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During my July visit to Brazil, I had the opportunity to visit my friend and former pastor, Jairton de Melo. Pastor Jairton is now serving as a missionary with SEPAL (Serving Pastors and Leaders) in the southern Brazilian city of Londrina.
God brought Jairton into my life at a crucial time, some months after my marital separation. I was struggling in my walk with the Lord, and I am convinced that God used Jairton to provide support, guidance and encouragement. When I first met him, I shared about my circumstances. He told me, "Well, John. Grace isn't simply for when we are doing well. Grace is for when we are struggling, for when we have failed."
To demonstrate this grace, Jairton invited me to attend his church and to "help out in whatever way I felt comfortable." The church was the Brazilian Community Christian Church, which was meeting in Monterey Park. Some months later, the church moved to Culver City. It was a chance to fellowship with Brazilians living in southern California and to practice my Portuguese.
But more than this, it was the chance to be restored. In addition to the pastoral care and discipline I was undergoing with Pastor Gary Tawa, and the counseling I was receiving from the Asian American Christian Counseling Service, I was reminded that grace was for me. In the Japanese American community, we sometimes struggle with the whole perfection thing. And while I knew that I was far from perfect, I was made to feel as though God had not abandoned me. I have Pastor Gary and Pastor Jairton to thank for that.
So my visit with Pastor Jairton in Londrina this past July was a blessing that touched me deeply. It was through his ministry that I was able to be restored.
Is there someone you know who needs to be reminded that grace isn't just for perfect people?
