[UntoHim]

Helcio Alemeida who worked with Yu-Lan Dong for many years and was the leader in Brazil's work in raising up Local Churches (affilated with Dong Yu-Lan) in Africa has split with Dong Yu-Lan.

A Portugese blog, Dated Nov. 20, 2010, (with translated into English by Google--in Red) posted a copy of Helcio Alemeida's letter to Dong Yu-Lan which begins:

Heresies and practices of the movement in Brazil LOCAL CHURCH
The movement "Local Church" in Brazil, in practice, refers to the group "Tree of Life", composed mainly of the Resort [i.e. Estancia--the Conference Center] and the Tree of Life Tree of Life Publishing [Dong Yu-Lan's publishing organization] . It is led by Chinese who consider themselves the only true unity of the Church and other Christian groups are considered "divisions." According to this "heavenly" view, all Christians, to be established by God in the unit should shut down the groups [their own groups?] which bring together and engage in this movement. [i.e. join the Local Church?]

In response Anonymous said ...
[To the] Leadership in Brazil, please look at the families' pain, you guys [leaders] are unaware of the damage that is happening in our country, in my locality, is separating couples, grandchildren will not see their grandparents, children with parents, because of the separation of the ministries, for the love of Christ to the Body reconsider, I get p / unity of the Body of Christ and want to stay in it.

Here (below) is an English translation of Bro. Hecio's Letter to Bro Yu-Lan Dong

Clarification about the break with the Árvore da Vida [Tree of Life] Ministry of Dong Yu-Lan:

1. Letter to Brother Dong to expose the situation in Brazil as the restoration [Recovery] (after Youth Conference, July 2010):
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Beloved brother Dong:
I would like to express to my beloved brother Dong votes of esteem and consideration.
I recognize the lack of fellowship I have with Brother Dong and apologize for this failure.
On the other hand have struggled with myself to break through this difficulty and so we can improve the service to the Lord as well as gain a better understanding of each other. Not even living in San Paulo could go a long way on this issue.
Forgive me again for this quirk of my personality. My professional work required to work for long periods of time in areas with limited communication. This may have compounded this deficiency.
Beloved brother Dong, wanted to take the trip with his brother Solomon to improve this situation the same time seek to express my concern about two issues, but have much fear of touching them.
They are sensitive and we have no measurement instruments to support us, but our observations and feelings.
Let me make a brief background to understand my brother points of observation.
Since I came to the communion of the church life under your leadership can say that I found what she was looking to practice the word of God. I realized the effort to take the foundation of the church and advance the spread of the gospel. For these reasons I found motivation to devote all he had to serve in the church and the Lord's work.
In 1997 I went to Anaheim, at your request, participate in the 1st Hispanic language training. I confess I was very disappointed with the direction of the restoration there. I could see the high degree of systematization of church practice and the evident lack of freedom of the Spirit. But the biggest problem identified was the excessive and inappropriate promotion of W Lee's name, and the Living Stream Ministry.
At all times I was there, I cannot deny that for me were moments of discomfort and pressure. At the same time thanking the Lord for the freedom they enjoyed in AS [South America]. I was in Anaheim or in their activities almost every year until the end of 2005, when I attended the winter training. At that time our relationship in the work was almost exhausted.
Throughout this period of difficulties in communion with the LSM and American and Chinese workers, might have a strong impression of the deviations from the restoration there was involved.
From what I saw wanted to highlight the issue of restoration of the pillars, that the co-Americans were expressing progressively and finally declared it publicly. At first these were three pillars, and later became 6. They are in the order they were presented: 1. LSM 2. The work of one publication, 3. The blending co-workers, 4. The seven parties, 5. The full-time training for two years, and 6. The Morning Revival.

