GOING INTO THE LION'S DEN
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| Yanomami witchdoctors and leaders want to meet with Brais. |
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November 24, 2008
by Dena McMaster
Brais, a Yanomami pastor in Brazil, is once again standing strong for God in the midst of severe opposition.
He has taken a stand against areas of Yanomami culture that are in conflict with the Word of God. "What about our cultural feasts?" he asked the other believers early in his teaching ministry, "What about our singing, and the way we deal with our dead, the way we talk about women. We need to begin to really change in these areas that we have heard God's Word speak to us about."
Last year Brais and his fellow teacher, Ademar, a former witchdoctor, taught about stopping cultural practices that did not glorify God in a Yanomami Bible conference.
Ademar, a former witchdoctor, gave a powerful testimony at the conference and encouraged the men to take a good look at the Yanomamis' view of the spiritual world. Because of his background, he was able to point out specific deceptions of the witchdoctors.
Recently Brais was invited to attend a meeting of witchdoctors and tribal leaders. He will most likely be the only Christian there. The witchdoctors are concerned because young men no longer desire to become witchdoctors. Since Brais has spoken so strongly against witchdoctors and against their cultural practices he is somewhat concerned about what might happen at the meeting.
"Brais said he felt like he was Daniel going into the lion's den," wrote missionary Mike Hartman. "In his prayer he mentioned that he wanted to only speak what God would have him say and not his own thoughts and that he was glad that God already knew what was going to happen even though he didn't."
Pray that as Brais attends the meeting God will use him to show these men the truth. Pray also that Brais is able to shepherd and guide the Yanomami church to walk closer to God.
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