News

Article

A Team for God

A Team for God

Fillipe and Deborah Lessa joined the Irish Mission almost 1 month ago, along with their 4-year-old son Lorenzo and 11-month-old daughter Alanna. Fillipe arrived just in time to join the team coordinating Pr. Doug Batchelor’s visit to the Irish Mission. He jumped right in and got very busy with coordinating the programs and assisting Pr. Doug Batchelor. He has only been here for a short time, but one characteristic stands out: Pr. Fillipe is a doer. And when he is does something, he gives it his all.

Pr. Fillipe and his wife come from Brazil. Pr. Fillipe grew up in the city of Juiz de Fora, in the state of Minas Gerais. As a third generation Adventist, church played a central role in his life. At the age of 19 he moved to São Paulo to study law at UNASP-EC, the Brazil Adventist University – Sao Paulo campus. He spent five happy years studying there.. These years made extra special by the fact that he met his wife Deborah during this time. She was studying journalism at UNASP-EC. After graduating, they were both employed by the West Central Brazil Union Mission; Deborah as a journalist and Fillipe as a lawyer.

They loved their work. Life was good. Yet Deborah couldn’t settle. She had a growing desire to be an Adventist Volunteer together with Fillipe. She had been a volunteer in South Africa for a year during her studies. The experience was very positive and had a lasting impact on her. She really wanted to go once more with Fillipe. Fillipe was unsure about it though. They both had good jobs working for the church. So he prayed about it and felt impressed that God was calling them to go as volunteers. When they received an invitation to a UK project for one and a half years, they decided to accept it.

As a volunteer, Pr. Fillipe really enjoyed the pastoral work - giving Bible studies, visiting people, telling people about Jesus, and preaching. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that he decided he would rather be a pastor than a lawyer. So, at the end of their contact, they went to Newbold for him to study Theology.

It hasn’t always been easy for Pr. Fillipe. But just like his favourite Bible character Joseph, he has experienced God’s power at work in his life.  His favourite Bible verse is “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20.

Pr. Fillipe and Deborah are a team for God. They have experienced God’s personal presence in their lives and their desire is to invite others to a personal experience with Him as well.