Samuel Braga is an elder at the Concord Church in Sydney, Australia.
Samuel does full-time ministry work as an evangelistic, revivalist, trainer. On any given week, he has numerous Bible studies with groups around the world. He also preaches almost every Sabbath.
Hi Samuel, thank you for giving us this interview.
You’re welcome.
Tell us a little about yourself. Have you always lived in Australia?
I was born in the country of Chile in 1969. I migrated to Australia in 1989 with the rest of my parental family
Do you have a wife? Children?
I got married in Australia in 1991 to my beloved Maria Jose. She was born in Uruguay but grew up in Australia. We have three children: Rebecca 27 years of age, Keren 26 and Jonathan 23.
Were you raised as a Christian?
I grew up in a SDA home. Both my father and mother converted to Adventism from Catholicism and Pentecostalism respectively. I grew up with a strong SDA identity as both in my home and in the Church in Chile the Adventist ethos was very strong in those days.
I understand you are a pastor. Where do you minister, and how long have you been doing it?
I am ordained SDA minister. I graduated from theology from Avondale College in 1998. I worked as a church pastor until 2012. Our Saviour called me to step aside from salaried ministry to minister and live faith. That is what I have done since 2012. I do not serve as a conference pastor. But I minister as an evangelist, revivalist and trainer. I am an elder of my local church in Sydney.
You used to be loosely affiliated with David Gates. Is that still the case?
It was David Gates’ example who inspired us to live by faith. For a while we were associated with him philosophically and for a while—when I had a ministry called Cannot Be Hidden—he was part of our board. But that was over 10 years ago. Sadly, I have had to distance my self from him due to some of the theological positions he has taken. I disagree with those positions.
We have been hearing many disturbing reports about the Covid overreaction in Australia. How are you dealing with it?
Yes, the way the different levels of government have responded to Covid in Australia has been deeply surprising and disturbing. There have been violations of human rights, and conscience. Australians have been coerced to accept the vaccine. Media has presented one side of the reality and manipulated it to develop fear in the minds of the population. It is very sad. Australia was a free country, but it no longer is. Today we have a two level society, those who seem to have the freedoms—the vaccinated, and those who have been denied even the most basic rights like the right to work—the unvaccinated.
Has the Church in Australia been a support for our people during Covid overreaching? Or have they capitulated to draconian government measures?
The institutional church has basically completely capitulated to government measures. So much so that they have told teachers and health workers that if they are not vaccinated they will be sacked from their positions. So far, the system has lost great numbers of teachers who have walked away from the jobs. The church has done nothing to support them. On the opposite, they have published documents that allegedly respect member’s freedom of choice, but these documents in no uncertain terms encourage every one to get vaxxed. The church has done nothing, nothing to support or defend the freedom of choice of the unvaccinated! For me this has been the most painful experience during Covid.
What lessons have you learned during Covid?
The greatest lesson has been “my conscience needs to rest on God’s Word: the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, not on science.” I have seen the confusion in the minds of so many people around me trying to make a decision based on science. The Lord led me early in this experience to realise that in order to have peace and surety I needed to find out what the Word of God said in this matter and establish my decision on it. I have done it and I have no confusion and no fear. Praise God!
What is your opinion of the Covid vaccine?
My short answer: it is one of the means by which Babylon desires us to violate the sacredness of our body temple.
Many of our (SDA) people are being forced to receive this vaccine in Australia and America. As a pastor what is your advice to people facing this kind of coercive pressure?
I see this experience as the counterpart of Daniel’s experience with the wine and food of Babylon. We are being tested so we can see clearly where our loyalties lie. God is permitting us to face an issue that will bring out—without a doubt—whether we love the Lord supremely. Are we willing to lose all in order to not defile our bodies, which are God’s? And violate our conscience that must only submit to God? If we surrender for fear or convenience then we have been shown we are not ready to face the final battle that is just around the corner. My advice would be, do not surrender your body and conscience! Seek the Lord with all your heart and find rest and power in him for the challenges you are facing. This experience is calculated to develop the necessary faith and relationship with Jesus to prepare you for the final battle. Stand faithful!
It seems like our church is easily cowed by draconian government mandates. Why do you think that is?
I believe it is because we have walked away from the principles that God has given us as a people both in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.
Are you under pressure to receive the vaccine?
I praise the Lord that we have learned for the last 10 years to depend 100% on God for everything. We have also made up our mind, we shall not take the vaccine, does not matter what. So, apart from some family members, we feel no pressure. We have peace and joy in Jesus.
How could the SDA church respond to this crisis of coercion in a positive way?
Take a stand on the side of freedom of conscience and defend its members. Fight for our right and minister to both groups within the church. The church should have also taken a stand against the vaccine, as it is against the principles of healing given by God (but that would be too much to ask). We could have made our voice heard against the coercion. But we didn’t.
Where do you see this spirit of coercion taking the world?
From the beginning of the “pandemic” in 2020 I sought the Lord and studied the prophecies. In my mind as clear as day, we are headed to the final conflict.
What positive experiences have come out of the Covid pandemic?
When things began and I could no longer travel to preach, I wondered what I was going to do. I felt a bit despondent at the beginning. Little I knew that the Lord had plans for me. I started Zooming every where. Today I am more busy than ever before.
The lockdowns have given us time to be together at home with my wife. We used that time to develop a more intimate relationship with Him.
Meeting with God’s children all over the world and encouraging them.
At local church level, the opportunity to meet often during the week to study and pray together. Through Zoom of course.
What is in your immediate future?
Praying for the Lord to take us out of Sydney to the country.
We live by faith and we depend on God for everything. We are waiting, ready for the moment He opens a door.
Planning to print 100 thousand Great Controversies to distribute in Sydney.
Any final thoughts?
May the Lord keep us faithful and joyful until the end. Jesus is Coming!
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