IN A remote section of Brazil where the gospel had been blessed to many, a missionary had arranged to baptize 30 native converts. Satan raised up opposition, however, and some of the unbelieving relatives sought to oppose this step of faith. They even offered Venancio, a gangster chief, a sum of money if he and his band of outlaws would break up the service. Venancio agreed.
The Christians heard of the enemy’s plans but determined to proceed with their service even at the risk of their lives.
A large crowd were on hand to witness the baptismal service and the 30 new converts in their white robes stood by the creek. They sang a few hymns and Gustavo began to preach.
Then they heard the galloping of horses and 30 horsemen approached with Venancio at their head. Riding past the crowd of spectators the men with their pistols drawn stopped in front of the little Christian band.
The crowd drew back terrified, while the believers stood motionless on the river bank. But Gustavo continued to preach.
Then suddenly Venancio rode a few steps forward, turned toward his men and yelled, “Whoever harms these people is a dead man.” He kept his pistol pointed at his own men all during the rest of the sermon. When the preaching ended he gave an order and they all rode away.
How the believers praised God! Tears of gratitude flowed freely as one after another the Christian converts stepped into the water and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Now for the sequel. About two years later the niece of another missionary had received a request for a Bible from a man in a Brazilian prison. When she brought him the Bible he told her this story.
He had been saved two years previously through reading a New Testament. After his conversion he had suffered much reproach and persecution from his fellows. But one day a prisoner came to him and said: “I have watched you in this prison. I have seen how the others persecute you and I marvel how you can be so patient under such injustice. I am convinced that your religion is real.”
With joy the Christian told his fellow prisoner of the saving grace of God through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. But the man turned sadly away. “No,” he said, “my sins are too great and too many. God could never forgive me. Don’t you know I am the gangster chief, Venancio. Once I burned down a church. I have shed blood, and have many other crimes on my conscience.
“But one thing I am thankful for,” he went on, “in some strange way I was once prevented from shedding innocent blood. Some Christians were to hold a baptismal service and I was determined to prevent it even if it meant some would lose their lives. I planned to give them a few minutes to clear the place and then I would start shooting.
“But suddenly I saw shining beings above the preacher and the converts waiting to be baptized. They must have been angels. When I recovered from my fright I commanded my men not to harm those people....”
The Christian prisoner continued to speak to Venancio and encouraged him to trust in the Lord whose grace was greater than all his sins.
“For grace is above all his sin and distress,
And he’s nothing to do — save his sin to confess.”
The day came when Venancio knelt with his friend in his cell and they prayed together. There God met Venancio and saved him.
That was the beginning of a wave of blessing behind those dark prison walls. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light.” Matt. 4:1616The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:16). Others began to come to Christ through their testimony and the warden assigned them a hall in which to meet. Venancio became a pastor to the little group as they sought to walk with the Lord and waited for His coming from heaven.
Such is the transforming power of the grace of God.
The Evangelist
ML-06/02/1974