The Transformation Continues

This past month, December of 2011, I had the joyful privilege of speaking at a very significant event in the life of a small community in Northern Brazil. The city of Algodao de Jandaira has been in the process of transformation since 2004. I have mentioned this community in previous posts, and it is the subject of a book I have just completed called, When God Transforms the Desert.  You can order copies by emailing me at steveloopstra@gmail.com.

On the weekend of December 16th and 17th Algodao de Jandaira celebrated two significant moments in its history. The first was on Friday night, December 16th when they dedicated a monument to the Bible. But it was a monument to commemorate the transforming work that God has been doing in their community for the past ten years.

prayer of dedication for the memorial to the Bible

The mayor, city council members, and pastors were there in unity to dedicate this monument that stands at the entrance to the city. Pastor Joao Soares, pastor of First Baptist Church of Algodao cut the ribbon on the memorial. He actually was also the one who designed the monument, a design with two side panels to resemble the tablets of the Old Testament law given to Moses, and a middle panel to represent the New Testament.

Saturday evening, December 17th residents of the city again gathered to celebrate the initiation of "The Day of the Evangelical." A day to remember the work of the Evangelical Church in their city. According to Bishop Simone Ximenes, there is only one other city in Brazil that has dedicated such a day, and that is the Capitol city of Brazilia.

It was a vivid reminder that transformation is an ongoing work of God in any given community. I have been back to visit in Algodao de Jandaira ever year since 2008, and every year there is new construction, and improvements in the overall standard of living in the city.

For example, in 2010, a new ceramics factory was built in Algodao that employs 80 people and bring income and recognition from across the region. A new city Hall, the establishment of internet connection and cell phone reception have all been a part of God's transforming work. That is in addition to the prosperity of the land itself. In a place where once it had not rained for 23 years with any significance, and everything was "grey." Now several different crops are grown, including mango, chestnuts, corn, and from the once dried reservoir, come fish and shrimp.

Where once there were only a couple of desperate believers crying out for God's help, how, First Baptist Church of Algodao is a growing and thriving church that is reaching out and planting churches in the region. The young pastor Joao Soares is a product of the transforming revival that began with visits from a church three and a half hours drive away. Make sure you get a copy of the book to get the amazing details of this transformation story.

God's transforming power is drawn like a magnet where there are humble, broken, useable people. Algodao de Jandaira is a living breathing example of what ongoing community transformation can look like.