I am here tonight...

[Sister Alvear]

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I WROTE THIS SOME TIME AGO BUT WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN. I STAND TONIGHT WHERE A GREAT WOMAN WAS JOINED THE HOST OF MARTYRED.

A TRIBUTE TO A LADY PREACHER:

Written by Sister Janice Alvear

In an unmarked grave on the Brazil-Paraguay boarder lays the remains of one of the most courageous ladies I have ever known. She was a modern day martyr of the gospel. Upon becoming a Christian her husband left her with 5 small children to raise. At one of our conventions Brother Alvear asked would any preacher feel called to go to the Paraguay boarder and help start a work. No hands were raised but after the services this little lady came to Brother Alvear and said if by my moving there will help someone I will go. To be honest that was not what Brother Alvear had in mind but she keep insisting she would go and be a light in a darken corner of our world here. And a light she was…it was not long until all her neighbors far and near knew the story of Jesus and conversions were taking place. The devil does not like losing power in his dark kingdom and he stirs up all he can to stop the messenger of God. Enemies of the gospel poisoned her and she lay on her deathbed, Brother Alvear, asked her, “was it worth it”? She whispered as life was leaving her body, “If I had it all to do over I would do the same.”

She left behind 5 small children that we took in and raised in our home…What the devil meant for a stab into the work of God only backfired because today 3 of her boys are grown and two pastor churches and the third one works in the music ministry here in Northeast Brazil. It has been said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church. The oldest son, Brother Arlei has now been ordained as a missionary and works diligently right by our side. At this writing he is traveling with a group of ministers further up north Brazil taking light to new areas.
Brother Ednei is pastoring a church in a village called Ouro Preto and helping us in our day to day missionary running. Brother Dirlei is one of our ministers in music and works in my personal office. What the devil meant to over throughthe work of God only served to put the fire of God burning in many directions.
What happened to the fruits at the Brazil Paraguay boarder? Many go on serving God today in that region. A church is standing and some of the people are the people Sister Petrolina won to the Lord…the messenger now is a child of the resurrection awaiting that great day but the message lives on…and is powerful. Her sons are our right hand men in the work of the Lord.
Was it worth her sacrifice? Let Jesus answer for Himself:: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Tertullian said, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church."
Would we be so willing to worship Christ if there was always the possibility of martyrdom? My friend, Christianity is a religion of martyrdom. Jesus willingly shed his blood for our sake and he calls us to be martyrs. It is interesting to note that the word martyr in Greek means witness. I am sure most of us will not die a martyr's death BUT we are expected to live a martyr's life.
Can a value be placed on an eternal soul? Is it worth it to spend ourselves day and night for the cause of the Gospel, strengthening the faith of the saints and workers? I say a million times over Yes it is worth it.
Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God. Prayers outlive those that utter them, outlive a generation, an age, and a world.
Let us all walk worthy in our callings.
Her boys are standing right beside me because I just read the letter to them. They said to tell you, “Her sacrifice was worth it and they will spend eternity with her.”
Paul told his young disciple in 2 Timothy 3:12 “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." And the words of the writer of Hebrews who wrote about men and women of that day, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth”.