The missionary Peter wrote, "Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance" (II Pet. 1:15). Here we see that Peter put the burden of his people's memory on his own shoulders. He knew he was going to die. He knew he would have no sucessor who would carry on things exactly as he had done. He, therefore, endeavored to do something to make sure the people who "have obtained like precious faith" (1:1) would have some means of keeping the truth alive in their hearts and minds.

We believe that this effort is primarily manifest in the literature known as the first and second epistles of Peter. Recorded in these two books were the emphases of his ministry. He had worked hard to "not be negligent to put [them] always in remembrance" (1:12).

Knowing that his death was certain and near he did not want all this hard work to be in vain. Even "though [they already] knew, and [were] established in the present truth" (1:12), he had the discernment to see this would not always be the case. He had to reinforce the truth. He had to make sure it was available to them and to the next generation.

This is where the ministry of the pen comes in. The missionary has not completed his job unless he has both planted churches and provided adequate writings which help those churches, especially their leadership, stay connected to the truth.

When we observe Brazil, we observe a land in desperate need of literature. Many good churches have been planted, but as time is passing and missionaries are moving on to new works or retirement, many of these established churches no longer have the missionary's influence. He may have even left well trained national leadership, but since that leadership was not left with a decent library, a knowledge of English or some guide to help him, his hunger for knowledge is often satiated by the only resources he can find--those coming from sources which eventually lead to neo-evangelicalism and worse. Step by step these churches looking for direction fail to keep the faith, hold the standards and remain loyal to the ideals and beliefs set forth by the God-sent missionary.

We, having now plainly recognized this dilemma, are deeply impressed of God to plant churches and supply their members with adequate literature. It is our prayer that God would move upon the hearts of believers all over the world to involve themselves in this work. What we mean to say is that we need to see to it that literature is written, written well, and made available in the language of the people. For us, we must produce, translate and encourage the writing of Christian literature in Portuguese. We need to have good, strong, independent, fundamental literature which (1) gives the national a sense of direction--ministry goals, (2) a realization of his heritage, and (3) and appreciation for reading and writing.

Readers are leaders. Watch any great man of God and he is also a man of books. How can such be the case for a national if, being restricted by his mother tongue, there are very few books available to him, and what is available leads him astray?

Please pray with us about our Ministry of the Pen. It does not replace our church planting. It supplements it. Paul saw the need and wrote. Peter saw the need and expressed in clearly in his epistle. In fact, the great majority of our New Testament is the pen ministry of the early missionaries. If they saw it as important, we ought to too. No, we are not writing inspired books, but we are giving commentary and relating God's Word to God's people just as a preacher would in the pulpit.

May it be that one day the people of Brazil see great missionary giants whose literary efforts eclipse that of Spurgeon and Moody and many others. God only knows. Until then, we must press on and do the will of God, no matter how impossible it may seem at the outset.

If God be for us, who can be against us?