Family Radio Mission to Lisbon, Portugal
May 7th - 18th, 2007
LETTER #1
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
By the mercy and grace of God, on Monday, May 7, 2007. a group of twenty missionaries (5 from California and 15 from the Eastern states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York) traveled to Lisbon, Portugal to bring the gospel message of Salvation, consistent with our ambassadorial mandate that is clearly delineated in MARK 16:15 ("Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"). We were blessed with a safe passage and arrived in Lisbon at 8.15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, after a 7 hour flight (Portugal is 5 hours ahead of East Coast time and 8 hours ahead of California time).
Our gospel proclamation efforts began even before we arrived in Lisbon, when in crossing the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe, a great and effectual door of witnessing was provided to one of our missionaries, and this is what she had to say: I was seated next to a well educated, tri lingual man who lived in Panama and was traveling to Lisbon to visit his two grown children. When I shared the 'Does God Love You?' tract with him, he said, as he was taking it, "O, God is surely after me". He explained that many years prior, he had promised himself that he would speak to his children about spiritual things, and that was the reason for his trip to Lisbon. He said that he was very skeptical about churches today, and that these institutions had become immoral and did not have much to offer anyone in terms of the spiritual. I told him that our trust can be only in the Bible, the Supreme Law Book. He had many searching questions, such as: Is the Bible valid? Is there a reason to go to church? Is it the time of the end? In responding to his questions with supporting scriptures, the man was quite relieved to hear the good news that the church age was ended, that now is still the day of Salvation (outside of the churches) and that he must, in humility (with a broken and contrite heart) beseech the Lord for His mercy. I also told him that God speaks to us through His Word, so he must read his bible because "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). After about an hour of conversation, this man was rejoicing, saying that he is ready to tell his children what he now knows. He requested two tracts in the Portuguese language for his children, which by God's providence was availalbe. He earnestly thanked me and said that he was now prepared to witness with his children about true spiritual things. May God do a mighty work of grace in this man's heart and the hearts of his children, as is His will.
The Immigration and Customs checks went very smoothly, everyone received his/her luggage and our group leader (who traveled ahead on Sunday) met us at the airport with two mini buses (one for the luggage and one for the missionaries, 21 in total). The drive to the hotel, which was a little under an hour, was very scenic and away from the downtown area, in a relatively secluded enclave. Given that our arrival was before the hotel's regular check out time, we were not able to get settled in our rooms, however, in the interim, we redeemed the time with a mini conference, receiving instructions and apprising all, especially the 5 first timers of our responsibilities on this mission, where we plan, by God's grace to share 300,000 tracts, about 400 bibles and FR booklets and teaching materials. The 21 missionaries (10 men and 11 women) were assigned to five teams.
We eventually got settled in our rooms, which were quite accommodating and a few of the missionaries went out in the afternoon to test the waters. The reports were that the people were relatively friendly and the reception was fair. Tomorrow is our first full day of distribution and we will have a better assessment of the overall response to the "words of life".
We had a very sumptuous dinner and a time of fellowship, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and prayers beseeching the Lord for open hands and hearts to the gospel that would deliver these dear people from the power of darkness and translate them into the kingdom of Christ. After a long day, everyone retired to bed for a restful sleep and rejuvenation, in preparation for our first full day.
As always, we request your prayers for the dear people of Portugal and also for the missionaries, as we persevere.
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:9 11)
In Christian love,
The Family Radio Mission Group in Portugal
Family Radio Mission to Lisbon, Portugal
May 7th - 18th, 2007
LETTER #2
"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD,
and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41:13 14)
Today, Wednesday 5/9/07was our first full day of distribution ot the gospel of grace to the people of Lisbon and what better place to start our attack than Lisbon's 4 line, color coded (blue, gree, red, and yellow) Metro System. Though only four lines, this system is quite extensive, yet easy to navigate, where a pass to ride the trains for a whole day, transferring as many times as needed costs approximately $5.00.
