to lead the village in the truth. Then, we left, and I have not heard from them in a while because they live in a village about 2 hours from the city. Then, last night at church after the service, Pastor Elmer called Michael and I over to a group of people that he was talking to. As we approached the group of people, I immediately recognized that it was the same husband and wife from that village I had met a month ago. I was so happy to see them so I ran up to her and gave her a big hug and shook her husband's hand. The look in her eyes told me that something wasn't right. She looked very pained and troubled. She then began to explain that her village, the same village that she had been leading with such authority for many years, kicked her entire family out of their home, tried to beat them up, and told them to never come back all because they would not recant their faith in Jesus Christ. She told me that the people of her village did not want them to share about Jesus Christ and as a result they threatened to kill them if they did not leave. The president and her family took some of their things and came to Parintins to meet with the Primeira Igreja Batista de Parintins (The church we are here with). As she is telling me this, my eyes are welling up with tears. I was so overwhelmed with her courage and boldness. It was incredible to hear that even through intense persecution and even losing her village, she has remained steadfast in her faith in Jesus Christ. Her entire family (she has two sons as well) knows that they will lose everything, yet they continue to pursue the truth no matter the consequences. It got me thinking that if we faced the same persecution, would we be this brave and remain faithful to Christ? I told her that I was so thankful to God that He has provided her with courage and strength in this time. As we were saying goodbye, she looked at me and said, "Despite what has happened, I have joy in my heart because I know Jesus Christ, but I am very sad because my people in my village do not know the truth. Please pray that they will accept Jesus too." Even after her people have thrown her and her family out, she still desires for them to know Jesus Christ. What an incredible reminder of loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. She is planning on returning today to see if they will accept her family back. Please continue to pray for this incredible family as they go through this persecution. I pray that we all will have this kind of selfless and relentless faith as this family clearly displays. It was such a blessing to get to see them and hear how strong they have been living for Christ. It was incredible to see such authentic and passionate faith in this family. This is the kind of faith that is required of us. Though the world may make it hard to be committed to God, He deserves our total commitment.

Em Cristo,
Michael and Leah Shell