South American Division

10-Year-Old Inspires Community with Weekly Bible Study Meetings in São José do Norte

Cristhiny is committed to sharing the gospel in her community, an an area where the Adventist Church’s presence is limited.

August 12, 2024

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Emanuele Fonseca, South American Division, and ANN Staff

Cristhiny participated in a Pathfinder Club event

[Photo: Personal archive]

In São José do Norte, in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a 10-year-old girl took a different approach to sharing her love for Jesus with her friends. Cristhiny, a Seventh-day Adventist teenager, may not be baptized yet, but her enthusiasm and dedication to the Christian message are evident.

Cristhiny’s parents, Dejanira Souza and Cristiano Pinto, are Seventh-day Adventists. Recently, Cristhiny underwent surgery and has a drain in her ear, which prevents her from being baptized at the moment. However, this has not stopped her from living her faith actively. She has found a way to touch lives and share the love of Jesus through weekly meetings with her friends.

It all began when Cristhiny heard a message at her church and felt a strong desire to deepen her biblical knowledge and share it with her friends. With the support of her mother, Dejanira, Cristhiny organized weekly meetings to study biblical characters with a group of nine friends. The meetings are flexible and can take place at one of the participants' homes, at the town square or at the local playground.

Bible Study Meetings

Souza explains how the meetings work: “Cristhiny chooses the Bible story she wants to share. We look it up in the Bible and study the story together. She shares a little of what she already knows, and I summarize it. Then, we do a group activity on the topic.” This process not only allows Cristhiny to deeply engage with the Bible stories, but also teaches her how to articulate and share her faith in a creative and engaging way.

Glades Mendes is the coordinator of the Children’s Ministry in the region and expresses her joy at seeing a young woman so committed to the Christian mission. She highlights the importance of involving children in missionary work: “I am very happy to see children and young people getting involved in the mission of taking the word of God to other people and thus speeding up the return of Jesus. Our children are the new generation; we need to teach them, encourage them and give them opportunities to help in the church,” she says.

Cristhiny Souza with Glades Mendes, leader of the Children's Ministry

The family lives in Vila das Capivaras, where they are the only Adventists. This makes Cristhiny’s commitment even more meaningful, as she is not only sharing her faith with her friends, but also representing the Adventist community in an area where the church’s presence is limited. “I like to talk about Jesus to my little friends, I like the time I tell stories and sing praises,” she shares.

Cristhiny’s story is a powerful reminder that faith and love can be lived authentically from a young age. Her determination and passion to share the gospel are a testament to the positive influence children can have on the lives of their peers and the community around them.