Seven Pillars
Note: The following contains many details of the period in which it was written, but the principles are still valid. So while this document is serves as a bit of historical record, it continues to reflect our present approach as well. At the time, we called our work the “Brazil Edification Ministry,” but dropped that when another began to call his work by the same name.
The Seven Pillars of the Brazil Edification Ministry
REPORT AND PROSPECTUS, 1998
by Randal Matheny
27 April 1998; Revised 20 June 1988
Address:
Caixa Postal 11
São José dos Campos, SP
12201-970
BRAZIL
THE SEVEN PILLARS
The seven pillars that make up the essence of our work are, of course, inter-related and depend upon each other for their success. These are an attempt to describe the philosophy of our work, with some recent examples, and to provide a basis for analysis of interested churches and Christians.
Input and suggestions are always welcome.
CONTENTS
1. Mission Statement
2. Pray and Fast
3. Preach and Teach Publicly
4. Make Disciples
5. Multiply Churches
6. Publish Spiritual Materials
7. Communicate Regularly
Addresses, Phone Numbers & References
Personal Information
1. MISSION STATEMENT
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. … You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:8, 16a).
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Rom 1:16-17).
A mission statement defines the purpose for which an effort or entity exists. It clarifies direction and determines coherent strategies and plans.
Our purpose in the Brazil Edification Ministry is to proclaim Jesus Christ and him crucified, according to the Scriptures, as the power of God for salvation, through faith and obedience, by every effective means possible, so that as many people as possible may be reconciled to God and become responsible, mature disciples of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, producing spiritual results themselves by converting others to Christ and establishing new churches of the Lord. This ministry is conducted in partnership with churches and individual Christians who contribute in many different ways, but always toward the same goal, God’s eternal glory.
proclaim Jesus Christ and him crucified. Our task is to present Jesus as the present and eternal solution in order to reunite us to our Creator. “Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” (Gal 3:1b). He is God come in the flesh, perfect sacrifice, raised the third day. He is the essence and core of our message (Rom 1:1-6; 1 Cor 2:2; 15:1-8; 2 Cor 4:5). Jesus said that repentance and remission of sins were to be preached “in his name”, meaning that in his person and work salvation would be offered (Luke 24:47).
according to the Scriptures. All proclamation must be based upon the written Word of God, the Bible (1 Cor 15:3-4). The message must be the gospel of God regarding his eternal plan to save in his Son Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture, given through the prophets and apostles inspired by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:10-12; 2 Pet 1:16-21; 3:15-16).
as the power of God for salvation. It is God who saves through his grace and mercy. Salvation is a gift of God, for man is unable to save himself (Rom 3:23-24; 6:23). While we were yet sinners, enemies of God and powerless, Christ died for us (Rom 5:6-11).
through faith and obedience. Man must accept the gracious offer of salvation. He must believe in the preached word so as to give up his own efforts at self-justification in order to receive forgiveness through repentance and immersion (Acts 2:38). Upon receiving the new birth and becoming a new creature, he must dedicate himself to obeying his Lord and Master.
by every effective means possible. Paul insisted that “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22b).
so that as many people as possible. The Lord wants everyone to come to repentance (1 Pet 3:9). To be content with the number of people converted already is sin. The goal is to “win as many as possible” (1 Cor 9:19c).
may be reconciled to God. Man’s basic problem is estrangement from his God due to his sin. Forgiveness is for the purpose of restoring man to the communion and intimacy of walking with God, as was originally intended. The message of Christ may be summarized then as “Be reconciled to God” and the ministry of Jesus’ disciples described as “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18-21).
and become responsible, mature disciples of Jesus. The perfection of God in Jesus is our goal (Matt 5:48). We seek to become like Jesus, dependent upon him rather than any man or human creed, council or doctrine. To be responsible is to be accountable to the Lord and to his body. Maturity is being complete in Christ and the rich treasures he shares with his followers (Col 1:28—2:3).
through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we contemplate and reflect the Lord’s glory, the spiritual transformation effected in us in ever-increasing likeness of Christ, “comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).
producing spiritual results themselves. Not that each Christian produces spiritual results by himself, but that he himself does not depend upon a missionary or preacher to be able to contribute to the work of the Kingdom (Php 1:27). The test of a strong work is its growth in the absence of the missionary. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Php 2:12-13).
by converting others to Christ. Not until others can also teach and convert and teach others to do the same will the work ever be self-sustaining. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2).
and establishing new churches of the Lord. The goal is to be used by the Lord for the creating of new communities of faith. When Brazilians are in the forefront of not only personal evangelism, but church-planting as well, the gospel is well poised for great growth.