All five teams got their feet wet (so to speak) at major transfer points on the metro lines. One team had started working in the Metro system itself and in the beginning it was not a problem, but after a short while management politely asked us not to stand in the station, but rather to stay out on the street. In the beginning, distribution was quite slow, perhaps because, at the time we started (between 9.30 and 10.00 am), the rush hour traffic had dissipated. However, there were still spurts of people (shift workers, university students, or tourists) using the various lines, and buses which were at key transfer points; so, with very aggressive efforts, our tract load for the day was decreasing.
As the day progressed, there were a few heart warming encounters, showing the hand of God at work in our efforts to bring glory to Him, as we spread the Word far and wide. One missionary indicated that she was witnessing to an Englishman of Indian descent who was visiting relatives. He had earlier received the tract, read it and had returned for more information and literature. What was striking about this encounter is that while this man was getting the information that he so eagerly sought, his relatives, who appeared affluent, exhibited no impatience with either the man or the missionary, which is very unusual for people of the western culture.
A few missionaries indicated that they distributed Bibles to people, who by the world's standards, are nondescript and not worthy of attention, but by God's standards, they could be of His flock, since He is not a respecter of persons. Each recipient surprisingly, but warmly accepted the Bibles they were surprised because, here is a foreigner, barely able to say one word of their language, showing care and kindness to them, thinking them worthy enough to receive something for free (and what better gift than God's Word, the Bible). Two hard working ladies, tending the roadside landscaping, when they heard the word GRATIS (which means free in Spanish, but which they understood because some Spanish words are common to the Portuguese language) were so overjoyed, they could have done cartwheels, it if were appropriate. One young man, when he received the Bible said: 'You mean this is for me?' and when the missionary responded 'yes it is yours, may God bless you as you read it', he replied: 'Today, you have made me very happy'. A few people took the tracts and then a couple minutes later would return and ask for more for their families. One man even took a tract out of the thrash bin, dusted it off and was reading it. May our dear Lord do a mighty work of grace in the hearts of these dear people.
In another interesting encounter, a young man was assisting a team leader in finding locations along the metro lines where there might be large crowds that would facilitate the distribution efforts. One of the team members gave him a tract and told him that we wanted to find many people so we could share that information with them. The team member also told him that we go to many countries around the world to spread the gospel and to warn the world of Christ's imminent return. Since he was of Indian descent, the missionary told him that we recently went to India and he asked where in India. We told him Punjab state and he got very excited, saying: 'I am from Punjab state'. He asked what cities we went to and we said Jalandhar and he said: 'that is my hometown. The missionary told him: 'well, we did not get to give you this gospel in your hometown, but , by God's providence, we get to share it with you here in Lisbon. Isn't this is small world after all? May it be that this one of God's lost sheep and that by His mercy He will draw this dear soul into the fold.
The afternoon rush hour traffic on the metro lines and buses, and a ferry that brought people from a cruise ship as well as another city outside of Lisbon were sources of great help in the distribution efforts. All teams reported measured success with the sharing of the gospel of Salvation, indicating a 55 60% reception rate. Though not a large percentage by normal standards, nonetheless we are more than thankful that God provided the open hands and hearts to receive the precious words of life. We acknowledge that the power is of God and not of us and realize that God has to enable us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
We had dinner and a time of fellowship, praising and thanking God for His protection, and seeking His wisdom and guidance in our distribution efforts for the remaining time here. We also covet the prayers of the FR listening audience and we again express our thanks for their financial contribution towards this mission.
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21)
In Christian love,
The Family Radio Mission Group in Portugal
Family Radio Mission to Lisbon, Portugal
May 7th - 18th, 2007
LETTER #3
""A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26 27)
Today, Thursday 5/10/07 three teams repeated the activities at the Metro Stations, starting at an earlier time in order to capture some portion of the rush hour traffic that they missed yesterday. One team exited at eight on the reportedly busiest Metro Line, following the people to the different neighborhoods, and in that fashion shared the message of eternal life with the inhabitants. The team's leader went to the end of the Metro Line which is in the heart of downtown Lisbon, and where there is a wharf on the shore of the Tagus River. The ferry that services Lisbon and the communities across the Tagus brought many people who cross over to participate in the various activities that downtown Lisbon has to offer, including those seeking employment, because Portugal's economy, like the rest of Europe, is plagued with high unemployment.
