He Leaves the 99 for the One - by Lisa

On my most recent trip to Brazil, our mission team partnered with a local church that had been learning about evangelism and missionary work. That day was designed for practice—putting into action everything they had been absorbing through teaching and discipleship. I was paired with my translator and one volunteer from the church, and together we headed to a nearby park where families relaxed, children played, and people gathered in everyday rhythms of life.

As we walked, we simply followed the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit. We stopped to pray for a few individuals, offering encouragement and letting God guide our conversations. Then, across the street, I noticed a man sitting alone. Something in my heart said, “Go over there.” So we crossed, walked toward him, and I sat right beside him as if we had been friends for years.

“Hi, my name is Lisa,” I said, “and I came all the way from the United States to tell you that God loves you so much and He sees you.”

His eyes lit up, but there was hesitation—almost fear. As we talked, he opened up about why he avoided church. He believed God would judge him because he smoked cigarettes, and his wife—who attended church regularly—wanted him to quit. The church she attended discouraged smoking, so he felt unworthy to go.

Through my translator, I asked him to read Romans 5:8:“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I shared my own story—I used to be a smoker too. I told him that God cared far more about his heart than his cigarettes. That if God could have him, fully surrendered and loved, then God would help him with everything else in His perfect timing.

For about twenty minutes we talked, prayed, listened, and witnessed God working right in front of us. And then something beautiful happened—Nettynu gave his life to Jesus.

He couldn’t wait to go home and tell his wife that someone came all the way from America just to tell him that God sees him… and loves him.

Jesus said He leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one.

And that day, in a small park in Brazil, Nettynu was that one.