Terry and Jane Carruthers are the second generation of BMM missionaries to work among Brazil’s Macushi Indians, following in the footsteps of the late Harold and Miriam Burns. This report of God’s work among the Machushis was taken from the Carruthers’ November-December 2010 prayer letter.
The apostle John says: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour …” Revelation 4:11a.
Our former colleagues, Harold and Miriam Burns, entered the Indian village of Contão in northern Brazil in 1950 to begin a work among the Macushi Indians. The first ten years were difficult, with much opposition and very little evident fruit. In November 1960, Chief Antônio came by night to visit Harold and was saved.
Within ten weeks 70 more people came to put their trust in the Lord. At that time the chief asked Harold what they should do as they had previously planned a worldly Christmas party, but now they were Christians. Harold said that they should continue with their plans for a party, but it should be a spiritual time instead.
2010 has been a notable year for the Christians at Contão. Not only did they celebrate 50 years since the great conversion but also 50 years of Christmas conferences. God has been good to the Macushi Indians at Contão and in the surrounding regions. He has shown forth His mercy and grace and is worthy of all glory and honor.
It was with great enthusiasm that the Macushi Christians planned and prepared for the annual Christmas conference this year at Contão to make it the best conference ever. The church building was renovated with a new metal roof. A new kitchen was built along with thatch houses to house the visitors. Visitors came from about 10 difference villages, from Boa Vista and as far away as Manaus. All told, there were an estimated 1500 people at the conference. The church building could only hold 400 people, so there remained crowds at the doorways and windows of the church. The children met in their own thatch roofed building apart for services.
During the conference, preaching services were held morning, afternoon, and evening for three days. There were three difference speakers and eight different Macushi church choirs that sang. We praise the Lord for a number of salvation decisions that were made and for the large number of reconciliations. After the evening services we also had PowerPoint presentations of Harold and Miriam’s early years at Contão and an early movie film of Contão that Harold had made. There were tears among the people as some remembered the early work and others saw pictures of their fathers and mothers and grandparents for the very first time.
[In photo above: original Macushi church in 1961; the 2010 Christmas conference]