From the October-December 2006 Issue
Twenty years on
Jose and Elisa Rodrigues
“Thus far has the LORD helped us”
For a good number of reasons, the year 2006 has been very special to the church in Alto do Moinho. It is with thoughts of praise and gratitude to our gracious God that we acknowledge His mercy and love to us, by which we have come this far. On 7 July 1986, three committed couples started to meet in a first-floor flat, with the intention of starting a new work in this town where there was no gospel witness. Twenty years have passed by; the local church has now forty-two people in membership and a regular attendance of about sixty. We hold four Sunday School classes, attended by more than thirty; the ladies’ meetings have about eighteen regulars; the men’s meetings between eight and ten; ten teenagers attend their weekly group, and fifteen young people meet monthly.
Among the young people and the teenagers there have been good friendships and much involvement in the life of the church. They are a real encouragement to the congregation, and we believe that the Lord is working in the hearts of many. They have been enthusiastically involved in the outreach work of the church. One other good encouragement has been the Holiday Bible Club. For the last eight years, we have held one every year. It is a privilege as well as a responsibility to teach the things of God to those who come to us. An even greater joy is to see those who once were children attending the Holiday Bible Club now engaged in doing a greater part of the practical and spiritual work.
Our Ebenezer
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of gospel witness in this town, the church organized a weekend conference in May, and forty people attended. It proved to be a good time of fellowship and reflection on the work of the local church, and there was a unanimous desire to repeat the event in the near future. Pastor João Custódio Nunes has been a special friend of this work from its beginning. He preached for us at the first church anniversary, and has been with us on many other occasions. For our blessing and encouragement, he agreed to preach at our 20th anniversary.
His preaching was from 1 Samuel 7:1-12, pointing out from the text the many hardships of the nation of Israel at that time, and how God brought them close to Him for victory and blessing. To commemorate the special moment for the nation, a stone was set up by Samuel, and he called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12). By way of application the church was exhorted to look back and see how the Lord has cared for and blessed her. Even through hardships and difficulties, He has blessed her thus far. An encouraging number of representatives were present from other local churches in the area and from the U.K.
For these twenty years of gospel witness in Alto do Moinho, by the grace and love of God, and for His honour and glory, we feel it is appropriate to make some acknowledgments. First of all, to Waterford House Free Church, Strood, Kent, who alone, twenty-two years ago, under the ministry of their pastor at that time, Rev. Daniel Webber, provided pastoral training for José and Elisa Rodrigues. They alone, from the very beginning, supported José in full-time ministry and for the past twenty years; through the EMF they are still the main supporters of the work here.
Secondly, but not least, to the European Missionary Fellowship family, for the spiritual and financial support and fellowship provided, and also the many who through the years have welcomed our pastor José Rodrigues, during deputation work and other events.
The wise Moses, inspired by God, wrote: “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 91:12). For sure, many of us will acknowledge the need to be taught by God, so that we will go on growing in knowledge and wisdom. Looking back, we see much of the blessing and feel the responsibility to go on doing the Lord’s work. We know, “Thus far has the LORD helped us”, and His promise is to be with all His children until the end of time.