Volunteers with the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Sergipe Mission went to the streets of Santa Luzia do Itanhy, Sergipe, Brazil, to deliver copies of the book The Great Controversy. The action took place on March 24, 2023 in the city with no Adventist presence. The book was delivered in eight South American countries on April 1, 2023 as part of the Hope Impact campaign.

For Beatriz Xavier, one of the participants, the movement provided a special, remarkable morning for her and her co-workers. "Despite not having an Adventist presence in the city, we were very well received! People came to us with great affection, and everyone received the books and Bibles with love. We certainly planted hope in their hearts," she says.

On the occasion, 1,000 copies of The Great Controversy, 1,000 children's magazines, and 1,000 Bibles were distributed in partnership with the Brazil Bible Society. According to the director of the Sergipe Mission Publishing Department, Pastor Vitelmo Vieira, each house in the city received the Word of God and a missionary book of the year. "Being with the office team in this city with no Adventist presence warmed even more the heart for the mission. Knowing that there are still people who need to know Jesus drives and motivates us to continue the Lord's work," he highlights.

"It was a blessing to be in Santa Luzia do Itanhy to already have a glimpse of how it will be on April 1, the day when all members will be on the streets delivering a book to each home. For sure, many families will be reached through this literature," says Pastor Reginaldo Pereira, president of the Sergipe Mission, reflecting on the March 24 effort. In the whole state of Sergipe, 205,000 copies of The Great Controversy were distributed.

Public Evangelism

On Sunday, March 26, the city received a health fair with medical attention, blood pressure screenings, glycemia tests, and the exhibition of the eight natural remedies. In the evening, a soup kitchen was offered to the community, and afterwards, residents attended lectures on healthy lifestyle and the Bible, which began the public evangelism that will take place over the next few weeks. "Our intention is that soon we will have a beautiful church in Santa Luzia do Itanhy," says Pastor Vieira.

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