Brazilian Convert Prepares to Teach Christianity Rick Maia is a junior Bible/ psychology major who has an intense concern for the souls of all people. Raised a Catholic in Belo Horizonte (beautiful horizon), Brazil, Rick is now a fledgling preacher in the Church of Christ. Rick's Catholic heritage is an important factor in his current devotion to Jesus and the Holy Bible. He said Brazilian Catholics place little stress on the Bible. He said about 85 percent of the population is Catholic, but only 10 percent of these show true devotion to God. The remainder place very little stress on living life morally. He attributed this problem mostly to the fact that these Catholics place the burden of their forgiveness in the hands of priests instead of stressing individual holiness. He said they also lack a basic knowledge of the scriptur~s. Now, the Church of Christ in Belo Horizonte is comprised primarily of former Catholics , and it is growing eve1y week. To Catholics who are striving for more meaningful faith , he has a message. "First, be committed to a grasp of the scriptures. Remember these are the words of eternal life; they will be our judge in the end. We all must live according to the Word," he said. Rick has a special place in his heart for children and the elderly. He said from children Tracy White - Apopka , FL Laura Whyte - Alton, IL Tawnya Widel - Savann:ih, 11-10 Rebecca Wiemuth - Ft. Wo11h , TX Jennie Wilkins - Spring. TX Tanuny Wilkins - Spring, TX Debra Williams - Bremenon . WA Mark Williams - Yellville. AH Marlin Williams - Memphis, TN Jay Winn- na~rrop . LA Jamie Woodard- Richland . WA Shay Wright - Shrcvepo11 , LA Tracy Yarbro - Orlando. FL Lori Yarbrough - Ft. Worth. TX Scott Young - Sand Spring~ . OK 230 Juniors he learns simplicity. From the elderly, he learns wisdom and common sen e. Rick said he is like a sponge, soaking up eve1ything they say. After he graduates, Rick hopes to return home and preach for about four years. Then, if it is God's will, he wants to take missionaries from his town into the interior of the state, Minas-Gerais, which he said is bigger than Texas. The Church of Christ has reached no further than Belo Horizonte, and he wishes to help spread it to the rest of the state . Rick hopes to use his psychology background to help the spread of Christianity. He feels it will help him be more effective in applying the Bible to people's lives. When he went home last summer, he realized that the world is full of emotional crisis. He was overwhelmed by this, and developed a desire to understand why people behave as they do. He sees the church as a hospital , where eve1yone comes for continual cleansing. "Even strong Chri tians bring problems from the world into the church," he said. He hopes to use his knowledge to understand people better and to relate to their crises. He will then use scripture to help them deal with their problems and help mold them into Christlike individuals. Ultimately, he hopes to help improve society through the Gospel. Rick Maia enjoys a pleasant afternoon on the front lawn. Rick was a junior Bible/ Psychology major from Brazil. Rick has enjoyed being at Harding . He has come to regard America as home. He said once a person leaves his home country, he doesn't have a country to call home. The only place he can truly call home is Heaven. He stres eel the importance of remembering that people are just passing through and are really living for God, not themselves. Rick ultimately encouraged everyone to prepare, because "Jesus could come anytime. Tomorrow may never come." - Ryan Gjovig
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