STORY OF A FISHERMAN
On our first visit to Montão de Trigo, an island in the sea on the northern coast of the the state of São Paulo, Valentim, son of the local leader, gave his life to Jesus.
Walking throuh the Community and living with his people, I noticed that Valentim was a potential leader. His interest in the people was genuine and he had won the friendship of everyone because he taught the children to read and write. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Before leaving the island., that firsr visit, I asked my new brother: “Valentim, who do you think God will use to reach your people, me or you?” He didn’t need to think long to say that he believed he was the person God would use.
From that day on, each time the missionaries visited the island. They sought to edify Valentim and train him for leadership. Films, books and much prayer made part of the “curriculum”. Day after day Valentim took on more leadership qualities.
Now we don’t lead the small meetings, he does it. We still evanglize, but Valentim is always there and when he speaks we keep quiet. At that time, that we called the ‘shared leadership’ even the Community did not know who was the leader. Valentim was leading people to Christ, discipling them at any cost, then with more love... and there was born a true representative of the Kingdom of God in the midst of his own people. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pr Márcio Garcia Pioneer and founder of EMAF (MEAP)