Though the traffic was steady as the ferry plied the waters of the Tagus, the reception still remained fair, perhaps because the people were too preoccupied with cares and concerns of the world. Providentially, however, there was a Middle School in the area which provided a distribution opportunity that produced favorable results.
Three members of another team spent the day at one of the busiest transfer points in the Metro System, where three of the four Metro Lines converge (somewhat like Grand Central Station in New York). At this location the traffic was excellent during the morning and evening rush hour, both on the platforms, and with people leaving and entering the station for bus connections to and from Lisbon proper, and its outskirts. The flow was steady between the two rush hour periods, which greatly facilitated the distribution efforts.
The two remaining members of the team exited a one stop on the Metro line that services a 7 campus University complex and a large hospital. One missionary captured the attention of quite a few of the many students entering and exiting the campuses at various times in the day as their schedules allowed. Here, like yesterday, some who had initially refused the tract would soon return to receive it. In one instance, a student went all the way into the Metro Station and then returned, saying: 'Can I have one please?' Could this be one of God's elect? The other missionary on the hospital assignment reported a steady flow of traffic doctors and nurses, students, police and security officials, a wide cross section of people. Permission was sought to conduct the distribution on the hospital grounds and inside the building, but was denied. Nonetheless, we are thankful that our efforts at the hospital were reasonably productive.
Another team visited some markets in the area and everyone reports fair results. A few people had some serious questions about the tract, especially the doctrine dealing with the end of the church age, and we told them to read the Bible, the only source of truth. We also invited them to the Bible Study where they could get answers to some of their questions, in addition to teaching materials that would assist them in their quest for truth.
We praise the Lord for sending three visitors to the Bible Study and pray that they were blessed by the teaching. Again we express thankfulness to all those who made petitions to our dear Lord and Savior for us, and also on behalf of these dear people in this part of God's vineyard.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
In Christian love,
The Family Radio Mission Group in Portugal
Family Radio Mission to Lisbon, Portugal
May 7th - 18th, 2007
LETTER #4
"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)
Today, Friday, 5/11/07 Continuing our distribution efforts in the city of Lisbon, a team of four persons visited the Rossi Square, one of the oldest in Lisbon. This square displays white stoned pavements, a pedestrian plaza in the center, lined with shops selling all kinds of goods and services (including souvenirs), and many cafes and restaurants with to "al fresco" dining, primarily catering to the hordes of tourists that visit the area. The reception at this square, which is a busy transfer point in the Metro System, as at other locations, remained fair.
The remaining teams traveled by public transportation to the town of Fatima which is one and a half hours from the Northwestern end of Lisbon where our hotel is located. The bus ride was smooth and comfortable and we arrived at the location at 10.45 a.m. We view this trip to Fatima as somewhat of a dry run to the main celebration (the 90th) of what is called "the visions of Fatima" which starts on Saturday with parades to the huge Cathedral in the center of the town where several masses are held during the day, a candle light vigil all night and the masses continue on Sunday all day, after which the people return home.
Here is a little background on this celebration: There are varying accounts as to what actually took place in May, 1917, but the most predominant account is that three young girls were reported to have had visions where they saw the Virgin Mary and she gave them three secrets, one of which speaks about the end of time and they turned these secrets over to the then current Pope. To this day, these secrets have not been revealed, being closely guarded by the successive Popes. Many people, predominantly Catholics from all over the world make a pilgrimage (like the pilgrimage to Mecca) to Fatima where there is a Shrine set up at the location where the visitation of the Virgin Mary is reported to have occurred.
In keeping with the teachings of Ezekiel 33, we have brought the true gospel of Salvation to sound the warning of Christ's impending return in judgment, to the people of Fatima in particular, and the world in general (given the many nations of people to pay obeisance to Saint Mary, as they say). This spectacle of idolatry is an abomination to the great God of heaven and we are sharing the precious words of life with these dear people to the end that God would do a mighty work of grace in their hearts since "faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God (ROMANS 10:17).
We returned to our hotel late in the evening, after a long day. We continue to beseech the listening audience for their prayers for strength and safety as we plan to return to Fatima on Saturday and Sunday, the height of the celebration.
