António writes:

I was born in Sá da Bandeira, I was the fourth generation living in colonial Angola. As all traditional Portuguese, we were born catholic and were meant to be faithful to our customs and die catholic. At the age of 6, with the Portuguese colonial war, we all had to tragically flee the country and start a new life elsewhere all over again. We eventually settled in Portugal.

I began searching for God at an early stage.   I had a lot of unanswered questions,  I spoke to several priests, all they told me was that I had something special inside of me.

As I pursued my search for God,  I once visited a priest with  a “special calling”, as they told me,  I was about 17 years of age.  I asked him many questions, he tried to answer in the best he could.  He told me then, I see you have a calling inside of you, God has a special plan to use you.  He then told me something very interesting and powerful! He told me to go home and pray to Jesus, that He would reveal Himself to me.

I certainly did that. In fact I was already doing that, hence the reason I went to visit that priest. I remember going as a youngster to the Catholic Church with my mother and father, and I went empty and left empty… It was too much of a religious set of words and actions.That wasn’t what I was after. I was after God. If God exists, I said, I want to know Him!

And I pursued that prayer: “Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to me.  ”I went to the army when I was 20.  One day  I sat at the tuck-shop, having a beer with a friend, Stelio,  that lived in the same city as I in Leiria.  Somehow the conversation lead to religion, and Stelio said to me, that he used to go to church. I asked him about God, what did he believe in.  His words to me were “ the experience I have with God, I can’t explain to you. You have to experience God, yourself.”

I was AMAZED with that thought! I told him, that was what I wanted.  He promised to take me to his church on Sunday.  That Sunday, I was spending the weekend at my parents, and he came and  pick me up with his pastor.

They took me to a place, that wasn’t what I was expecting. I was expecting a big building,  some form of a  cathedral … but no. It was just a small hall on the ground floor of a building.   I was a bit uncomfortable… But I couldn’t really go back…

As I went in, I was attracted to the praise, the freedom, the form of praying to God as a father, as friend.  At the end, I went forward and received Jesus Christ in my life.  After that, one lady came to me, and congratulated me saying, I feel that you have a calling of God in your life.  Another lady came to me and said exactly the same, and said, God is going to use you.

My life was changed from that day on. I was excited! I just wanted to learn about God. The next day was  Monday and I was back in the army.  At 7am,  I found myself sharing to my friends what happened to me and I was answering questions about God as if I was a teacher of the Word!! Praise God for His Spirit, salvation and friendship!

António Moinheiro

António escreve:

Nasci em Sá da Bandeira, fui a quarta geração a viver em Angola durante o período colonial.  Como é costume na nossa cultura portuguesa por tradição, nascemos católicos,  devemos ser fieis aos nossos costumes e morrer católicos.  Com a idade de 6 anos, devido à guerra colonial portuguesa, tivemos que fugir trágicamente do país e começar uma nova vida em outro lugar novamente. Acabamos por vir-nos estabelecer em Portugal.

Comecei à procura de Deus cedo na minha vida. Tinha muitas perguntas sem resposta, falei com vários padres, e todos eles disseram-me que tinha algo de especial em mim.

Na minha busca de Deus, visitei um padre com uma “chamada especial”,  como me disseram, na altura tinha  17 anos de idade.  Fiz-lhe muitas perguntas e ele procurou responder da melhor forma possível.  Disse-me então:  ‘Vejo  que tens uma chamada na tua vida e que Deus tem um plano especial para te usar.’   Depois disse-me algo muito interessante e poderoso!  Disse-me para ir para casa e orar a Jesus, para que Ele se revelasse a mim.

Foi o que fiz, aliás eu já estava a fazer isso, o motivo pelo qual  fui ver o padre.  Lembro-me como criança de ir à Igreja  Católica com a minha mãe e o meu pai, e ia vazio e saia vazio…   Era tudo à volta de um conjunto religioso de palavras e ações.  Isso não era o que eu queria.  Eu estava à busca de Deus.  Se Deus existe, eu disse: ‘Quero conhecê-Lo’!

