Posted on 10/12/2010 8:49:09 PM PDT by wmfights
SANTIAGO, Chile (BP)--As the day of their rescue draws near, trapped miners in Chile are listening to recordings of sermons, Bible studies and Christian music a half-mile underground, thanks to the efforts of Chilean engineer Igor Bravo.
Bravo has been part of the rescue efforts for 33 trapped miners in northern Chile for weeks. But it isn't only the miners' physical needs that concern him -- it's their spiritual needs as well.
"I had to help in some Christian way," Bravo said. "If there is an opportunity to share the Gospel -- even if we're extremely occupied -- and to contribute to the Christian cause and evangelism, it's something that's in [my] blood."
A partial collapse blocked the mine Aug. 5, leaving the miners trapped in a living room-sized chamber for more than two months. Bravo owns the geo-technical monitoring company that is helping the rescue efforts on the desert surface 2,300 feet above the miners.
A member of First Baptist Church of Santiago, Bravo realized that though the miners' physical needs were being met, their spiritual needs had been overlooked. He called his pastor, Luis Cortéz, for help.
Cortéz recounted: "He [Bravo] said, 'I'm here basically by myself providing the spiritual support.... If you are able to send me materials, hunt, search and call [for them].'"
Cortéz contacted Radio Harmonia, a Christian broadcasting station in Santiago, which was able to provide MP3 files of pastor Adrian Rogers' sermons and Bible studies in Spanish along with Christian music. Rogers, the late pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., was a former Southern Baptist Convention president, author and TV-radio speaker.
While Cortéz made contacts in Santiago, Bravo searched Copiapó, the nearest town to the mine, for other spiritual materials. He found 33 New Testaments and two entire Bibles that met the size restrictions for what could be sent down the chamber.
On Sept. 17 he sent the materials to the miners via the "paloma," a device used to transport objects between the trapped miners and the surface. ("Paloma" means "pigeon" or "dove" in Spanish.)
Three of the 33 trapped miners were evangelical Christians when the mine collapsed. Since that time, two more of them have made professions of faith. One of the original believers, José Henríquez, has been leading Bible studies for the miners each evening.
"It [Bible study] started out 5, 10, now 20 participants," Bravo said. "[The people on the surface] have José Henríquez identified as the spiritual leader; they call him 'The Pastor.'"
Bravo wrote Henríquez's name in one of the Bibles and sent it specifically to him but left the other blank. Henríquez says he intends to give the second to the Bible study's best student.
As Bravo ministered to the miners, he knew their families waiting at Camp Esperanza (Hope) needed spiritual encouragement as well.
"A lot of people don't know the Lord," Bravo said. "That's when the second need surfaced."
Bravo called on the Chilean Baptist Union for help, and soon pastor Marcelo Leiva of Vallenar Baptist Church in Vallenar, Chile, was on-site comforting the miners' families.
"Pastor Marcelo has been fundamental in meeting that need," Bravo said.
Amid ensuring that both the miners and their families have the spiritual support they need, Bravo continues to play a vital role in the rescue efforts. His company determined the size of the rock blocking the mine following the collapse and is currently monitoring the status of the rescue shaft.
"I was very involved in the technical aspects and then later became involved in the spiritual," Bravo said. "It's been a great blessing."
Three of the 33 trapped miners were evangelical Christians when the mine collapsed. Since that time, two more of them have made professions of faith. One of the original believers, José Henríquez, has been leading Bible studies for the miners each evening.
"It [Bible study] started out 5, 10, now 20 participants," Bravo said. "[The people on the surface] have José Henríquez identified as the spiritual leader; they call him 'The Pastor.'"
Praise the Lord
They'll do that no matter what.
Great story though about the miners and those that became Born Again Christians.
I think you will find this article inspiring
AMEN! AMEN!
THX FOR THE THREAD.
Heh, how does that saying go? That there are no atheists in fox holes?
Great story!
That’s a beautiful story!
"It [Bible study] started out 5, 10, now 20 participants," Bravo said. "[The people on the surface] have José Henríquez identified as the spiritual leader; they call him 'The Pastor.'"
William, this is a WONDERFUL story. Thank you for it.
I laugh every time I hear liberal Bible scholars and ministers as well as secularists say the Bible is no longer relevant. This Scripture says it all so well.
Amen. A top-10 Psalm. 8~)
Yes, VERY interested. I was blessed reading about the efforts of Bro. Bravo and his pastor and others.
I have always been blessed by Adrian Rogers’ messages-—very practical preaching.
Thanks for posting this.
Wiliam,
Thank you, thank you for posting this. What a wonderful way to start my day to see the hand of God at work! Two new believers and almost 2/3 of those trapped participating in a bible study. What a praise! Hallelujah! and a means for us to pray for those who were in the study if they have not yet been regenerated.
This immediately came to mind and I know I will be singing it all day:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amen!
The power of our GOD. The power of the Word. The power of Faith.
I would bet a fair number of those that became a part of the Bible study group come to know the LORD.
Thank you, that's so on target.
One of the things about this that really caught my eye was how all the Evangelical Christians on the surface worked together. The engineer went to his pastor. The pastor got Bibles and mp3 players with sermons on them and nobody tried to stop them from getting these things to the miners.
They were ready willing and able to preach The Gospel in an instant.
Isn't it something!
If we can walk with just half as much desire to share The Gospel we can change the world.
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