In the early days of 2007, Steve Jobs, one of Apple's founders, introduced the world to what he called "a revolutionary cell phone." For many analysts, the launch of the first iPhone was one of the milestones of the digital revolution, which paved the way for a significant cultural shift in modern history. One of these developments was precisely the increase in interaction between people in a virtual way and the decrease in face-to-face contact.
In the same year, the South American Division (SAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church took a step in another direction: Impacto Esperança, a project to encourage reading with an evangelistic purpose. The objective was precisely to intensify face-to-face relationships. This is because its proposal was—and still is—to bring thematic books to people in their homes, businesses, and strategic points in each city and remote regions.
Throughout this period, each title provided biblical answers to diverse subjects, such as emotional health, the fate of the world, the wise use of time, and comfort in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the world since the beginning of 2020. The books produced so far already total more than 328 million printed copies.
This number, however, does not include the millions of digital versions shared so far, available at Livro.esperanca.com.br. In 2022, the year in which the initiative turns 15 years old, the selected book brings an appeal to humanity in the face of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6–12.
Titled The Last Invitation, its content was produced by American writer Clifford Goldstein and is part of a worldwide strategy by the Adventist Church to broaden the understanding of the theme, which concerns the veracity of a literal, six-day creation, the observance of the biblical Sabbath, and the worship of God. The book will be delivered to more than 180 countries in approximately 50 languages and dialects.
Message that Drives Action
"Our focus is to announce hope, hope of salvation, while we live in a world full of difficulties—hope of salvation in Jesus Christ and from whom He comes, and preparation is necessary to participate in eternity with Him," summarizes Pastor Stanley Arco, president of SAD
Arco stresses that Impacto Esperança is already consolidated among Seventh-day Adventists in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. The book, he emphasizes, has become an important project of the church as a missionary action. This is mainly because this initiative gives children, youth, and adults the opportunity to amplify this message in a way that perhaps would not happen otherwise.
"Hope is the piece that keeps us moving. When you deliver a book, in addition to offering the person what they need most, which is hope, you end up breaking down barriers and creating opportunities to establish a friendly relationship, which, at the same time, is firm and lasting. Only those who participate in a movement like this understand the potential it has to transform lives," highlighted Pastor Erton Köhler, when the project completed ten years. He led the campaign from the beginning until 2021, when he was elected executive secretary of the Adventist World Church.
Impact on Practice
Wendy Cisneros, a business student with an emphasis on international business at the time, understood the potential of the project. The first time she took to the streets for literature distribution, in her hands was the A Grande Esperança, which had a circulation of almost 55 million copies and was distributed between 2012 and 2013.
At the time, Cisneros was involved in a social project at her university, located in Lima, Peru. With other students, she developed actions that benefited several people. When the book arrived, it was a complement to what she was already used to doing. "[Impacto Esperança] met another need: a spiritual one. It was great to be able to help that community in another way," she highlights. "I believe that Impacto Esperança is an opportunity to bring a special message, not only to other people, but also to myself."
In the second half of 2019, Cisneros moved to Brazil. COVID-19 arrived shortly after, which prevented her from returning to the streets to participate in literature distribution. The solution she found was to intensify the dissemination of digital versions of books, including Esperança Além da Crise, produced precisely in the context of the pandemic for those who are entrenched in it.
With the decrease in cases of the disease and the gradual return of face-to-face activities, this week, Cisneros went to one of the regions of the Federal District to distribute copies of O Último Invite and noticed the cultural differences between her country and Brazil in relation to literature evangelism.
"Some people I gave it to asked more about the book. They had a lot of questions. They also wanted to know where there was an Adventist church nearby. In Peru, people are more reticent when it comes to receiving it," she compares.
With volunteers from the administrative headquarters in South America and the denomination's office for Brasília and nearby cities, 8,000 books were delivered throughout one of the busiest commercial areas in the region. The action, carried out annually in different locations, shows that those who work in these institutions are also directly involved with Impacto Esperança, which, in 2022, takes place throughout the year but has its highlight day on April 9, the date on which Holy Week begins in Adventist churches.
Opportunity to Make a Difference
"It's amazing to see that as the Impacto Esperança date approaches, it gets more alive, and stories start to come out. It shows that the campaign, in addition to being good for the church, is reaching people's hearts. Impacto Esperança is not just about going out to deliver a book; it's a way to unite the church," highlights Pastor Rafael Rossi, evangelist for the SAD.
After a decade and a half, Rossi attributes the project's longevity to two factors: first, God's blessing; and second, because the church has fully embraced the missionary book project. Regional projects have always existed, he says, but something equally relevant for an entire continent gives strength and visibility.
“We all want to participate in something that makes a difference. When I know that I am part of a big movement and that on the same day I take to the streets, more than 2 million people will be, too, I realize that it is something relevant. [The] most important result is the participation of the church," Rossi argues.
For more details about Impacto Esperança, visit adv.st/impactoesperanca.
This article was originally published on the South American Division’s news site