Church. What is it to you?

Is it people, music, the message?  Is it getting to see your friends, a place to hang out?  Is it a social hour?  Or is it where God meets with His People?  Is it where you give your ALL to Him.  We went to the Sunday evening service and I experienced my first Brasilian Service, and what an experience it was.  But then I had an even better experience in Deodora.

Deodora is community, a favela, built under a freeway, next to a river, along a set of busy train tracks. This community began as one woman moving to build a home for her family. It then grew as more of her family, cousins, brothers, sisters, moved to live near her.  The homes are not legal homes, no one has approved the buildings to be there.  The land belongs to Supervia, the local train company, whose tracks run right through it.

Rosasana, the leader of the Hezekiah’s Friend (a local community outreach program that helps those who are in living in the poorest communities) was riding the train passing Deodora 7 years ago and God put it on her heart to build a church for this community.  But the place where they were to build it was feet from the tracks near the river and she didn’t want to.  But she told Pastor and he told her to buy the land and build it.  As mentioned previously, the land is owned by Supervia, the train company, and was not really for sale.  Additionally, the land was on the banks of a river that has a terrible odor. After much discussion with the pastor (him telling her to buy it, and her coming up with excuses not to), she relented and bought the land and they built the 1^st church.  We were able to view the site of the first church today. It was probably about 100 square foot room that at first was only filled with children. They were the first to come to the church, their families came later.  For seven years they met in this small building, praising God.  But Supervia decided it no longer wanted to have the church or houses on their land so close to the tracks.  So they destroyed the buildings in order to build a wall that will hide this wonderful community from the world’s view during the upcoming World Cup.

Joyce and Rosasana

They could not simply remove the church though, it is now a part of the community, as a heart is to the body.  Now, the church has been rebuilt, with money from both the train company and the church.  It is bigger, but not by much.  It is 2 rooms 1 small 6’x8’ for the children to meet in, and a larger room approximately 15’x20’ for the adults, plus a small restroom.  It is a staple in the community, bringing Christ into their lives, their hearts and their families.

This morning we drove into this community, Deodora, the first team of missionaries, to visit.  Upon our arrival we entered the small musty church, to wait for our full team to arrive.  As some of the Brasilians arrived a guitar appeared, and what transpired was truly of God.  Jacque M. began to play and we all sang, worshipping our Great Lord.  Soon the room was filled, Americans in the middle, Brasilians around the back and side. The room was filled, all giving glory to God.  No one planned it, no one asked for it, no one expected it.  God desired it nonetheless, and we praised him.  In the smallest church I have ever been in, joined with my Brasilian brothers and sisters, I praised the One who gave it all so that we could be with Him again. 

The Nazarene Church in Deodora

Even when the praising stopped, and the testimony of how the church came to be was shared, we all intently waited, with open ears and ready hearts to hear what Jesus wanted us to hear.  And the church body moved as He willed it.  American missionaries, Brasilians from Nilopolis, and members of the Deodora community went through the winding streets, into the homes of those who were in need and gave to them.  Not only did we bring a care package that will be enough food and medicine for many weeks, but we brought joy, happiness, and the love of Jesus to many families.  As we went our small groups grew as children came out to follow us to be loved on. 

Some of the homes we visited were members of the church body, some were not. Some of those families have medical needs, some have addictions they are battling, other families are desperately trying to keep their families together, praying for God to give them some sort of sign. We were fortunate to be there, to meet them, to pray with them, to love on them, and to be encouraged by their faith, by their love, and by their willingness to open up their homes to us.

Don’t be afraid to move in the body of Christ.  He needs you to be His hands and feet.  SO MOVE.

Chris