Fiz essa oração: ‘Senhor Jesus, revela-te a mim.’   Fui para a tropa aos 20 anos de idade.  Um dia, sentei-me a tomar uma cerveja na cantina com um amigo, o Stélio,  e que vivia na mesma cidade que eu em Leiria.  De alguma forma, a conversa levou à religião, e o Stélio disse-me que costumava ir à igreja.  Perguntei-lhe sobre Deus e em que acreditava.  As suas palavras para mim foram ‘a experiência que tenho com Deus, não posso explicar-te. Tens que ser tu mesmo a ter esta experiência com Deus.’

Fiquei  impressionado com esse pensamento pois era isso mesmo que eu queria.  Ele convidou-me a ir à igreja dele no domingo.  Nesse domingo, estaria a passar o fim de semana em casa e ele veio me buscar junto com o Pastor da igreja.

Eles levaram-me a um lugar que eu não esperava.   Pensava encontrar um edifício grande, um género de uma catedral… mas não.  Era apenas um salão pequeno no rés do chão de um prédio.  Sentia-me um pouco desconfortável…  mas não podia voltar a trás…

Ao entrar, fui atraído ao louvor, à liberdade e a forma de orar a Deus como Pai como Amigo.  No final, fui à frente e recebi a Jesus Cristo na minha vida.  Logo a seguir, uma senhora veio até mim e congratulou-me na minha decisão e disse:  ‘Sinto que tens uma chamada de Deus em tua vida’.  Outra senhora veio junto de mim e disse exatamente o mesmo: ‘Sinto que Deus vai te usar’.

A minha vida mudou a partir desse dia.  Eu estava entusiasmado! Eu só queria aprender mais de Deus.  No dia seguinte, segunda feira, encontrava-me de volta na tropa.  Eram 7 horas da manhã, e encontrava-me a partilhar com os meus amigos o que me havia acontecido e a responder perguntas sobre Deus a eles como se eu fosse um professor da Biblia!  Graças a Deus pelo Seu Espírito Santo, a salvação e amizade!

António Moinheiro

I was raised in a Christian home. Both my parents were raised in the Catholic Church and after marrying, they experienced what Jesus spoke of ‘new birth’ in a Portuguese Evangelical Charismatic Church in the city of  Johannesburg, South Africa.

Both my parents had an evangelistic anointing upon them, and during my childhood and teens my parents started 4 churches.  Life at home was all about reaching the lost souls to the Lord and discipling them.

As a small child I remember going out into the streets of Hillbrow with a group of people from church, my mom playing her accordion and my dad with a megaphone preaching the gospel.  Some people were receptive to the gospel others would throw bottles and eggs at us from the balcony of the buildings.

I became a ‘street evangelist’ at 12 years of age.  It was school holidays. We were having a whole week campaign in the area of Johannesburg East where we were holding evening meetings in the church every day.  So during the day, my mom had me join the team and off I went with invitations on my hand inviting people for the evening services. I was the youngest evangelist on the field! It definitely caught the people’s attention.

Funny enough, here I was an evangelist during the day and in the church service at night, during the altar call, there I was repeatedly, giving my life to Jesus again.  So by day I was this great evangelist and by night a great sinner repenting for any possible sins I could have committed and maybe couldn’t remember.  I later learned better and understood that Jesus had saved me and that I didn’t need to continue giving my life to Him as I had done so already.

The passion for the lost has never died out.  Through the years, going through Bible School overseas in Portugal, being involved in full time ministry there for a number of years and then back into secular work, I finally met my wonderful husband. He was saved then and was the fruit of one of the churches where I laboured in the ministry.  We got married in Leiria, and God brought us back to South Africa where we came and study at Rhema Bible Training Centre.

The times have changed and so the methods for evangelism. We have better means, better tools and which are much more efficient. Where before one went ‘fishing’ one by one,  in our days, through technology, the internet, hundreds, thousands and millions can be reached to Jesus!

We believe the revelation of the Word of God isn’t only in one or two particular ministries but rather within the whole Body of Christ.  We refer below a list of International and National Ministries that are anointed and that have greatly influenced our lives:

Member, Partners / Interest in the various ministries:

CFAN – Christ for All Nations, Choose Life Church South Africa, Rivers Church Sandton South Africa, Saddleback Church California, Bethel Church California,  Joel Osteen Ministries, The Potter’s House Church Dallas, Joyce Meyer Ministries, New Creation Church Singapore
and others.

