Letter from Brazil – Alan Chambers Ministers and Experiences God’s Amazing Grace

This letter from Alan Chambers appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive this letter along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. (emphasis Alan’s.)

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Dear Friends,

I am writing to you from Mage’, Brazil – a very poor city about 40 miles from Rio de Janeiro. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at an annual institute held at Central Baptist Church. The pastor’s wife originally learned about Exodus and me when she saw a pastor on television promoting God’s Grace and the Homosexual Next Door, the book that I wrote with Mike Goeke, Randy Thomas, Scott Davis and Melissa Fryrear. They ordered the book and for the first time ever realized there was a ministry out there for people seeking freedom from homosexuality. They know so many people in their area who are struggling with same-sex attraction or who are gay-identified and wanted to know how to minister to them.

At this point I have spoken 3 evenings and have 4 more to go. There have been 800-1000 people in attendance each night and the numbers continue to increase. I was brought here to minister to these people and help them understand how to reach out. I can tell that the messages the Lord has given me are definitely making an incredible impact, but I wasn’t prepared for how these people would impact me. I am not sure why I wasn’t prepared because every time I leave the United States and minister somewhere around the world, I end up being blown away by the people.

There are no hotels in the area, so a family in the church is housing me in a home that was given to them. I cannot begin to describe the conditions of the village where I am. It is like nothing I have seen in the United States or Canada. It is rural and poor with no beauty in the dwellings. Yet, this home that I am in is like a palace. Someone very wealthy gave it to this family and instead of living here they allow the church to use it for speakers like me. It has every comfort I would expect from a high-end American hotel. And, the family and pastor would come here every day and cook and clean for me if I would let them – which I don’t. They are giving me far better than they give themselves. Before I knew about this church or its people it seemed as if they must be a wealthy church in Rio. They offered an amount to pay me as well as airfare for two. Because that helps reduce the cost to Exodus, I accepted gladly. But now that I am here I believe I am the one who needs to pay them. I refused the money for airfare, which I am hoping does not offend them.

This morning I cried after breakfast due to being completely overwhelmed by their goodness, simplicity and generosity. What I continue to see, when I travel outside of the United States, are cultures I would never choose to live in, but ones that seem richer in inner beauty and wealth than I could ever hope for. The depth of their camaraderie is mindboggling. Their desire to serve and give is humbling. I feel proud and rich in comparison and not in a good way. I am so thankful for all that God has blessed me with and for the country where He allowed me to be born, but I am equally thankful for the places that He sends me. They remind me that I take a lot for granted – too much. I am not as thankful as I should be. I am not as generous as I could be. I am not selfless in ways that I could be. I’m not beating myself up, though I could, but rather allowing the Lord to re-center me.

I am so homesick for Leslie and my kids, but I know that I need to be here to share about God’s grace and provision, but equally to learn about those very things from these amazing people. I have been concerned about the finances at Exodus because of this terrible economic season and the growing costs that we are struggling with, but I am reminded to trust in the Lord for His provision – He will provide. But, even if He doesn’t do so in the way I hope He will, I will trust and serve Him.

Thank you for your generosity to Exodus, as it helps me to travel to other parts of the world to minister the Gospel as well as experience the Gospel through those I meet. I love the calling God has placed on me and I do not take it lightly. He has called all of us at Exodus to preach the Good News and to minister to those in captivity. We serve an amazing God who continues to make Himself known to me in ways that bring me to my knees crying, “Holy, faithful, gracious, loving, powerful, worthy, glorious, kind, generous and good Father.” No matter what trials or temptations face me I choose Jesus Christ because He is the one who deserves my deepest devotion. I encourage you today to remember how good God is and how much you have – even amidst your great needs and struggles. We are blessed when we know Him.

All for the Kingdom,

Alan

Alan Chambers, President

Exodus International