By Beverly Shoaf
At a time when our church and ministry here in Napier, New Zealand, needed a boost, such an amazing event took place that no one could deny it was a work of God.
One Sunday morning as our service was about to begin, one of the ladies in our church told Beverly that there was a young couple out at their car looking uncertain as to whether they should come in. As Beverly went out and warmly greeted them, she learned the source of their dilemma—they had recently moved from Brazil and spoke very little English.
They at first expressed shock and then huge smiles as Beverly told them that her husband Joel was the pastor and that, having been an MK in Brazil, he spoke Portuguese. Later that day we learned that Alex and Ci were Christians from a Baptist church in Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. How amazingly and precisely God had guided them!
It is safe to assume that Joel is likely the only pastor in New Zealand who speaks Portuguese. Alex said that they had been very uncertain about which city they should come to and had decided on Napier. God had directed them to our church through our church advertisement that Alex had clipped from the paper.
Over the months that followed, Alex and Ci attended services and added much-needed excitement and passion to the congregation. Unfortunately for us, they could not obtain an extended visa, and they had to return to Brazil. But God is now using them incredibly in their Baptist church there in Brazil.
While Alex and Ci were with us, they began to bring Robson and Priscila, another Brazilian couple who were unsaved. Robson and Priscila were eventually saved and are now the strongest leaders in our church. We are currently having the joy of training them for ministry.
It was not until several years after Alex and Ci’s first amazing visit that we learned from Robson and Priscila the most amazing detail of the whole story. On the morning of their initial visit, Alex and Ci had said to Robson and Priscila, “We are going to church this morning.” Knowing that they spoke little English, Robson had said to them, “What? Do you think you’ll find a pastor who speaks Portuguese?”
Later that day, it was Robson and Priscila’s turn to be shocked when Alex and Ci told them the story of the mighty way in which God had worked personally for them!
Though Robson and Priscila have permanent residency here in New Zealand, we realize that God may also lead them one day to return to Brazil and minister there. Whatever takes place, our faith will each time be renewed as we remember the day that God worked in a way in which, clearly, only He could.
Editor’s Note: Photo shows Priscila and Robson (at left) with the Shoafs. Beverly and Joel Shoaf continue to serve in Napier. Beverly's story is taken from Baptist Mid-Missions’ book Amazed by His Glory, a collection of faith stories written by BMM missionaries.