In 1983 I preached in Asunción, Paraguay, where I met a most blessed servant of the Lord, Pedro Wareiczuk. Pedro is very skilled in playing the Paraguayan indian harp. This instrument is very simple in design and half the size of a regular harp but has a larger resonance chamber. It is delightful to hear Pedro play that harp!
Pedro was a Roman Catholic who somehow got interested in reading the Bible. This led to his repentance and total conversion to Christ. Then he found he enjoyed reading the Bible even more. He enjoyed it so much that he started commenting about his findings with everyone, including his Roman Catholic priest. The priest thoroughly enjoyed what God was doing in Pedro and soon asked him to teach the Scriptures to the parishioners of the church. Attendance started zooming and blessings abounded.
One day as they were reading what the Bible tells us about baptism, one of the parishioners asked Pedro to baptize him by immersion in Asunción’s Paraná river. So Pedro obtained permission from the priest and submerged the parishioner as he requested. Then a whole bunch of parishioners requested to be immersed too. Pedro submerged them also. The priest did not mind. He loved what God was doing through Pedro.
Somehow the news eventually reached the ears of the bishop. He hit the dome! He rushed to see the priest and verbally raked him over the coals.
The tearful priest went to see Pedro and told him that the bishop had ordered that Pedro should not allowed to teach the Bible any more. When the parishioners heard about this, they hit the ceiling and the dome!
Thus, when Pedro left the Roman Catholic church, many parishioners left also. They prayed and searched the Scriptures with Pedro.
Pedro asked me to preach to one of the gatherings that have grown from his ministry. The place was full of young people. I did and the response was marvelous.
Pray for Pedro’s ministry as he continues converting sinners to Christ. Pray also for his encouraging and training believers to grow in the Lord. We might just as well pray for him now.
Heavenly Father, we pray for Pedro’s ministry as he continues converting sinners to Christ. Do it through him. Lead him as he encourages and trains believers to walk in Christ. Help them all to do everything with Christ and to Your glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
From Conversing With God – Chapter 12