Brazilian spurns limelight by doing ‘the little things’ for God

Orlando (FBC)—If you were to see Ed Vilela in action today, you would see a man praying over the pews in his church, translating for his fellow Brazilians in the hospital, opening his home to those needing a place to stay, discipling young believers.

Photo by Ken Touchton

Ed Vilela, a Brazilian native and member of First Brazilian Baptist Church, Orlando, spends hours on his knees in the church which is seeking to reach the approximately 30,000 Brazilians in Central Florida.

You would see a man who rarely misses a Sunday or Wednesday service, a choir rehearsal or even a church meeting.

You would see a man who didn’t give up, even when the first church he helped found in Orlando closed its doors, but kept a small Bible study going strong until another church could be started. You would see a man who, in the words of all who know him, is a "true servant of God."

"Every time I ask him to do something for the church or for God, he says, ‘Ok, I will find the time. I will do my best,’" said Jedaias Azevedo, his pastor at First Brazilian Baptist Church in Orlando.

As Vilela, a native of Brazil, grew in his Christian commitment, he began to understand that, "There are certain things God requires of us." Two of those things, he said, are prayer and a willingness to work for the Lord–two commitments which were put to the test when his job moved him and his family to Orlando from California in 1990.

With no Brazilian evangelical worship service in town, Vilela joined with a music minister at a Hispanic church to start a Bible study. The Bible study grew and eventually became a congregation. However, small problems became big problems. In 1995 the congregation disbanded.

Still, Vilela and approximately 25 others continued to meet in homes for prayer and Bible study. The group dreamed of becoming a Brazilian church. In March 1996 the dream began to take shape with their first service at Vilela’s home.

Within a month the young congregation was meeting at a local YMCA and, later, at an Episcopal church. In early 1997 the church chose to become Southern Baptist. Soon, First Brazilian Baptist Church called Daniel Paixao as its first pastor.

"I consider Ed to be a real backbone of the church," said Paixao, who now serves as director of Language Church Development for the Florida Baptist Convention.

Today, the church, with a membership of approximately 250, meets at Orlando’s Downtown Baptist Church on Sunday evenings. Under the leadership of pastor Azevedo, who credits Vilela with keeping the church going during its tough early years, the congregation seeks to reach the approximately 30,000 Brazilians living in Central Florida.

Although he works close to 80 hours a week in his secular job, Vilela tirelessly does his part to reach those Brazilians, his pastor said. Through the years he has done everything from finding a meeting place for the church to setting up and taking down chairs and sound systems on Sunday mornings, to even preaching on occasion.

Today he sings in the choir, even though he doesn’t read music. He leads the deacons. He directs the church’s prayer ministry, conducting monthly all-night prayer meetings. And, in the words of every job description, he takes on "other responsibilities as required."

Looking back, Vilela said, "I’m not sure I’ve ever done anything great. I’ve always done the little things.

Often, I’ve done things in church that I thought I couldn’t do. If you’re willing, God will work through you."