A Cardinal and a Tract
March 30, 2010 – 9:15 amIn his March 23 update, missionary Bud Rader shared an answer to prayer regarding his ministry in Bolivia. He writes about his encounter with Bolivia’s Roman Catholic Cardinal and Bud’s desire to share the gospel with him.
Let me tell you about an opportunity God gave me the other day. First, I need to give you a little background information. A young school teacher (Elizabet) lived in the village of Postrervalle, Bolivia some 26 years ago. She visited our home and after reading a very vivid Gospel tract that clearly presented the Gospel she made a profession of faith. Her son, Chichi, soon made a decision, as well.
They both became faithful in the new church that was being established. A few months later she visited her oldest brother in a distant city. At that time her brother was the Bishop of Oruro, Bolivia, Don Julio Terrazas, a native of Vallegrande, the village in which we now live. When she returned neither she nor Chichi ever attended services again. Her brother must have had quite a talk with her.
Since then Don Julio became an Arch Bishop and a few years ago he became Bolivia’s first Cardinal. As an Arch Bishop we met on 2 occasions. Once, while visiting his native home (our village), we provided him with an emergency medical flight. While desiring to share the Gospel with Don Julio I have never had the opportunity to speak with him alone. In recent years Don Julio has become a very prominent figure on the Bolivian national scene as he is a vocal and courageous defender of the freedoms that the present government is wresting from the Bolivian people (several attempts have been made on his life).
About a month ago Karen and I were invited to a rather exclusive wedding. I soon learned that Don Julio was to perform the ceremony as he was a former classmate of the groom’s very affluent and influential grandfather. This may seem unlikely but it took a couple of weeks for it to dawn on me that I may finally get the chance to speak with Don Julio about his soul. Do realize that Don Julio is getting quite old and is likely to be nearing the end of his life. I asked many of you and the Bolivian Christians to pray that God would provide me with some kind of opportunity to speak with this lost man.
The wedding was held on the grandfather’s luxurious hacienda near Vallegrande. Shortly before arriving we were almost forced off the road by Don Julio’s entourage of priests/bodyguards as they were running late. The cardinal was in the vehicle with them. During the reception he was always surrounded by his fellow priests and body guards. I was beginning to think that I would not be afforded the chance to speak with him alone.
However, many of you were praying with us. While Karen and I were congratulating the newly-weds we were standing near Don Julio. The band was playing loudly and we had to yell to be heard. I thought, “Yelling into his ear would be the same as having a private conversation with him since no one else could hear what we were discussing.” Just then the seat right next to him became vacant and remained so until I could make my way to where he and his entourage were sitting. I had armed myself with a few clear Gospel tracts specifically chosen with him in mind.
As I approached him and offered him my hand his people just starred with an expression of surprise. It was as if they were frozen in place. He shook my hand. As we shook hands I spoke into his ear, “Don Julio, I am a Christian missionary. I appreciate the brave leadership you have provided to Bolivia in this time of civil crisis. I want you to know that I and others like me are praying for you.”
I knew I only had a few seconds to speak with him so I quickly handed him a booklet and went on, “This is a story from the Bible. I am sure you are familiar with it but I would like you to read this as it is from another perspective.” He received the Gospel booklet and thanked me. We parted ways. All the while Don Julio’s entourage looked on straining to hear what was being said.
Don Julio is no more important than anyone else but he is just as precious to our Savior as any. Many of you prayed with us concerning this meeting. Under the circumstances I don’t know what else we could have done. Let us continue to pray for Don Julio that the pamphlet will be read, that God’s Word would penetrate his heart, and that the Holy Spirit would bring him to Christ. Perhaps, some of his entourage will read it, too.
Bud’s report brings to mind Paul’s prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1-4: “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Bud’s report reflects both aspects of Paul’s prayer: the desire for the Bolivian leaders to rule wisely for the good of the country and the salvation of one of those leaders. Believers worldwide would do well to develop this balance between prayer for political stability and prayer for a person’s soul.
In some countries believers view blatant corruption at every level of society and politics; others experience more covert displays of depravity. But the response should be the same: prayer for peace and prayer for salvation.
Lance “Bud” Rader is a genuine Yooper, born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. His family has been involved in “back country” church planting in Bolivia since 1982. In addition to church planting, they are involved in a Bible institute, aviation ministry, orphanage, Bible camp and a hands-on missionary training program. He and his wife, Karen, have six children, several of whom are serving the Lord as missionaries.
Bud was a workshop speaker at the 2010 Student Global Impact National Conference. Read or listen to Bud’s SGI workshops.
