During the first three weeks of May our preacher will be Wagner Miranda, from here in Sao Jose dos Campos. Otavio and I have been alternating the pulpit and adult Bible class. This quarter he preaches, but with his trip to Europe, Wagner will be filling in for him.

Vicki and I taught the gospel to Wagner and his wife Katia a few years back (four, five?). So it is gratifying to see this new Christian preaching this next month.

Wagner led singing yesterday, in spite of a voice that nearly left him during the worship hour. He has also been teaching an evangelistic group study in his home on Thursday evenings, with Otavio giving him encouragement.

As Otavio mentioned in his sermon yesterday, the church will grow as it should only when every person sees it is his job to work in the field, rather than concentrating in one person or small group of people.

That's a difficult vision for many people to see, surrounded as we are by religious groups that put the power, decision, and work in a pastor or priest, as they call them. Such groups often have the language of the "priesthood of believers," but out there you can be sure it isn't practiced. So the church of God swims against the cultural tide, as well as natural, carnal tendency, to hand over responsibility to some one else.

So, Wagner, study hard for your sermons this month, and God bless your efforts.