God’s Gracious Provision

Six years ago, we helped plant a church in Brasília, Brazil’s capital. When we moved to São Paulo to help with the Free Methodist seminary, Pastor Peterson took our place. He continued to disciple the core group of believers with whom the church had been started, but also had a heart for reaching those who did not yet know Christ.

He began to meet weekly with a man named Fábio who had been away from the Lord for many years. God used their Bible studies to restore his faith and heal his marriage. He visited the FMC, but eventually decided to return to his former house of worship. Peterson couldn’t help being a little disappointed, but he trusted that God knows best.  

The Free Methodist church in Brasília had been meeting in a small rented building with one large room and a couple of bathrooms, but no separate space for Sunday school. As Peterson prayed and searched for a larger, yet still affordable, space, he remembered that his friend owned several buildings and went to ask about the possibility of buying or renting one of them. Fábio listened to his story and said, “I own a brand-new property that is twice as big as your present church, and I will give it to you for the SAME amount of rent. In fact, I refuse to rent it to anyone but you. And I promise not to raise the rent for the next three years.”

Not only did God provide a larger building (two stories, with a kitchen and classroom space), but the church is located in a different neighborhood, which “just happens” to be where Peterson has been longing to move the church. A few weeks ago, the congregation moved into the new building with a joyous dedication service. We praise God for His kindness and faithfulness and for providing more than we “could ever ask or think.”