Adventists from eight South American countries took to the streets on April 1, 2023, to distribute copies of the book The Great Controversy to the population. The movement is part of the Hope Impact project, conducted annually by the Adventist Church in South America. In the state of São Paulo alone, approximately 3 million copies have entered new homes.

The collaborators and leaders of the administrative headquarters of the Adventist Church for the state of São Paulo, União Central Brasileira (UCB), made the distribution a few days earlier, on Thursday, March 30, in the city of Artur Nogueira, where the headquarters is located. About 3,000 books and 500 children's magazines from the project were delivered to residents of the Parque das Flores neighborhood and surrounding areas.

Check out how Hope Impact was carried out across the state:

Paulista Valley Association (APV)

In the Vale do Paraíba region, several actions marked the delivery of 300,000 copies. Health fairs, community actions, distribution in homes and shops, and other initiatives mobilized volunteers in the 60 cities of the region.

Paulista East Association (APL)

In the eastern and northern regions of the São Paulo capital, about 1 million books were distributed in the territory. Strategic actions took place in the streets of the capital, such as services in the square, sound cars, and delivery in subway stations. The Central Hispanic Adventist Church, located in the Brás neighborhood, home to many Hispanic-American immigrants, distributed more than 3,000 copies in the Spanish version.

West Paulist Association (APO)

Public officials received copies of The Great Controversy in their offices through an Adventist Education action in western São Paulo. Health fairs, prayer tents, and various initiatives also marked the Hope Impact effort in the territory, which will deliver more than 600,000 books by 2024.

Southwestern Paulist Association (APSo)

Weeks before Hope Impact, employees at the administrative headquarters of the Adventist Church in the southwestern region of São Paulo read The Great Controversy together and only then made the delivery. There, local churches were involved in the distribution of the missionary book, totaling about 350,000 copies delivered throughout the territory.

Paulistana Association (AP)

The Women's Area of the Ministerial Association (AFAM) in the central region of the state led the delivery of the books in the cities of Alumínio and Mairinque. More than 200 youth, teenagers, and children impacted the cities with fanfares, balloons, prayer tents, and children's programming.

Associação Paulista Sul (APS)

Servers of the Adventist Church in the southern region of São Paulo delivered 12,000 books in a single day. The territory's Adventist Education department distributed books at bus stops, and local churches got involved in several actions, such as Varal Solidário, a fanfare, health fair, and other initiatives led to a total of 250,000 copies distributed in the territory.

Southeast Paulista Association (APSe)

Even with heavy rains forecasted, Adventists took to the streets in the city of Bertioga and were surprised by clear skies and sunshine on Sabbath, April 1. On the beachfront, Adventists with a fanfare band performed, and members handed out books to residents and tourists. More than 180,000 copies were distributed.

Central Paulista Association (APaC)

In the central region of São Paulo, Adventist volunteers distributed more than 62,000 missionary books in the city of Campinas. There, actions were promoted in partnership with the São Paulo Adventist University Center (UNASP), including a program filled with praise and messages of hope.

UNASP

About 920 students, teachers, and employees of UNASP boarded 20 buses bound for Campinas to distribute the books. The delivery took place at specific points and through eight health fairs, including one aimed at children.

São Paulo Adventist Hospital

In late March, employees at the Center Unit, South Unit, and Polyclinic of the Adventist São Paulo Hospital distributed nearly 5,000 books. There was distribution in all the hospital's reception areas, and patients also received copies during visits for consultations and exams.

The Great Controversy

Throughout this year and next, more than 5 million copies of The Great Controversy will be distributed throughout the state of São Paulo.

Collaboration: Alexandre Reis, Gabriela Victorio, Tatiane Lopes, Carmem Iorrana, Lóren Vidal, Danúbia França, Larissa Zanardi, Monise Almeida, Ana Clara Silveira, and Isadora Caccia.

The original version of this story was posted on the South America Division Portuguese-language news site.