There are times I feel so helpless that I could cry. I don’t particularly care for those moments and, admittedly, they are not common. When they come, however, they are intense.

Yesterday was one of those occasions.

I received an email from pastor Danilo in Ubajara, Brazil. Ever since he renounced the Igreja Mundial Renovada (Renewed World Church) two years ago, they have persecuted him relentlessly with the express purpose of destroying his reputation. They have issued written orders to use any means to destroy anything he tries to do and they have been single-minded in doing so. Yet, even in the face of that, Danilo has allowed himself to be used by the Spirit to glorify the name of Jesus in one of the darkest regions of the world.

The email described the new attempts of the Igreja Mundial to tear down the new work he has started in Ubajara. They are going house to house of everyone who attends the worship services and tell such incredible lies about him that I honestly don’t know how people believe them. But, they have had success.

I would love to be able to take these scoundrels on personally and I admit to having not-very-nice thoughts about them. But my heart breaks for Danilo and his wife Fatima because I love him like a brother and am unable to physically stand by him.

The odd thing is that Danilo will do just fine in this; in fact, the church will probably grow exponentially as a result of it. Danilo actually rejoices in all of this activity because he knows what the Spirit will do through it all.

I’m the one suffering… strange, isn’t it?