At the time the LSM (which is an institution or organization) has become the foundation of our testimony, of course, this features an error grounds. Sooner or later it would be impossible to maintain the unity because it is a deviation from the apostles' teaching. Not to mention the other items. They all have good arguments to support them, but none of them could become the basis for everyone in the church.
I also wanted to highlight another issue, which concerns the deficiencies of the restoration [recovery]. Brother WL pointed out in his last days in their posts at least five aspects that should be corrected in the ministry. Of course your comment was about the situation around you. I'll point them briefly:
1. The lack of fruit due to lack of a spirit of shepherding, love and care of the saints
2. The full-time training would be wrong and should be corrected (in the words of his own brother W Lee, the FTT is designed so that the Saints could distinguish the difference between a primary and a secondary truth, and how they were helped to follow the Lord)
3. The higher truths must be accompanied by "garlic and vinegar" or application and practice, otherwise, could cause pride and thus "kill" the saints;
4. Everyone should learn how to follow others, not to follow the Lord
5. How to welcome [receive] the brothers, this item Brother WL expressed his deep regret for the way dealt with the brothers who do not meet with us and even those who met (if the dissent).
I understand that Brother W Lee really noticed these flaws as well, but I see he has not mentioned the main problem, which was the major cause of difficulties for him and for the work, Living Stream Ministry. Some of his employees even began promoting an alleged statement by Brother W Lee on his deathbed, which said that "God had prepared a corporate (organization) in the continuation of his ministry", further strengthening this institution. As a result the church came to be identified or measured by the degree of relationship with the LSM.
These two aspects, i.e, these supposed pillars of the restoration [recovery], invented by blending co-workers, and little understanding of the real shortcomings of the restoration, directed by Brother WL, seem to have been the main causes of division in the work of the Lord, between North and South, which occurred in the second half of this decade.
Within this framework we can see that from 2002 we began to suffer attacks of dissent in our sphere of action, whether S. America, Africa and Europe, on a more organized and systematized [basis ?].
Throughout this period, from 2002 until the recent past, we had to explain and argue about the reasons why we were departing from the communion [fellowship] and coordinating the work in relation to the brethren of the Northern Hemisphere. In my case I tried to delve into these issues in order to have a more complete understanding and be able to fully clear my conscience and those who were serving together with me so we can take a safer position for the Lord and the leadership that he was driving.
Under this consideration and given the difficult situation we were living under the attacks of the workers led by the LSM, I realized that I should commit myself in a more intense cooperation Brother Dong and work in S America, since between [among] the Brazilian brothers I was one of those who had more experience in relation to the Northern Hemisphere and it was clearer all the tricks and attempts to damage the witness of the churches in S Am., as well as the leadership that the Lord had established between us.
So when I received the proposal to move to San Paulo could see the opportunity to offer the Lord as I had been granted and cooperate to the utmost to help the brothers and the churches to follow the Spirit's leading.
But his brother wanted to make clear that Dong had a concern not to involve myself too much with the publisher, once feared and provide a basis for fear that the same problem that occurred in the United States will take place from among us, that is the VA to become a substitute for LSM in church affairs and work. Thus I tried to avoid a more direct involvement with the Company, without offending or compromising the charges that Brother Dong promoted.
I tried to fulfill the Lord's burden to strengthen our position and show the various items that the Spirit can correct and improve on his restoration [recovery], through the work in AS, under the leadership of Brother Dong.
At the same time I increased significantly in this period my work in Africa, with the aim of raising up laborers to clear the way of the Spirit and life, and avoid engaging them in aspects of the work and that could cause problems even produced in the unity of the church and spread the gospel.
In this sense beloved brother Dong would like to express my concern as a soldier with two issues. I do not want to interfere in your leadership, but also could not silence the feeling that we share with his brother Dong. May the Lord give you wisdom and discernment to lead us and his work.
1. The worsening of Institutional branding with the Árvore da Vida [Tree of Life] Church:
We use various tools to support the work they have called the Árvore da Vida [Tree of Life], such as Association, Office, Publisher, Cooperatives, Expobook, Newspapers, finally this Árvore da Vida brand has strengthened and is now fully merged with the church, its members and its practices . On the one hand this is good because of the category, quality, integrity and good reputation of people and goods related to it, however this relationship produces the charge that we are the Árvore da Vida [Tree of Life] Church. It is possible that for many this is not a problem, are experienced, but it is also possible that people get uncomfortable with this issue because it touches on the basic principle of the church.
There were many times that we speak about the risk that the performance of LSM would change the nature of the church's witness to a designation. Several of his decisions this trend strengthened themselves and finally ended up mentioning that the 1st pillar of the recovery was the LSM. I understand that many brothers were upset during this process, but no longer had the strength to react. The result was that the worsening of this attitude and position produced a severe split within the restoration.
Thank the Lord, He has protected us and we could continue to serve Him with freedom. However some aspects of our practice, if conducted without caution, may serve to reinforce those allegations. I would ask his brother Dong to muse on this issue.
2. The 2nd point I would like to mention too is the emphasis in marketing products in the church and the possible charge of peddling the Word of God
I understand that each one may have in itself your understanding on this matter. Most brothers can simply consider and use these practices to sell the books as an important tool to spread the gospel and save the people, while some may understand the matter as a trade or business or as a peddle the word of God.
The question seems to me the emphasis is on using this practice and how it is presented to the brothers and later given the churches. If it is not well presented, or whether it take the impression of an obligation, I feel that this may confuse us with the negative side of Christianity, which uses the things of God to promote their interests.
I understand that the item Bookafé, [Book Room plus Coffee Café] which considers the use of the venues, has already been adjusted and presented in a spiritual burden that is best comprehended by all, without confusing the issue with the commercial spirit.
Dear brother Dong forgive me for being so frank. I fear that in trying to promote the gospel can impair aspects of the common faith that would place us in the same situation of those who condemned us for not being faithful to brother W Lee. I would like to ask Brother Dong for patience and understanding for myself at this point, as well as to those who fought against the influence of LSM between us and that somehow feel more sensitive to these aspects mentioned.
Finally I want to express my appreciation and regard for the beloved brother Dong and ask the Lord all the wisdom and strength that can lead to the Lord's work.
May grace be with the beloved and honored brother Dong.
Sincerely,
Your fellow
Helcio Almeida.