RECIFE, Brazil (BNc) by Randy Short — He was unusual, in our circle and in yours as well, I’m sure. He came to us, the son of a denominational pastor, but had chosen not to follow his father or his father’s religion. He wanted to study the Bible.
He had gone to several local seminaries but because of his looks had been rejected by all. He was tattooed all over, and had long dreadlocks, a huge gaping hole with a “gauge” in one ear, and a huge piece of wood hanging from the other. He had studied philosophy and read about religion.
He came to us, we believe, expecting to be rejected as he had been before. He wasn’t! We accepted him as our student. All of our other students embraced him. Our employees befriended him as any other. Even the teachers were patient and loving as he expressed some pretty off-the-wall ideas. No one gave up.
Then one day it was time. Daniel Palk took him to the Atlantic Ocean and baptized Anderson Santiago into Christ.
In a conversation with Anderson after the fact, we found out what really touched his heart: love, acceptance and concern! It was not just that Daniel or any of the other teachers and staff spoke the truth of the gospel of Jesus; they lived the gospel of Jesus.
Samuel was a great prophet of God. When he was “helping” God choose a new king for Israel and he was looking at all the older, stronger sons of Jesse, God told him this:
“Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 ERV
We are a long way from judging people as God does. We are a long way from living like Jesus but we are trying. And, we are thankful that this one time, at least, we did not look on the outside and jump to conclusions about this searching heart.
We are thankful that the love of Jesus was seen and felt by him and the truth accepted. Rejoice with us in the saving of this lost soul, our brother Anderson Santiago.
“He can reach people with the gospel that no one else can,” Walter Kreidel said.
2012-11-28 at 7:16 am
Thank you for sharing this story. Your church family saw Anderson for what he could become, not for what he appeared now to be. Nevertheless, in time he will want to shed his appearance that leads people to conclude he is a misfit in society, and especially in a society of believers in Christ. At some point in time, if he continues reading his Bible, he will stumble across the Spirit’s message in I Cor. 11:14 and see what nature itself teaches … which of course is confirmed by what the Spirit teaches. I have an extensive study on this in a small booklet, though not something the public is clamoring to get their hands on, is nevertheless true from God’s word, and written in a spirit of gentleness and love.
2012-11-28 at 8:33 am
Amen!
2012-11-28 at 12:51 pm
Alvin: How would one get a copy of that booklet?
2012-11-29 at 11:39 am
Yes and his wife should not cut her hair and wear a doily when she comes to worship. Not! A very 60’s argument. God looks not on the outside but the inside of a man. Neither should we. Let’s move on brethren.
2012-11-30 at 12:20 am
Praise God for open arms that led to open hearts. And perhaps God will use his appearance to draw others who, by nature, might assume that he isn’t a Christian and come to know Christ by the LOVE our new brother will share with them. It is awesome how God’s word can penetrate any seeking heart. Thank you for sharing this story! It is encouraging. May those around him help him grow in the knowledge and pattern of our Lord.