June 24, 2009

My wife and I, the grandson of my daughter, and my son’s family, including his wife and daughter, recently had the privilege to visit Argentina and Brazil.  We met briefly, the new bible school administrator for Argentina,  and were impressed with their plans and hospitality.

We had  more time to spend in Brazil and contacted Rev. John Lambeth who lives in   a suburb of Port Allegro, a city of well over 1 Million people with a metropolitan area, probably much  larger than 2 Million.   Bro. Lambeth graciously invited us to his home, picked us up from the airport, and we had, through him, the very unique, first hand opportunity, in just 3 days, to visit 5 church services or church group meetings.

The church and missionary work in Brazil, as an organization is absolutely nothing like we expected.  We expected to see jungles, block or lean to structures, struggling to bring in natives and the poor.  What we found was a vibrant growing organization of churches and ministers, “almost” all of Brazilian nationality and being led, advised and spiritually supported by a “headquarters location with exceptional organization” originating with and managed by Brother  John Lambeth.  The minsters were clean, educated, gracious, and very, very motivated toward the expansion of the Apostolic Pentecostal message.

The first evening, arriving late, we visited Headquarters church and meeting center.  It is not unlike the large churches of the United States  around it and obvious signs of recurring building expansion, with wings added to the main auditorium for greater seating, and separate conference rooms, and a ladies, or family center for events requiring tables, or involving food and food preparation.   It even included a large overnight quarters sufficient to sleep more than a score of visiting ministers.   I guessed the   meeting auditorium could easily fit 450-700 persons and I understand it is frequently packed.

The next night, after arriving, we actually visited two services in one night  as we accompanied Brother and Sister Lambeth or their usual mission visitation.  Both  of these were mid week services and new out-reach works, started by established local Brazilian ministers, in a location separate from the home church.  They had taken 4 or 5 of their congregation, and it was an old fashioned type “brush arbor” meeting but the facility was more substantial than a tent.  Both were in rented garage like facilities in “frontier” areas not previously reached and both meetings were packed to the capacity of the facility.  Brother Lambeth observed spoke briefly, encouraged the people and minister and introduced us as visitors.  We were well received.

 We all know the family feeling we all get in meeting another Pentecostal on the streets or church in the United States.  Well, we felt the same immediate warmth in Brazil at Pentecostal Missionary churches.  Sister Lambeth even taught us a few words of Portuguese, the language of Brazil.

The second night, after a full day of seeing several churches, “all painted green” we visited two more services in two established churches… all 4 services were packed with worshippers.  The similar church  painting seemed to be just another example of how Missionary Brother john Lambeth has kept the works well  organized, supportive of each other, tied physically as well as spiritually to the headquarters or main Church.

Brother Lambeth set up a meeting the next morning before we left Brazil and we were able to meet several ministers, almost each one of them seem to be so driven and motivated,.  They are receiving   the direction, and support and ideas of a great leader whom I learned spent most of his life in Brazil.  I applaud you Brother Lambeth, your supportive wife and the people I had the opportunity to meet and talk with. 

This is my personal letter of appreciation to you.  You were so busy, and also your wife is so busy in her related work….. yet you took time out for us. 

Thank you so much. 

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GL