Article | - 5:37 pm
The Shocking Incident Was Reported by Media Outlets Across Brazil. Here Are the Details
On Monday, December 9th, Sandra Regina Monteiro was taken hostage by another woman who was holding a knife at a bus stop in São Paulo.
Early Monday afternoon, Sandra had just left her Pilates class and was heading to an acupuncture session. A kidnapper approached her at the bus stop.
“I was waiting for the bus when I felt a weight on my shoulder. She was shorter than me, so she put me in a rear-naked choke and held a knife to my neck. Then she demanded I call a TV station,” Sandra described the chilling encounter.
Without a cell phone to comply, she informed the kidnapper. The assailant then instructed her to ask others at the stop for a phone, but by then, someone had already alerted the police.
Police negotiations lasted around 40 minutes before officers subdued the kidnapper with a stun gun, ending the ordeal safely.
Videos circulating on social media reveal the tense moments Sandra endured. What stands out most is her composure during the attack. As the kidnapper shouted, Sandra remained calm, praying for divine intervention. “I was just praying, ‘Oh my God, help me. I need You!’” she shared.
A day before the incident, on December 8th, Sandra had been baptized in water—a pivotal moment in her spiritual journey. She is a congregant of The Universal Church in São Paulo and participated in a special baptism ceremony for all those who ardently desire to change their lives and repent of their sins and mistakes. This baptism, she explained, was different from her previous ones.
Sandra admitted she had been baptized twice before but felt those experiences didn’t lead to real transformation.
“I was baptized twice, but I went in a dry sinner and came out a wet sinner. But, [some time later] I began to understand the importance of the salvation of my soul,” she explained.
Determined to make a meaningful change, Sandra chose to be baptized again at The Universal Church.
Baptism in water represents a conscious decision to leave behind old ways and embrace a new, fulfilling life in faith. Sandra’s unwavering serenity during the hostage crisis is a testament to the peace and strength she gained through her faith and commitment to God.
Therefore, if you long to have the same peace and communion with God that Sandra demonstrated in a difficult moment, surrender yourself to the Lord Jesus!
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)
If you would like to be baptized in water, please look for The Universal Church near your home to learn more. Click here to find the nearest location.
The church is open daily, and a special meeting takes place every Wednesday to strengthen our spiritual lives and seek the Holy Spirit. All are welcome. Come as you are.
Wednesday at 10 AM, 4 PM, and mainly at 7 PM at The Universal Church. For more information on locations, please call 1-888-332-4141 or text 1-888-312-4141. You may also contact us via our contact form (click here).
For those who live in areas without a location of The Universal Church, you may also connect to our Virtual Church via Zoom Conference.
Contributors:
Sabrina Marques, With Information From R7 (Translated and Adapted From Original)