This ministry is conducted in partnership with churches and individual Christians. We are aware of our great debt of gratitude to many brethren for their support and prayers.
who contribute in many different ways. Interested Christians and churches find a myriad of means to share in this ministry: active, persistent prayer, communication, hospitality, financial support, counseling, recommendations, etc.
but always toward the same goal, God’s eternal glory. We do not work to gain the approval and praise of men. We work to do God’s will, to please him in everything, to serve the Lord Jesus, and to glorify the only true and living God. We work so that others may also do the same. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).
Through a clear and specific mission statement and measurable objectives we seek to give direction to our work in such a way that it may be evaluated by spiritual and pragmatic means.
2. PRAY AND FAST
“We . . . will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b).
“On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many” (2 Cor 1:10b-11).
Jesus was a man of constant and fervent prayer. If he, as God’s son, needed to pray, how much more must we devote ourselves to calling upon the Lord?
Prayer is not a last resort, but the first step to spiritual growth and success in ministry. The order of Peter’s mission statement, to “give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word,” is not incidental. The priority of prayer demonstrates dependence upon the power of God for service. Persistent, fervent prayer evidences faith in the God who acts in favor of his people.
We must resist our tendency to be “doers” before we become “pray-ers”. Prayer must accompany us every step of the way in our lives and ministries. “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:17-18).
As well as developing our own prayer life, it is a subject of teaching, training and example to those who will participate in the progress of the gospel.
Fasting accompanies prayer in many instances where the intensity of the request and the urgency of the need are great. Fasting is done to be seen by the heavenly Father (Matt 6:16-18). When the Holy Spirit commanded the Antioch church to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work of missions, the brethren did so after they had fasted and prayed (Acts 13:1-3). The work of appointing and committing elders in each church to the Lord was done with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23), and such is needed today as well in doing similar work.
Daily, private prayer for family, the Sao Jose church and the work in Brazil generally.
A prayer list of needs and requests is maintained.
A weekly column of prayer needs is published in ImoNet, weekly e-mail publication in Portuguese.
Prayer needs are published in Brazilian Zeal and occasionally through e-mail messages.
3. PREACH & TEACH PUBLICLY
“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47).
“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20).
One of the principal features of first-century evangelism was the public proclamation of the gospel in synagogues, markets and schools. The content of the message was always Jesus Christ as God’s means of salvation, hope and wisdom. While the occasion determined the specific focus and emphasis of the message, the subject matter was always God working in Jesus.
Some of the recent and upcoming opportunities for public preaching and teaching:
In October of 1997, I spoke twice at the National Christian Workers’ Encounter in Belo Horizonte on resolving interpersonal conflict.
In January I taught a seminar at the Northeast Christian Conference and held an “open forum”. Ivan Albuquerque decided to become a Christian. He later wrote, “I participated in your seminar, and during your course I saw my life being transformed by the word of the Lord. You were a bridge that guided me to Jesus, for each message of yours diminished the distance to Him.”
Based on that trip, the brethren in Belo Jardim PE invited me to teach in their city (see no. 3 below). When the brethren in Recife PE knew that I would be in the area, they invited me to speak at a Christian camp session. One woman was baptized there as a result of my teaching.
While in Belo Jardim, the organizers for the next Northeast Christian Conference in 1999 sounded me out about being one of only three speakers in that event to be geared toward non-Christians.
The brethren in Recife have also invited me to speak July 18 at their Spiritual Family Day, the largest regular event in Brazil. Over 1000 people are expected, some 300 of those non-Christians.
In 1997 Brazilian evangelist Álvaro Pestana and I taught a series of courses in the School of the Bible, an evangelistic outreach of the church in Sao Jose dos Campos. Upwards of 30 people took the courses, some 10 non-Christians.
