This month the church in Recife’s western suburb of Camaragibe celebrated their 26^th anniversary. They had a special worship assembly Sunday night to commemorate. There were 112 in attendance overflowing their small building, which is home to about forty members. They had sixty chairs set out which filled their small auditorium. Many had to participate from a window or doorway.

As I helped in this church plant many years ago, I was invited to speak at this occasion. Carlos, one of the church’s leaders, related how the congregation began as a small Bible study group meeting under a tree in one of the sister’s backyard. We strung lights up in the tree to read by and ended the study if it began to rain.

I decided to preach an “oldie but goodie” lesson that I had used back then. It was on Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16. There were many visitors and that’s a good sermon to point people to the Bible for guidance in life’s most important decision.

“But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16:31