Preaching

Mexico

Through The Grace of our Heavenly Father, inroads are being made into Mexico. Through independent efforts and through contacts made over the Internet, links have been established to many interested friends.

One case to note is that through the efforts of Bro. Luke Moss of the U.K. and Bro. Norman Smith of Canada, we have more than 20 contacts who are either studying the Spanish Edition of the Introduction to Bible Basics or have requested contact from Christadelphians.

Sister Juana Reyana lives in Tampico and advertisements and an interview have been arranged at the local radio station.

The undersigned is visiting during December to follow up on contacts from newspaper ads and visit those who are already studying. Plans are being made for a campaign in the future.

Anyone who would like to help or has questions can contact us at dennisradams@yahoo.com.

Dennis Adams, Canton, Ohio

Brazil

John Thomas Education Center

We Know They EXIST – people whose lives were so full of meaning that sometimes it is hard to believe they ever really existed, people whose lives continue beyond their bodily existence, people who “though dead still speak” (Heb. 11:4.The Jerusalem Bible).

No, I am not talking about ghosts or any kind of mystical manifestation. I am talking about real people, like you and me — people who were once manifested in flesh but now are manifested through their writings and biographies — people who dared to work their lives at the core of their being while most of us keep playing at the surroundings of existence. I am talking about people like Abel “who offered God a better sacrifice than Cain” and “though he is dead, he still speaks by faith” (Heb. 11:4 JB). A few of us follow such behavior nowadays. Most of us will not speak after our death because our lives say nothing today. But we all can say something to a next generation (perhaps through eternity) if we allow the spirit of the living God to write His truth in the fleshy tables of our heart, and if we let it to be known and read of all men (II Cor. 3:2,3).

Among many other believers whose lives were so full of meaning that they overflowed through generations, I have found our Bro. John Thomas. Together with his character and high moral standards, we find a keen mind open to so many different subjects. For writing Elpis Israel, he had to have a solid linguistic base on the meaning of some Hebrew words and expressions.

He knew his opponents would try to fight back. He was also up-to-date with the political situations of his days. He was able to explain them as well as the main events in history in the light of the scriptures. His days, months and years were spent in working to make a living but they were also full of activities to promote the truth. Writing, giving lectures, working as a true spiritual descendant of the prophets and apostles of old, he fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith. (II Tim. 4:7). He said a few “things concerning the kingdom of God , and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12) to the people of his days. Through his life and writings “though he is dead, he still speaks by faith” (Heb. 11:4 JB) to our generation, and to a next one may our Lord decide to remain away. The Amplified Bible renders “…he is still speaking.” We can’t talk to the dead, but they can speak with us. A life full of meaning has a lot to say to anyone with ears to hear. When someone is spoken of, he or she is actually still speaking. A message will be delivered. A message can change a life. What message is being spoken through us ?

Actually, I don’t think Bro. John Thomas was exceptional. He was just being honest about his commitment to the Lord. Maybe the fact is that most of us, or at least many of us, are living below the necessary level of commitment required for this age.

Because a life already finished is like a book with finished lessons, showing questions and answers we can relate to, it was very easy for us to choose the name of our Bro. John Thomas to be the name of the Education Center we have just opened up here in Brazil. People here know nothing about the Christadelphians. There are hundreds of different denominations spread throughout the country. Our name sounds like one more cult on the block. People like people. People like to know about other people. If we want to reach those ones our Lord died for we certainly must say with Paul: “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (I Cor. 9:22). It means to devise strategies to make the truth known. The Jewish face of our Lord is hidden to modern Christians and Jews. The words they hear about our Lord are through interpreters (Gen. 42:23). How can they come to understand the truth? The Lord surely wants to reveal himself as He really is. “He wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth.” (I Tim. 2:4). We all know that the Lord works through the body of Christ. In order to accomplish his part in the will of God, our brother Paul disputed “daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:9,10).

The John Thomas Education Center is meant to be a place where people will come for regular education. It can play a great role in making our community known for Brazilians. We know that most of them will come only for the offer of regular studies and courses. But because it is also meant to be a missionary base, the truth is embedded in all our activities. So, sooner or later a student will hear about the truth. What answers we will have only God knows. What we know is that it can be done. It is being done! What we know is that with the support of our brotherhood we can do much more.

One of the first questions people ask at our reception desk is: “Who is/was John Thomas?” That’s when we have a little window open to talk about a life full of love for God and for the truth. That’s when a man, though he is dead, still speaks.

If you want more information about the John Thomas Education Center, send your questions to Sis. Kimberly Anderson (wandeling747@hotmail.com), Bro. Winfred Dangelmayer (winfreddangelmayer@hotmail.com) or Roberto & Leila Queiroz (cristadelfiano@hotmail.com). Please, pray for us. Shalom!

Roberto Miranda de Queiroz, John Thomas Education Center