4. MAKE DISCIPLES
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20a).
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2).
The goal of all preaching and teaching is to bring non-Christians to a decision to obey Christ and to train God’s people for service in concrete settings and definite actions done to demonstrate likeness to the Lord and compassion for one’s neighbor.
Making disciples is done personally in one-to-one settings and in small groups. Brazilian culture facilitates personal contacts and offers possibility of developing intimate, spiritual relationships.
Recent one-on-one contacts in making disciples, training Christian workers: Ricardo Sobral, Mozart Correia, Claudio de Oliveira, Carlos Ferreira da Silva.
I was elected in April as a member of the national board of directors of the National Bible School, with nuclei (local programs) in eight cities. I will teach two courses in Sao Paulo (August-September on Psalms; Intensive Study in November on Church Growth). I taught 2 Corinthians in Belo Jardim PE in February. I regularly teach three to five courses each year in various nuclei.
I am Director of Public and Congregational Relations of the Mount of Olives Christian Camp and work with the board to promote Christian activities for young people.
5. MULTIPLY CHURCHES
“All the believers were together and had everything in common. . . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44).
“So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11:25).
“He took the disciples with him and and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:9-10).
It is evident from the book of Acts that the preaching of the gospel resulted in the formation of communities of believers. The converts were gathered together in local congregations, in which they learned to grow, serve and express the love of God. Our purpose is the same. Besides teaching that people may obey the Lord and receive salvation through Jesus’ atonement, we seek to form local congregations or gather converts in existing ones, that the church of Jesus Christ might function as his body.
A Christian family has moved to Campos do Jordão, a city in the mountain area of our region. We will be helping them get started.
Joel and Ana Flavia Bost have moved to Cruzeiro, a city of 100,000 with no church. Joel has an accounting job with a manufacturing firm in the city. Beginning next year, we will work with them to preach the gospel in that city.
Taubaté is 40 min. away from us, a city of 200,000 with no church. It is on our priority list for a new work.
A new church on the coast of São Paulo, in the city of São Vicente, was begun using tracts we published.
Through our speaking and writing, we help to strengthen new churches all over the country.
6. PUBLISH SPIRITUAL MATERIALS
“And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things” (2 Pet 1:15).
The Lord saw fit to put his eternal gospel in written form. As a result, we have the Bible and, for Christians especially, the New Testament to guide us in our faith in Jesus. Written materials may be consulted repeatedly, distributed and passed on, preserved for future use. When compared to the great need that exists, very little is being done in Brazil to put in writing sound, spiritual materials.
The Brazil Edification Ministry publishes Edification magazine, a 20-page monthly designed to build up the churches; other books, pamphlets, tracts and courses for Christians, as well as for evangelism. A weekly e-mail magazine, ImoNet, is sent out to brethren in the Portuguese language, in seven countries.
These materials are used extensively by brethren in sermons, classes, bulletins, as well as for personal spiritual growth. These publishing efforts are designed as a support ministry to contribute to the brethren’s growth and effectiveness.
One-time and ongoing needs in this area:
$500 to pay rights and $3000 to translate and publish Everett Ferguson’s The New Testament Church (Biblical Research Press / ACU Press).
$9000 to translate and publish Everett Ferguson’s The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today (Eerdman’s Publishing Co.).
$2000 to publish the second edition of “Jesus Christ, the Simple Way,” an evangelistic Bible correspondence course written by a Brazilian brother. Thousands of copies of this course have been distributed in Brazil and in other countries.
$400 to publish my six-page tract “Your Introduction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.
$1000 to publish the second edition of my book Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus: The Letter to the Hebrews.
$5000-7000 to build office space for the publications ministry.
$200 per month for salary to hire secretary.
7. COMMUNICATE REGULARLY
“From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:26-27).
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, . . . Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. . . . I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent” (Php 1:4, 12; 4:18b).
An essential part of the partnership in the gospel between the missionary and brethren who work with him in the progress of the gospel is their communication with one another. This partnership entails mutual responsibility to report accurately, openly and timely the development of the work and to account for funds being spent.
