What Would Happen to José?
Mrs. Cecilia worried about José. José had been one of the students at the
Christian preschool she directed. He was such a bright student, and he was
learning all about Jesus and God’s love. But now that José had graduated to
elementary school, he was no longer hearing the Bible stories. Mrs. Cecilia
knew that José’s parents were not Christians. What would happen to José?
When José first came to the preschool, Mrs. Cecilia could see right away that
he was from a poor family. He was so small and skinny! And he was hungry.
Thankfully, the preschool provided lunch for the students. Sometimes that
was the only meal José would have all day.
Mrs. Cecilia’s school was built through a program called Children of Brazil
Outreach* (COBO), in partnership with a local Assemblies of God church. Not
only did children like José receive a meal, they also received a uniform and all
the supplies they needed for school. Other families at other schools had to pay
for their uniforms and supplies, but families like José’s could not afford to pay.
Because of financial gifts from children across America giving to BGMC, José
not only received food, clothes, and an education, he learned about Jesus.
The teachers at the Christian preschool used coloring books with pictures of
Bible stories. Mrs. Cecilia remembered how much José loved to color the pictures,
since he was too young to read or write.
The preschool also gave the students a booklet called the Children’s Weekly
Bible Reader. José could look at the pictures for a Bible story while his teacher
read the lesson. He could even take the booklet home to his mother so she
could read the Bible stories. Mrs. Cecilia hoped that one day José’s parents
would become Christians.
But after four years, it was time for José to leave the preschool and go to an
elementary school. Unfortunately, the only school that would not charge for
studies, supplies, or a uniform was run by a spiritist organization. The spiritists
practice witchcraft. Since José’s parents were not Christian, they sent him
to that school.
Now José no longer learns about Jesus at school. He is learning to read and
write, but he is not learning about God’s love. He doesn’t get to hear the Bible
stories anymore. Mrs. Cecilia worried about José. What would happen to him
now that he was not learning about the Bible?
One day Mrs. Cecilia had a surprise visit. José stopped by the preschool on his
way home from school. He said to her, “I know that what they are teaching me
at my new school is not true or good for me. What I learned here at the preschool
is the truth that I need.”
Mrs. Cecilia was so happy to hear José say that. She knew that the seed of
God’s Word had been planted in José’s heart.
*Children of Brazil Outreach (COBO) is a target ministry supported in part by
funds from BGMC.
Information for this story was provided by Terry and Beth Johnson,
missionaries to Brazil, and is used with permission from Assemblies of God
World Missions.
©2006 The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the local church. Any other use requires written permission. |