Meditations of the Grace of God BLOG – Amélia Moinheiro

Eu cresci num lar Cristão. Os meu pais foram criados na Igreja Católica e depois de se casarem, experimentaram o que Jesus falou sobre ‘nascer de novo’ numa Igreja Evangélica Portuguesa Carismática na cidade de Johannesburgo, África do Sul.

Os meus pais tinham uma unção evangelistica sobre as suas vidas, e durante a minha infância e adolescência eles começaram 4 igrejas.  Em casa o foco principal era como alcançar almas para Cristo e discipulá-las.

Como criança lembro-me de sair pelas ruas de Hillbrow com um grupo de pessoas da igreja, a minha mãe a tocar o seu acordeão e o meu pai com um megafone a pregar o evangelho.  Algumas pessoas eram recetivas ao evangelho, outras não e lançavam em nossa direção garrafas ou ovos da varanda dos edifícios.

Eu passei a ser “Evangelista de Rua” aos 12 anos de idade. Eram as férias escolares e estavamos em campanha por uma semana inteira na área leste de Johannesburgo, onde nos encontravamos a realizar reuniões todos os dias à noite na igreja.  Durante o dia, passei a fazer parte da equipa e levava convites para distribuir às pessoas que encontrava.  Eu era a evangelista mais nova no terreno!  Definitivamente chamava a atenção das pessoas.

Durante o dia era evangelista e à noite, nas reuniões, durante a chamada do altar, lá estava eu repetidamente, a entregar de novo a minha vida a Jesus.  Então, durante o dia, era uma grande evangelista e à noite uma grande pecadora arrependida de qualquer pecado que tivesse cometido e que possivelmente já nem me lembrava.   Mais tarde entendi que Jesus já me havia salvo e de que não precisava continuar a entregar a minha vida a Jesus pois eu já o havia feito.

Ao longo dos anos, a paixão pelos perdidos nunca deixou de existir em mim.  Frequentei uma instituição teológica em Portugal, estive envolvida a tempo integral no ministério por vários anos, e voltei ao serviço secular mais tarde, altura quando conheci o meu maravilhoso esposo, fruto de uma das igrejas onde colaborei.  Casámo-nos em Leira e Deus trouxe-nos de volta para a África do Sul onde viemos estudar na Rhema Bible Training Centre.

Os tempos mudaram e os métodos de evangelismo tambem. Temos melhores meios de comunicação utilizando a tecnologia, a internet,  e onde centenas, milhares e milhões de pessoas podem ser alcançadas para Jesus!

Acreditamos que a revelação da Palavra de Deus não se encontra apenas em um ou dois ministérios específicos, mas sim em todos os ministérios que representam o  ‘Corpo de Cristo’ .  Referimos aqui a seguir,  alguns ministérios ungidos,  internacionais e nacionais que influenciaram muito as nossas vidas:

Membro, Parceiro / Interêsse nos ministérios seguintes:

CFAN-Christ for All Nations, Choose Life Church South Africa, Rivers Church Sandton South Africa,  Saddleback Church California, Bethel Church California, Joel Osteen Ministries, The Potter’s House Church Dallas, Joyce Meyer Ministries, New Creation Church Singapore
e outros.

 Meditações da Graça de Deus – Amélia Moinheiro

The  “Meditations of the Grace of God” are sent by email once a week, and its main objective is to reveal the person of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

They are based on the foundations of the Holy Bible, and all the Bible references referred to are indicated accordingly.  It is not about a religion, it is rather about  establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The number of readers has grown from hundreds to thousands all over the world particularly where Portuguese is spoken!  We have received numerous testimonies of people that have been encouraged with the Word of God, received salvation, healing for their body and direction for their life.

Various readers have been greatly touched by God with these Meditations of Grace and have shared with us the impact it has had in their life.  Let us know what God has done in your life too or any prayer request you would like us to take before the Lord, you may leave a message on this blog.

May the peace of God, the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be upon each of you!

   “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations”. Mathew 24:14

Amélia e António Moinheiro – Meditations of the Grace of God