In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, temporarily closed its doors for the safety of its congregation, but had considered the possibility of permanent closure because of its dwindling numbers and lack of a lead pastor.
When the holiday season approached, the church decided to gather for a Christmas service. In hopes of finding someone to come preach a sermon, a deacon at Emmanuel reached out to Truett Seminary, who connected him with Marcelo De Oliveira, who gladly accepted.
“I was going to Truett at the time and I went and preached that sermon, and Charles McLain, one of the deacons at the church who contacted me, at the end of the service said ‘Well, are you free this coming Sunday?’ I said ‘Sure,’” said Oliveira.
He returned to preach the following Sunday.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jessica King and originally published by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
