The charter plane which crashed in Colombia on November 28th carrying the Brazilian Chapacoense football team had a very high number of evangelical Christians on board. Three of them were
among the survivors. Many of the 71 dead also professed faith in Christ. One very special story that has since come to light, and received considerable coverage in the Latin American press, was from one of the plane’s support staff, the Paraguyan Gustavo Encina.

His last message on Facebook, published only hours before the tragedy, has generated a lot of interest in the Spanish-speaking press. Posted on the day of the crash, Encina made a reflection
about life; but for some it was a “prophecy” of what would happen. His last message stated: “Good day! Where do you look in your life? Back or forth?” He told his readers on the very day
he met his death, “May the Lord give you the grace to let go of things, even those that you consider precious in this life, and allow you to look forward, where Christ is waiting for a glorious encounter that will open the gates of eternity.” The message has been reproduced hundreds of times by friends and people who wanted to send their condolences to the other families. For many it is a statement of the faith and hope of a follower of Christ. Rescue teams say they have found a number of Bibles in the rubble.

Left-back Alan Ruschel, one of the survivors, had a hip fracture and a cut on his head. He underwent an operation to his spine. In her Instagram account, Alan Ruschel’s wife wrote the following message: “Thank God Alan is in the hospital in a stable condition… The situation is complicated and difficult. Only God gives strength. Thanks God”. Defender Helio Zampier Neto suffered a head injury, had delicate surgery and his condition was considered “stable” by the doctors.

However, Neto will still have to have surgery to repair his knee, hand, nose and skull. He is a member of Chapecó Baptist Church; the family is asking for prayers for his full recovery.
The airline’s hostess, Ximena Suárez, is a Bolivian and member of an evangelical church in Bolivia. According to medical reports, her coming out of the crash alive  “represents a miracle of
salvation.”

Source: Protestante Digital y Levante; Revival Media

Bible Study: John 14:19

APRIL: Praise God for Christian survivors. Pray WIDER that they may be instrumental in bringing many to faith; in particular pray for lasting seeds of Gospel hope among the football team and fans.