Five out of two hundred
A Yanomami believer in Brazil, Brais, knew he would be in the minority at a conference of tribal leaders and witchdoctors from several villages. He was one of five believers in a group of more than 200.
Returning home from the conference last week, Brais shared his experience with fellow believers. He said he knew he wasn't alone. He had the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit with him.
Brais had the opportunity to speak at the conference and was asked questions about the culture and his position as a leader in the community. He told them that there are things in the culture that he doesn't feel right about doing anymore as a Christian and as a pastor, but that he is not telling people in the village (outside of the church) not to do those things.
"I tell people what I feel is right according to God's Word and what I am going to do, but I don't ban it from the community," he said.
Brais said that when he arrived at the conference everyone was friendly and wanting to talk. But once he stood up and shared his position as a believer and said he was the pastor of a church others backed away and weren't as friendly. He didn't experience any hostility though.
One big concern that the group had was the lack of interest among the young men to become witchdoctors. Now it appears that some of the Yanomamis are planning to start paying some of the witch doctors to encourage them to keep the witchcraft alive.
Please pray for the believers to stand strong amid the cultural pressures around them and that the believers and missionaries will have God's wisdom in this situation.
Returning home from the conference last week, Brais shared his experience with fellow believers. He said he knew he wasn't alone. He had the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit with him.
Brais had the opportunity to speak at the conference and was asked questions about the culture and his position as a leader in the community. He told them that there are things in the culture that he doesn't feel right about doing anymore as a Christian and as a pastor, but that he is not telling people in the village (outside of the church) not to do those things.
"I tell people what I feel is right according to God's Word and what I am going to do, but I don't ban it from the community," he said.
Brais said that when he arrived at the conference everyone was friendly and wanting to talk. But once he stood up and shared his position as a believer and said he was the pastor of a church others backed away and weren't as friendly. He didn't experience any hostility though.
One big concern that the group had was the lack of interest among the young men to become witchdoctors. Now it appears that some of the Yanomamis are planning to start paying some of the witch doctors to encourage them to keep the witchcraft alive.
Please pray for the believers to stand strong amid the cultural pressures around them and that the believers and missionaries will have God's wisdom in this situation.