Another Baptism at Cosmopolis, Brazil
By F. W. Spies
Invited by Brother J. H. Boehm to be present at the second baptismal service at Cosmopolis, I went there October 10, and after several interesting meetings, on Sunday afternoon Brother Boehm buried four more persons with their Lord in baptism. The history of the work at Cosmopolis again reveals how wonderfully God cares for his jewels, even though they may for a time be apparently hidden away among a great amount of rubbish. About four years ago a Bible colporteur went through the colony of Cosmopolis, selling Bibles. A Catholic family, among others, purchased one of them. As they began to read this volume, which to them hitherto had been an unknown book, their hearts were rejoiced beyond measure to have obtained a copy of God's Word, and the Bible soon became more precious to them than anything else in the world, and they read and studied it untiringly.13 After studying the Bible for a time, they came into contact with different Protestant people who professed to follow the teachings of the Book, and who urged them to unite with them. But as they tested the lives and the teachings of these different church people by the Book, they felt that these could not be the people whom the Book described as God's people. And they continued praying to the Lord that he might send them the people who really and wholly obeyed his Word. Meanwhile, in their study they also noticed that the Bible commands that the seventh day be kept holy, and not the first. In this way four years passed by, when one day one of our canvassers called at that home. The husband was away at the time, but the wife felt so drawn to the canvasser as he talked about his books and the truth they contained that she urged him to wait until her husband came home. This, however, the canvasser felt he could not do, and so went on. But as he continued his work, the conviction fastened upon him more and more that he must return to that family, and he did so, and until midnight studied with them from the Bible the subject of the coming of the Lord. But he did not say anything about the Sabbath. After having left them the second time, the conviction began to grow upon him that he must again return and tell them of the Sabbath. This time he studied the Sabbath question with them, and they were rejoiced to find a people who so thoroughly believe in and follow the Bible, and they asked that a minister be sent them who could more fully instruct them in the truth of God's Word. Brother Boehm and his wife had at this time just arrived in Brazil, and as he had command of the German language, he was invited to go to Cosmopolis and labor among these people. He went, and was gladly received, and since his stay there eight persons have been baptized, and the prospect is that in the very near future others will follow their example. Still others are interested, and give hope of coming out fully on the Lord's side. These experiences show that the Lord is watching, and knows his own no matter where they may be living, and that he is preparing them for the day of Jesus' coming. May we ever be in a position where, like Philip of old, he can use us to give the needed assistance to those whom the Holy Spirit is leading toward the full light, and thus hasten the coming of the great day.