by J. Randal Matheny

In the last five weeks, I have visited nine congregations of the Lord's people in four states. I return to Brazil this week encouraged by what I have seen.

(1) Growth. One congregation is building a facility of 32,000 square feet to accompany their growth. Another is facing space problems as well, and must either build or plant a new church, just as they were planted a few years ago.

Those who work and preach the truth of the gospel will be blessed with fruits of their labors. Indeed, this is God's will (John 15:16). These churches have not changed their approach nor the gospel in order to reach people. They are doing what the Lord told them to do. With results produced by the Lord.

(2) Evangelism. One congregation is beginning a new emphasis on reaching the lost. They mean business when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission. In many of the others, I heard stories of Christians, aside from the designated leaders, teaching their friends and neighbors.

Jesus gave the church a single mission: to save souls by preaching the gospel, edifying the saints, and caring for their needs. Christians evidence spiritual values and demonstrate the single task by rejecting immediate concerns for eternal gains.

(3) Commitment. All of the congregations visited remain true to obeying Scripture as the authoritative word of God, to preaching obedience as necessary for salvation, to rejecting additions and subtractions from God's will, to worshiping God in spirit and truth, rather than resorting to entertainment and other worldly tendencies to gain numbers. The commitment to truth and to outreach go hand in hand.

What encourages me is to see almost all of these churches, in their obedience to Christ, combining love for one another, zeal for the truth, and faith in God to produce results through their preaching. With so much bad news and criticism of the brotherhood today, we might think such a combination was impossible. But it is not only possible, but happening in many congregations across the country.

As it happened in the first century as well. Paul wrote to one such church, "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV).

So let us be encouraged, and continue to persevere in faithfulness, love, and obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are many who are doing that already, and for them we give thanks to God.