Hello, Bishop!
I would like to share the experience the Holy Spirit presented me with this week: the story of a 79-year-old man named Vladislav Bratislovit.
While walking through the park, a member of the Church met an older man and began speaking to him about the Lord Jesus. He said that he was 79 years old and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 38 years ago, which has caused him to be in a wheelchair for the past 15 years. He said his greatest dream was to find God, someone to teach him about God and lead him to an encounter with God, because he needed His forgiveness.
She came to tell me about him and we arranged a visit to his home.
I visited this gentleman and during our conversation, I felt a deep responsibility. Usually people come to Church to solve their physical problems, and some learn to solve their main problem, eternity, but this gentleman asked me, “Can you help me know Jesus?”
A 79-year-old man in a wheelchair, with legs, spine and an arm that no longer work, who was visibly suffering, but his only desire was to know God!
I answered: “Yes, I can help you know God!”
Bishop, we spoke for a long time. His life story is impressive. I invited him to attend the meeting on Sunday and he accepted. He hasn’t gone to the supermarket for over 10 years and he doesn’t even know the current coin value. When I invited him, he smiled and, immediately, said he would come. I asked if he would need help, and he said no.
On Sunday, he arrived early to attend the meeting. I spoke to him about surrendering his life to the Lord Jesus through baptism in water and gave him the book “Baptism in water”. I asked him to read it, and if he had any questions, he could ask me at the next meeting.
On Tuesday, I returned to his house to visit him again. During our conversation, he said he wanted to be baptized in water. So I baptized him right there in the bathroom. It was a glorious experience to see his joy. I believe God kept him so he could be saved.
Then I spoke about the next step, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and he asked me to teach him how to find Him.
Pastor Ailton Soares