Posted on 06/20/2006 8:09:37 PM PDT by SirLinksalot
Today's Brazil: Where Jesus trumps decadence
JIM RUTZ
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
I have a friend named Cindy Jacobs, who is a truly stellar lady and also the most noted prophetess in America, if not the world.
Let me give you just one example of her exceptional gifting:
A few years ago, she spoke at an evangelistic rally in a stadium in Costa Rica, and as she was walking away from the platform, she happened to glance at a sickly-looking man in the audience who had plainly had a stroke.
A fleeting thought flashed through her head that she should turn back and tell him that he was going to be the next president of Costa Rica. But she immediately shrugged that off as a wild idea, a product of her own imagination.
A short moment later, however, the thought returned – even stronger – as from the Lord. Her response was an unspoken prayer: "God, there is no way I am going to prophesy that man is going to be president! He looks so sick that he could die at any moment." And she kept walking.
But just a few steps later, the thought became a clear voice in her spirit: "Cindy Jacobs, you turn around and go tell that man that it is My will for him to be the next president of this country!"
By that time, she was more afraid of dissing God than being ridiculed for a false prophecy, so she spun around and called out to him, "The Lord says that if you remain humble, you will be the next president of Costa Rica, and God will use you to expose corruption in this land."
The astonishing encounter was over. She was heartened to note a kindly look in the man's eyes, and her hosts told her the man's name, Abel Pacheco. Cindy filed the incident away in her mind as one of her thousands of dangling prophecies and returned home.
Two years later, her ceaseless travels brought her back to Costa Rica to speak at a conference. As the busy days were ending in the usual blur, her phone rang. It was a local friend saying, "The president of Costa Rica would like to meet with you."
Cindy replied, "Who is the president?"
The friend answered, "Abel Pacheco, the man you prophesied would be the next president!"
OK, now flash back to about 1991, and to Brazil. It is Carnival time, a season when most churches there go into damage-control mode because of the overwhelming onslaught of immorality and decadence. Cindy and her husband, Mike, are visiting in the capital, Brasilia, and Cindy is quite vexed at the rampant evil. Preaching to a crowd, she angrily bursts out with a prophecy that within three years, the March for Jesus – a minor annual event at the time – will grow to dwarf the Carnival and break its power! (I'm sure that Mike, a no-nonsense businessman, winced when he heard that one!)
Three years later, 850,000 Christians turn out to march in a pouring rain in Sao Paulo. Five mayors completely shut down the celebrations in their cities because of the immorality. The Carnival begins a sharp decline.
It was no flash in the pan. Last Thursday, 3 million marchers converged on the Agenda Palest (Brazil's Wall Street) to noisily celebrate Jesus. Do you detect a trend here?
Authorities complained about the racket, but frankly, I can't see where the marchers are doing much damage to the markets, which are up about 300 percent since September 2002. Brazil's leadership in South America continues, despite Venezuela President Hugo Chavez's efforts to become the godfather of the continent and President Evo Morales's decision to play Castro by nationalizing all the oil and gas in Bolivia.
As in China, the Brazilian economy has boomed pari passu along with the church. (China's church and economy are growing at 8 percent a year.) Since 1994, the Brazilian evangelical community has more than trebled – to 20 percent of the population. At current rates, it will reach 50 percent by 2020!
They have a new saying in Brazil: "There are three things you can easily find in any town in Brazil: a bradesco (bank), a guarana (soda) and an evangelical church."
And you ain't seen nothin' yet. All across Latin America (still nominally Catholic), you will find more Protestants than Catholics in church on Sunday morning!
By 2010, at current growth rates, Brazil would have 435,000 churches, surpassing the 350,000 in America, where we shut down 3,000 to 4,000 more each year.
The world is changing. U.S. Christians need to make a fast shift from the spectator church to the house church, where individuals get empowered for growth.
Have you looked into The Vineyard?
Praise God! Great news.
Have followed Cindy's ministry from time to time. I don't consider her flawless but I do consider her an authentic minister of the Gospel with an authentic prophetic gifting.
Much appreciate this thread.
What city?
Protestant rally draws 3 million in Brazil (Wow!)
Sadly, it feels like many of the believers in Europe and to some extent, the USA, have lost that first love (Rev 2). Sigh...
boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
What leads to God is beyond my pay grade (although I have some opinions about what leads to the good citizen and the good life), since I doubt God exists. My comment is limited to transitory condition on this mortal coil. On that one, I don't think the internecine chatter among Christian denominations, has much relevance. I suspect it is more a status thing.
I think they have conflated it with a sports game.
I meant my post above for you.
No Jesus? Know Fear!
Know Jesus! No Fear!
If discussing God scares you perhaps this is the wrong site for you. Reading this thread is strictly voluntary and you obviously chose to for some reason. Wonder why?
So sad to see that the Catholics of Brazil, and Latin America, are losing their faith.
"I've been looking for an evangelical Church like I went to in my childhood. Have they gone underground or just folded all together. I want a Church that preaches to all of us sinners and presents Jesus as the only "cure". Every Church I've been in in the last 30, maybe 40 years, tickle the ears of their congregations. That is sinful."
Try a Reformed Baptist church. The one we go to in Portland, OR definately preaches the Gospel. Sometimes it's rather hellfire and brimstone...
90% of the Catholic Churches I have been to have been milquetoast, presided over by dull freaks who know how to reach an audience as well as Yoko Ono.
I'm a "borderline agnostic", so I look at such things with detachment.
"So sad to see that the Catholics of Brazil, and Latin America, are losing their faith."
I don't see it that way. Now the Catholics have competition so now there are "Evangelical Catholics" that have Bible studies and so forth. That portion of the Catholic Church that sold out to Liberation Theology had plenty of Protestant company. Some of the bravest Christians I've ever known were Salvadorans who were Catholics (I'm an independent Methodist).
To name one...Francisco Peccorini who was an ex-Jesuit but still very much a Catholic. He was killed when two AK-47s were emptied into his car while he was going to a television interview. He was 72 and an outspoken critic of Liberation Theology and the University of Central America and other Leftist dominated universities.
So do you look at these Evangelists as new conquerors?
I just got back (2 weeks ago) from Honduras. Over 100 Assemblies og God have been established over the past couple of years, and we are trying to biuld them some facilities to get them out of the weather.
For anyone interested in a literary image of life, religion and society in Brazil, (and a very, very good read), try "The War of the End of the World" by Mario Vargas LLosa.
The events took place long ago but IMHO, Llosa uses them to create "the great Brazilian novel".
Joel 2.
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