My wife and I had the privilege of attending the first service in the new Nilopolis Church of the Nazarene, Sept. 5, 2010, in Greater Rio de Janeiro. Even though the new building is still under construction, it opened for services because the congregation has outgrown its old building. When finished, the beautiful worship center will seat 2,000 -- quite a stretch from the first services held in a home and then a school by missionaries Jim and Carol Kratz.
Thanks to the Alabaster Offering, the Kratzes were able to build a sanctuary that served the congregation well for 40 years. The Alabaster Offering, given in local churches around the world, provides funds for property and buildings in each region. Watching the people enthusiastically worship the Lord Sunday in the new building, I began to reflect on how the Lord took these offerings -- gathered in small boxes by children, teens and adults around the world -- to provide Nilopolis's first church building, which served as a place to advance the cause of Jesus Christ in miraculous ways.
Let me mention some of them:
- The Nilopolis Church has planted 30 other churches in the Greater Rio de Janeiro area, and helped sponsor new church plants beyond the area in addition to giving faithfully to the Alabaster Offering.
- The Nilopolis Church has a Christian elementary school that provides quality education for those who can afford education as well as those who can’t.
- The church sponsors national missionaries who are serving in several states of Brazil and even outside of Brazil.
- Members of this church have in the past or are presently serving the Brazilian church in high profile capacities:
-- The first director of the Brazilian Missionary Training Center
-- The first president of Brazil Nazarene College (the first Nazarene liberal arts college in South America)
-- Dozens of outstanding pastors and thousands of members
-- One of the first Brazilian Area strategy coordinators
Compassionate DNA
Over its 44-year history, the Nilopolis church's spiritual DNA has become more and more evident as a truly compassionate congregation. The church has developed over 80 ministries that say to the community, “We love you and will help you. If your life has been ruined by sin, we will help. If you are sick, we will help. If you need assistance to get an education, we will help. We will do all of this in the name of Jesus Christ because we are followers of Him.”
I have seen much evidence of this compassion over the years. But the expression of love that has most greatly blessed our family's life happened 20 years ago. When two girls, ages 9 and 11, lost their father, the pastor of the church, Rev. Pedro Paulo, mobilized the Nilopolis church to help the family and embrace the girls.
One of those girls said, “The church became our family and our home because every time the church doors were open we were there."
Agatha is one of those girls. She has become our daughter-in-law and mother of our two Brazilian grandkids. Brenda and I say "thank you" to all who gave Alabaster offerings to build that first church building in Nilopolis. Because you did, Agatha and her family were touched by the Gospel and our family has been tremendously blessed.
Hands and feet of Christ
Over the years, as I’ve sat on the platform of the Nilopolis church watching the people praying and singing, I’ve learned to look to the first pew on the left for inspiration before stepping to the pulpit to preach. I look to see the man faithfully sitting there who can’t speak or control his arms, but in whom shines the evidence that he has been transformed by God’s love and the love of the Nilopolis congregation.
Incapable of saying a word, he has inspired me to preach the Word and demonstrate the love of God. This last Sunday I looked and he was there, as always. A new building and new pews, but his favorite spot remains the same. When it came time for the communion service, the person who usually helps him receive the bread and juice was not nearby. Brenda was seated behind him. She noticed his frustration so she stepped from behind and knelt in front of him. She took the elements she had received and placed her wafer on his tongue and poured the juice into his mouth.
Brenda’s gesture this last Sunday is very close to the act in the New Testament (Luke 7) that gave birth to the idea of Nazarenes helping individuals who need church buildings but are incapable of building them.
Talk about it
- What is the Alabaster Offering and how are the funds used?
- In what ways has the Nilopolis church been able to minister to its community from its building constructed through Alabaster funds?
- Why might it be important for churches in some cultures to have permanent buildings?
- How do well-constructed buildings provide ways for churches to minister to their communities?
- For churches that meet in tents, under trees or in homes, what advantages do these places provide?
- Think about the place where your church meets. What are its advantages and disadvantages for ministry?
- What motivates churches around the world to give sacrificially so other churches can have buildings, or to build hospitals and schools?
- How can you pray for Nilopolis church's continuing ministry to its community?
-- Steve and Brenda Heap are global missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil. During the past 35 years the Heaps have served in several capacities: as seminary professors, pioneers of churches in Northeast Brazil, and for 23 years as field director. Recently they had the privilege of seeing three Brazilian Nazarenes take over the responsibilities of strategy coordinators for the regions of Brazil. Steve and Brenda’s present roles involve coordinating Work & Witness teams, teaching and clergy development.