Our interest in reporting is not in numbers for numbers’ sake. Reporting great numbers of baptisms in and of itself is not an indication of lasting spiritual results. Neither do we make reports of work done as if we were responsible for it. When other works are reported in order to provide a clear picture of the special blessings and challenges in the country, our involvement is clearly stated and not exaggerated.
Monthly newsletter Brazilian Zeal sent to supporters and interested individuals, both by regular mail and by Internet.
Occasional news releases regarding the work in Brazil in general, sent out as the Brazilian Zeal News Service and oriented especially toward brotherhood publications.
Other occasional and special communication by letter and e-mail. The Internet has been a special blessing in missionary communication.
Visits and personal reports during furloughs, about every 1 1/2 years. Also, meetings with elders and missions committees are welcomed, as well as personal visits in homes.
ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS & REFERENCES
Sponsoring Church:
Center Hill church of Christ
P. O. Box 1269
Paragould, Ark 72451
Telephone: (870) 239-8032
Contact Elder:
Vernon Lacey
E-mail: envlacey@bscn.com
Supporting Churches:
Baker Heights, Abilene, Tex.
Iuka, Miss.
Lemalsamac, Newbern, Tenn.
Mt Vernon, Park City, Ken.
New Bethel, Booneville, Miss.
Somers Avenue, North Little Rock, Ark.
Waterloo, Ala.
Missionary Address:
Randal & Vicki Matheny
Caixa Postal 11
12201-970 Sao Jose dos Campos, SP
Brazil
Telephone direct dial to Brazil: (011-55-12) 349-1246
E-mail address: projeto@alcance.cjb.net
References of Missionaries on the field:
Allen Dutton Jr. (Campinas SP), e-mail: 74224.113@compuserve.com
Brazilian Christians (English-speaking):
Joao Mendes (New Jersey), e-mail: jmendes775@aol.com
Otavio Carvalho (Sao Paulo SP), e-mail: otavio.carvalho@ibm.net
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born 24 August 1957 in Paragould, Ark., to James D. and Darlena F. Matheny
Education:
Graduated Lafe High School, Lafe, Ark., 1975
Freed-Hardeman College, Henderson, Tenn., B.A. in Bible and Communication, 1979
Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Tex., M.Miss., 1983
Yázigi Language Institute, Certificate of Proficiency in the Portuguese Language, 1985
Family:
Married to the former Vicki Lambert, of Iuka, Miss., 1979
Three children: Micah (b. 5 May 1983), Joel (b. 12 June 1986) and Leila (b. 16 June 1993)
Experience:
Began preaching at age 14
Campaigns to Georgia, Virginia, England (twice), Scotland, Brazil (thrice).
Preached full-time for churches in Shiloh, Tenn., and Ashland, Miss.
Missions experience:
Helped establish Central church in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 1984-1994
Missionary in São José dos Campos since December 1994
Editor and publisher of Edificação (Edification) Magazine since 1987
Compiler of Intercâmbio, annual bibliography of literature in Portuguese and Spanish, now in 6th volume
Author of Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus: The Letter to the Hebrews (in Portuguese)
Publisher of books and tracts, such Alvaro Pestana’s Growth Pains: A Devotional Study of 2 Corinthians 2:14—7:4
Translator of materials, such as J. W. McGarvey’s Believing a Lie
General editor of biblical vocabulary in Portuguese written by faithful brethren
Other activities mentioned in the body of this report
Future plans:
To remain in Brazil indefinitely in order to use the opportunities given us by the Lord, as well as the blessing of excellent language abilities, to serve Brazilian churches and stimulate them to greater growth and service in the salvation of a great, ripe field of souls.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES FOR FURLOUGH, APRIL 27-JUNE 8, 1998
- Clarify further both for the ministry and for supporters the direction and philosophy of the Brazil Edification Ministry, through this report, personal visits and public reports and meetings.
- Increase the input and involvement of supporters in the ongoing goals of the ministry.
- Raise $500 monthly support, above the $1000 now being received, for working and travel fund, for the following necessities: increased travel throughout Brazil for preaching and teaching; secretary for the publishing ministry ($300 already secured, $200 lacking); increased airfare for furlough travel; funds for publishing more books, tracts and courses.