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
In Christian love,
The Family Radio Mission Group in Portugal
Family Radio Mission to Lisbon, Portugal
May 7th - 18th, 2007
LETTER #5
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
Saturday and Sunday, 5/12 5/13/07 Because of the almost millions of people that are expected to make the pilgrimage to the town of Fatima, we decided to travel to there for the two days of celebration. We rented a bus and left at 6.30 a.m arriving at 8.00 to begin the days' distribution. On both days the area was packed, being equipped with scores of eateries, stores, souvenir shops, a wax museum, and many hotels and extensive camp grounds to accommodate the almost one million people that thronged the site.
The teams fanned out to the various entrances around the perimeter of the sanctuary, most of which were fiercely guarded by the church's own security people, given that the Shrine of Fatima is considered a citadel of sacredness for the Catholics. We worked as close to these entrances as we could get until we were told to move further backwards, some of the people even questioning why we were there with our gospel, seeing that this Fatima is Catholic territory. Nevertheless, with indomitable spirits, we pressed on, keeping in focus our responsibilities as watchmen, recognizing that this gospel, which cuts unto judgment, is also a balm in Gilead that could rescue these dear people from the ultimate terror of God's eternal wrath, which is much more cataclysmic than the earthquake, tsunami and fire of November December 1755 that devastated Lisbon and decimated the population (approximately 90,000 deaths).
Though battle weary from working from dawn to dusk on both days, nonetheless. we are thankful that God provided the opportunity over these two days for us to put the precious words of life, that would deliver these dear people from the power of darkness and translate them into the Kingdom of Christ, into the many outstretched hands. We also know that the town would never be the same and may God's will be done and a great multitude be harvested from our efforts. Brethren, we continue to covet your prayers us and these dear people.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
In Christian love,
The Family Radio Mission Group in Portugal
Family Radio Mission to Lisbon, Portugal
May 7th - 18th, 2007
LETTER #6
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)
We praise the Lord for His answers to prayers for strength, wisdom and guidance as we, unprofitable servants though we are, carry out our commission of spreading the gospel of grace so that God's lost sheep who have gone astray, could be gathered into the fold.
This morning at 6.00 a.m. two teams went out to the two Metro Stations that are within walking distance, and at the opposite ends of our hotel; the purpose being to capture the early commuters. (Incidentally, given the high cost of petrol, public transportation is the best means of commute to various offices, factories and other places of business in and around the city). We had planned to travel on the Metro lines to key transfer points in order to be in the height of the morning rush hour, however, we did not have weekly or monthly metro cards, and since it was so early, it was not possible to purchase our tickets. Nevertheless, we gave the gospel tracts to all with whom we came in contact, many people accepting them as they hurried to and fro to get to their desired destinations.
Later in the morning, one team went back to downtown Lisbon and conducted their distribution efforts at the Metro Station and in the neighborhood projects. When they did not find many people in the neighborhood, the team went to the Ferry Terminal and the many tourists, including some American Navy personnel (whose ship had docked at the Lisbon wharf for a few hours), as well as locals, facilitated the distribution efforts.
The remaining teams went to reportedly very busy transfer points on the four metro lines. There was a steady flow of traffic at these locations at pre noon and the afternoon rush hour, producing a fair reception of the tracts, bibles and FR booklets and teaching materials. When there was a lull in the flow, the teams worked around the neighborhood, putting tracts into all outstretched hands. One team was at a location where there was a huge four story shopping mall and a Military College. While they were not able to distribute within the confines of the Mall itself, they still had the opportunity to give the true gospel to quite a few of the pedestrian traffic from these two sites.
Altogether, the day produced measured success and we pray that the words of life would touch the hearts of many of these dear people of Lisbon, and that there will be repentance unto Salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ, as the Lord allows.
We had two return guests at our Bible Study, one of them saying that he had read about three quarters of "The End of the Church Age and After", which he received last Thursday. We pray that God may bless him with understanding of and obedience to His Holy Word.
As always, we beseech the Lord for continued strength and guidance and that He may direct us to His elect within Lisbon and its environs, during the remaining time of this mission.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
In Christian love,
The Family Radio Mission Group in Portugal