What If?

By Annie Grahame

Someone was at the door. I answered the intercom hurriedly and heard the voice of a woman asking if I could offer her work-any kind of household work. Immediately I answered, "No," and returned to my studies.

Within minutes I heard a knock on our apartment door. Strange, I thought, no one is allowed into the building without speaking in the intercom first. As I answered the door I found a distraught woman crying and begging to come in. She told me one of our neighbors had opened the security door and told her to come to our apartment because they knew that Rick, my husband, was a pastor. Her name was Silvana and her needs were much deeper than a job to provide for her three children.

Rick and I took her into our office and allowed her to unload some of her emotional burdens. Her story is common in Brazil. Her husband of almost 20 years left her for a younger woman. It wasn't the first time he had been unfaithful, yet Silvana had been supportive of her husband. Our conversation lasted over an hour and started a relationship that has grown to be special.

Silvana returned a few days later. She actually had planned to attend a large church, but missed her ride. Instead she decided to bring her children to meet us. While I spent time with the children, Rick shared with Silvana her need for Christ. Without hesitation or doubt she asked Christ to save her and come into her fractured life. The change in her life has been incredible, and we watch with awe as God transforms this emotionally broken woman into a confident, glowing Christian. On one of the first Sundays the family came to church with us, Alissandra, the oldest daughter, started asking questions about teaching she had heard in other churches. I explained what the Bible teaches, and her need for Christ as Savior. Alissandra asked for forgiveness of sins and accepted Christ into her life. The spiritual maturity God has given this 17-year-old has been a great comfort to her mother. The younger brother, Mateus, has been asking questions about salvation and he and his sister, Barbara attend Sunday School and church.

On Tuesday night we hold a discipleship class at their home. I have never had students so eager to learn and memorize scripture. They are so enthusiastic that I have trouble staying ahead of them. Silvana and Alissandra have been baptized and attend our "New Connection" classes for church membership. They already serve at church in the choir, children's club, and other areas.

Even though Silvana has difficulty providing for her children, they all praise God for the ways in which He does supply their needs.

The church we are planting was in a bit of a slump and needed a boost to get over that hump of discouragement. Silvana's family added a spark of excitement and a renewed enthusiasm for our other members. I often wonder, What if I had turned Silvana away?