Evangelism in a Teacup
by Nancy Van Pelt
A wealthy church member in San Carlos, Brazil, wanted to honor her friends as well as share her faith. Since most of her friends are wealthy, she decided on a tea at a high-class hotel. Although she’d never tried anything like this before, she was sure they would attend such an event if not held at the church.
Now these wealthy Brazilian women sat before me in all their finery and jewels–young ones, older ones, the very elite from the city of San Carlos–at a tea in their best hotel!
I was there to present The Incredible Worth of a Woman. Pastor Urias Chagas from the Central Sao Paulo Conference translated for me. The twist? Of the 40 women present, only nine were Adventist women!
At the close of my presentation, the conference president’s wife–a well-dressed, smart-looking woman–presented each woman with a Portuguese edition of The Listening Heart, Rose Otis’s morning devotional book. “This gift will last an entire year,” she said, as she explained that there was a devotional reading for each day of the year. The look on the ladies’ faces was worth it all as each received her copy of the book.
Since I had written five devotionals for this year’s book, I did much autographing and stayed for some time talking to several of the women.
A song was sung by a former member of the Brazil King’s Herald quartet. The conference president invited all the ladies to the theater that evening, where I was speaking on The Family, and closed with a prayer.
We were all invited upstairs to the main hotel dining room where the tea was being held. On the way up each lady was presented with a piece of candy wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon. To the ribbon was attached a Bible verse.
The most attractive tables and spread of food met our eyes in the dining room–fancy cookies, cakes, breads, fruits, cheeses, bries, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Later the main dessert was unveiled–a most gorgeous strawberry creation presented in a silver punch bowl. This dessert was in honor of the hostess’s best friend. Some little prizes were awarded. Then the conference president presented to each woman a special Portuguese edition of Steps to Christ.
The women lingered at their tables visiting and laughing. No one wanted to leave or forget the beautiful experience shared together on this day. As they left, many women expressed personal thanks to me for addressing their need for self-esteem, and I was kissed many times. (If you are married, you get kissed two times on alternating cheeks. If single, you are kissed three times; the third time is a wish for marriage for you!)
That evening several of the women joined my seminar at the theater when I spoke on the family. The theater owner, another wealthy woman who had attended the tea, spoke to me through an interpreter: “Your message is vitally important for the people of Brazil. I want my theater to be used for such a purpose. Please come back again, and I will advertise the meetings for you and we will have a huge crowd!” Plans are now in progress for a series of meetings in San Carlos during my next trip to Brazil.
Evangelism in a teacup. Our cups were running over on this day. Every small touch was planned evangelistically and ever so tastefully done. In America we have much to learn from the women of Brazil who are so on fire to share their faith. Go ye therefore and do likewise.
Your on-the-scene Reporter,
NANCY VAN PELT