Reports: The Elijah Challenge in Brazil
Miraculous healing in San Bernardo, Sao Paulo
On a Saturday morning in July 2011 I stepped off a plane from Texas and later that same morning began teaching at Fountain Baptist Church in San Bernardo. This Baptist Church is an especially vibrant one led by a very fervent pastor named Joseph-Carlos. After being trained that Saturday morning, two hundred believers went door to door in the afternoon healing the sick and preaching the gospel in their community. Miraculous healings and salvations were reported during that time. On Sunday as well there was also training in the morning and visitation to the homes in the afternoon. A total of 2,400 homes were visited during the two afternoons.
On both Saturday and Sunday evenings there were evangelistic healing services in the Baptist Church. A woman had brought to one of the evening services her 12-year-old niece who had been totally blind for a year and a half to two years. Something like scales covered her eyes and nothing but white could be seen. Doctors were mystified and could not help her at all. During the time of ministry she was led forward to one of the trained disciples, a pastor named Joseph-Roberto. The brother was a bit taken aback when he saw the condition of her eyes—they were completely white—but he had been trained to show no fear and to “command the mountain to move” in Jesus’ name and not take “no” for an answer. Such an impossible condition is what we would call a “big mountain.” This dear servant of God nevertheless attacked the infirmity in Jesus’ name with authority and mountain-moving faith. The condition was very resistant, but Joseph-Roberto would not give up.
He was exhausted after ministering to the girl about a dozen times. But she began rubbing her eyes, and as she did something like scales slid off of her eyes. She could see clearly! She could visually identify a pen and the color of a person’s silver ring. She was able to walk upstairs by herself. She gave her testimony before an awestruck crowd at the Baptist Church that evening. I was told that about 150 people accepted Jesus Christ during the Saturday and Sunday evening services.
The same miracle as recorded in Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.