The history of Zélia Gomes, 55, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a long one. It started when she was 12 years old, in Manaus, a city in Brazil’s Amazonas region. At that time, she came to know the movement through her brother's girlfriend, who was an Adventist. Gomes attended services for a while but did not continue.
More than 30 years later, living in the northeast Brazilian city of Bacabal in Maranhão state, Zélia, now an attorney, had another contact with Adventists. She began watching the church-owned New Time (Novo Tempo) TV network, becoming a regular viewer and tithing 10% of her income to assist in the work developed by the Church, through the project Angels of Hope (Anjos da Esperança).
Back to worship
Zélia wanted to attend an Adventist Church, but did not know anyone who was a member. Speaking casually to a friend about this desire, Zélia learned they had an Adventist friend and the acquaintance put them in touch.
This was the opportunity for Zélia to visit a congregation again: “I felt very welcomed by everyone. I watched them and admired the simplicity of people. I started to attend regularly. I wanted to establish myself and live the faith that I saw in these people,” she recalled.
She mentions a characteristic of the members that she found curious and intrigued her: personal contentment even during adversity.
“I was wondering how they could be so happy despite the difficulties that each one had. I didn't see anyone asking for a house, car or material things. I saw them thanking [God] even for the difficulties and embracing the promise of Jesus' coming. With myself, I said: I want to live this!”
Decision and delivery
For personal reasons, Zélia left the Church. Gradually, she became absent from the services until she stopped attending altogether. However, an emptiness remained in her heart, a gap that made her very uncomfortable. About this phase, she says that she had many disappointments and suffering. "In anguish, I asked God to help me take a new direction in my life and return to visit his home." It was after that that she decided to become a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
During the pandemic of the new coronavirus, Zélia lost her mother. The support and care of Adventist brethren ratified the certainty she should be a member of that Church family. And then, in September 2020, she decided to be baptized.
Vow to God
With the death of her mother, Zélia realized how fragile and fleeting life is. “I started to see that we don't take anything from here, except some clothing. Everything stays. Life is a breath that ends in the blink of an eye. So, why accumulate things?” This feeling aroused the desire to do more for others and for the Church.
The congregation that Zélia attends was not yet air conditioned. One day, she asked the leaders if they had any desire to change that situation. They replied this was a dream and that they were praying that, in God's time, it would come to pass.
“I thought the way they responded was so beautiful. The faith, patience and certainty of God's faithfulness are admirable. I talked to God and said, Why wouldn't I help? A place where I met so many people who, even without knowing it, taught me the best things,” recalls the attorney.
Zélia had reason to be grateful, because, even with the pandemic, the work in her law firm continued to generate significant revenue. She says she took a vow of faithfulness to God. "I told God that I was going to separate the amount of 10 administrative cases I won, that did not need recourse in court, and I would donate the total to purchase the Church's air conditioning units."
According to Zélia's experience, this is not common, especially in times of crisis. But she was surprisingly blessed in that period. She won the 10 cases. And so, with a sense of accomplishment, she fulfilled her commitment. Air conditioners are now available for installation in the church building.
When talking about the principle of fidelity in her life, Zélia considers that before the power of God, there is very little that the human being can do. “Fidelity to God is crazy for the materialistic world, where people seek only their own satisfaction. Everything we do is minimal. He does not need us, on the contrary, it is we who need Him,” she concluded.
This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site