The Central Seventh-day Adventist Church of Campos dos Goytacazes hosted a public supper outreach on December 6, 2025. Organized as part of the Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) Christmas Outreach program, the initiative served 80 people in the square and reached an additional 12 people on nearby streets who could not leave their belongings or resting places.

Organizers arranged tables with tablecloths, place settings, and floral arrangements, and served a full meal with dessert and juice. Live music was provided by the Wagner Choir.

Love that overflows

Fernando Nunes, ASA coordinator at the Central Adventist Church and organizer of the initiative, said the project was designed to combine practical assistance with personal connection.

“We felt God's love so intensely that it is impossible to contain it in our hearts. We want to overflow, to love, to live the essence of the gospel: good news of salvation for all, without distinction!”, stated Nunes.

He further highlighted the spiritual and social impact of the initiative.

“We believe that Matthew 25:40 teaches us that when we do it to one of the least of these, we do it to Jesus himself. 'Least of these' refers to anyone who is vulnerable. And we believe that when we do it to the least of these, we are not doing it as if it were Jesus: we are doing it to Jesus himself. Therefore, such initiatives contribute to restoring the image and likeness of God in those people who are marginalized in our society.”

Local pastor Moisés Souza Vasconcelos, district ASA coordinator, said the action reflected the local church’s understanding of discipleship and community service.

“For the church in Campos, this action is the result of a very clear understanding of what Christ desires to accomplish through us when He commissions us as His disciples. It demonstrates that the church, revived by the Holy Spirit, goes out to witness to the love of Christ and extend His invitation to all people,” he stated.

According to Vasconcelos, the outreach was also part of local preparation for Caleb Mission evangelism, scheduled for late January 2026. He said multiple Adventist church ministries worked together on the initiative, including ASA, Sabbath School, Personal Ministries, Evangelism, and Women’s Ministries, with support from other departments.

Organizers reported that ASA volunteers conducted two outreach visits prior to December 6. During the first visit, volunteers distributed snack kits. On November 29, they provided hamburgers, juice, and french fries. Nunes said the visits helped build familiarity and trust amongst the local community ahead of the public event.

"These prior approaches were fundamental in creating a bond, building trust, and showing that the church was there not only to deliver food, but to be with them, listen, and offer support," emphasized Nunes.

Volunteer perspective

Hugo Pereira, a lawyer and church elder who volunteered at the event, said the level of care shown in the setup stood out to him. He described the experience as similar to being served in a restaurant, noting that volunteers sat and spoke with guests during the meal.

“What struck me most during the dinner was the sensitivity and attention each person seated at the table received. It was prepared like a real restaurant: tables with tablecloths, decorated plates, flower arrangements, a full dinner with dessert and juice. It was as if they were truly in an open-air restaurant in the square,” Pereira recounted.

He emphasized that the greatest gift wasn't the food.

“When we sat down—because I served and sat with them—I realized that the greatest gift there was the attention. It was them feeling invited to a party by someone, and the person who invited them was there sitting, interacting and reciprocating along with them. That was extraordinary. They didn't ask for seconds, but when you sat down to talk, they had so much to say… it seemed like there was so much accumulated content that they needed to catch up on.”

For Hugo, the event represented Christmas in its true essence.

“If Jesus had been physically present that day, he would have been sitting at the table with all those people, conversing, meeting their needs, listening, interacting, smiling. Sometimes we need to leave the four walls and face the demands that He faced and satisfied. That is what this action represents in this public space: the church being relevant in the city, being relevant to those who need it most, being the cure for those who truly need a bandage,” he said.

Regional context and ongoing projects

Patrick Rangel, ASA leader for the northern regions of Rio de Janeiro, said the Christmas Outreach program takes place annually between October and December and is intended to mobilize churches for community-focused service. He said the program often includes donations of food and hygiene items, and may involve partnerships with local businesses and institutions.

“We work with official forms, where we can secure partnerships and donations in markets. In various institutions, we can collect donations to help needy individuals, families, and organizations, such as rehabilitation centers for former drug addicts, nursing homes, and orphanages,” he said.

Rangel also noted that, beyond emergency assistance, ASA initiatives in the region can include free workshops and short courses intended to support income generation, such as sewing, crafts, cooking, and haircutting.

“ASA is more than just giving and donating; it creates opportunities for people to restart their lives and find a path, a meaning for their existence, preparing themselves for eternal life,” said Rangel.

Multiplied impact

The Central Adventist Church of Campos dos Goytacazes reported a strong community response connected to the outreach. Organizers said the church collected 5,474 kilograms (about 5.4 tons) of food for families assisted by Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA) and for institutions mapped for support. They highlighted the Constellations Pathfinder Club for collecting 1,841 kilograms, and noted the food drive was scheduled to continue through December 13.

For the public-square supper itself, organizers said 90 volunteers participated, serving 80 people in São Salvador Square and another 12 on nearby streets. They also reported that the event included live music by the Wagner Choir, a shared time of praise, support from AMM Brazil (Adventist Motorcycle Ministry), and authorization from the Municipal Tourism Secretariat.

Plans for 2026

Nunes said the church intends to continue outreach to people experiencing homelessness in 2026 through monthly initiatives, with an emphasis on sustained contact and support.

About Adventist Solidarity Action (ASA)

ASA is the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s community service ministry, focused on humanitarian assistance, community development, and dignity-centered support. The Christmas Outreach program is one of its annual campaigns.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.