Men who make a difference
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Fábio Barbieri, Eduardo Soares, Pedro Ferreira and Eduardo Holms are men who make a difference. They do a dangerous job in which challenges are part of the routine and tragedy is a constant enemy. Every day, they come into contact with people who need help, heroic acts and, above all, hope. They all belong to the 10,000-strong fire service for the state of São Paulo, and are also united by their desire to spread the Word of God and to use its teachings to bring comfort to afflicted hearts. As well as belonging to the fire service, these men are active members of one of the groups which make up the Organisation of Christian Firemen. These are prayer and evangelisation groups created on the model of the Association of Evangelical Military Policemen in the state of São Paulo. Each week, the firemen who belong to these groups hold meetings at which they pray for fire service colleagues and commanders and for others who need particular help. “Our aim is to set people free through knowledge of God’s Word,” says Captain Barbieri. Now 35 years old, he came to faith in 1992 and regards his own life as an example of this freedom. “When I joined the fire service, depression was always present in my life,” he explains. “After I discovered the Word, I became free and was able to help others physically and spiritually.” For 42-year-old Captain Ferreira, who has been a fireman since 1989, “knowledge of the Word enables firemen to work with more dedication, attention and preparation in responding to emergencies.” Instrument of good Captain Soares, who works in the finance department of the fire service, elaborates on this. “Praying for firemen, for the military police and for the commanders, we evangelise and intercede on the side of good. We also learn to be an instrument of good. While I am on the way to an emergency, I pray. This changes the outcome of my actions.” Captain Soares himself came to faith through two members of the Organisation of Christian Firemen. “I had my faith shaken. In fact I even thought of suicide,” he recalls. “I sought enlightenment, but I couldn’t find the right path. They witnessed to me and took me to church. I am the living proof of the importance of evangelisation carried out inside the fire brigade.” Captain Holms, 43, explains that there has been a significant rise in the number of Christian firemen in the area. “We are experiencing a period of growth within our organisation. I see this as very fortunate, because it shows that people are taking on the role of missionaries. One of the functions of the individual groups is to encourage firemen to make a difference through reading the Scriptures. Those who know God’s Word are calmer and are more able to sense what is in people’s hearts. This means that they make the right decisions and show people God’s love.” A longer version of this article appeared in issue 201 of A Biblia no Brasil, the magazine of the Bible Society of Brazil. (WR 384/12 - 3.04)
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