Ex-atheist Uses Car to Show Jesus' Love on the Streets of Curitiba

Eric Cristofher is 26 years old and lives in Curitiba, capital of Paraná. Since April, he has been working for an rideshare transport company. As a Seventh-day Adventist, on Sabbaths, he sets aside this day for communion with God and rest with his family. However, it was not always like this. Several challenges and trials are part of his trajectory.

An atheist for eight years, Cristofher met Jesus at 20, and after studying the Bible, he decided to be baptized. “At the time, I understood that only Jesus saves, and that's why we live here,” he highlights. His clinging to the side of Christ would bring him challenges and a life of daily evangelism in his future work.

Even at the beginning of his adult life, Cristofher felt a strong desire to buy a car to evangelize. Always attentive to promotions, he awaited the dreamed-for day when he could have his own car. At that time, he understood God always meets the needs of human beings and therefore made a deal with the Lord: “God, I want to have a car to serve You. If [You] give me a car, all the songs played in it will be from Rádio Novo Tempo,” Cristofher recalls. He understood life as a rideshare driver would also be a ministry of evangelization, and in this context of faith and fidelity, he managed to acquire a car.

Proof of Fidelity

In addition to his activity as a rideshare driver, Cristofher was looking for a second job. He managed to schedule an interview for the position of driver in a transport company. It seemed everything was heading towards the much-desired hiring until the secretary informed him that candidates selected for the vacancy must work on Saturdays.

As Cristofher left that place with a broken heart, he prayed to God, saying he would honor the agreement made and not accept the proposal. The same day, the company secretary called to say he had been accepted for the position. He rejected it in order to honor the Sabbath commandment. In response to the young Cristofher's position, the secretary declared, "The company does not [concede] Saturday."

A week after that call, the same company returned the contact and informed Cristofher that management had talked about his situation, as they were interested in his profile, and would give the young man the opportunity to work with Saturdays off.

Excited, still not believing what had happened, Cristofher thanked Jesus for the gifts He gives to those who are faithful.

My Work, My Ministry

Currently driving through the streets of Curitiba, Cristofher is the only employee for whom the company made an exception regarding Saturdays. The young man makes the most of his two jobs to evangelize. “In a ride, the passenger was going to buy drugs. My car always runs with Rádio Novo Tempo tuned in. At that moment, all I thought about was saving that boy. That's when I started talking about Jesus. Soon he started to get emotional and gave up going to that destination,” he says.

Crisofher has a motto in his heart: "The car is mine and Jesus'. We are partners." He concludes, "I'm passionate about cars and all this mechanical area. My big goal in having a car has always been to evangelize and save souls for the kingdom of heaven."

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s news site