On April 5, 2025, the city of Canoas, one of the communities hardest hit by last year’s devastating floods in southern Brazil, became the site of a major public outreach led by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The event, part of the Impacto Esperança (Impact Hope) initiative, combined literature distribution with free health services, musical performances, and messages of encouragement for a population still grappling with loss and recovery.
Held at Getúlio Vargas Municipal Park, a busy location across from a popular shopping mall, the event featured stage performances by artists from Novo Tempo and Ventania record labels, along with regional choirs and musicians.
Volunteers stationed throughout the area distributed copies of A Chave da Virada (The Key to the Turnaround), the 2025 Impacto Esperança book, which focuses on emotional well-being, an especially relevant theme for flood survivors still facing displacement and economic hardship.
“This year’s book could not have come at a better time,” said Jefferson Machado, evangelist for the Adventist Church in central Rio Grande do Sul. “Many are still without homes or jobs. They lost everything—businesses, livelihoods—and haven’t been able to rebuild. This message on emotional health speaks directly to their reality.”
Honoring Local Heroes
During the program, local volunteers who played key roles in flood response efforts were publicly honored by Ação Solidária Adventista (Adventist Solidarity Action, ASA).
Among them was Godoy, who used a jet ski, alongside his two sons, to rescue more than 400 people. He also helped distribute drinking water and mattresses to displaced residents. ASA leaders from southern Brazil and the central Rio Grande do Sul region, pastors Fábio Correa and Evandro Silva, coordinated the tribute.
The Canoas Adventist School also played a vital role during the height of the crisis, opening its doors as a shelter and distribution center for medical care, food, and clothing, many of which were donated from across the country.
A Message of Hope
The event featured a special Easter message from Marlinton Lopes, president of the Adventist Church in southern Brazil, followed by a concert titled Show da Esperança (Show of Hope). Performances included the Nosso Amiguinho (Our Little Friend) children’s group, choirs from the Adventist churches of Sarandi and Iguatemi, and student groups from the Canoas Adventist School.
Renowned Adventist artists, including Melissa Barcelos, Luiz Cláudio, Matheus Rizzo, Dilson Castro, Regina Mota, and the trio Cordão de Três, also performed. The musical finale featured a mass choir, composed of singers and the audience, singing A Ele a Glória To Him Be the Glory) and Eu Clamo Cristo (I Speak Jesus).
“This program not only encouraged our members but also helped us connect more deeply with the broader community,” said Ilson Geisler, president of the Adventist Church in central Rio Grande do Sul. “It reminded people that our hope is in Jesus, and we were able to demonstrate that in a very visible way, right in the heart of the city.”
A Personal Impact
For attendees like Isabeli Flores from the city of Feliz, the event had a profound spiritual impact. A longtime listener of Rádio Novo Tempo, Flores had not attended church in over a decade. After hearing about the concert through a radio announcer, she traveled to Canoas for the event.
“It was wonderful,” she shared. “Through the music and message, I felt more than ever a desire to return to church and be closer to God.”
Following the program, she connected with a local pastor and is now planning to resume her spiritual journey. Flores said that Novo Tempo’s music and programming have also helped her cope with anxiety and depression, bringing peace and redirecting her thoughts toward God.
Most Adventist churches in the region participated in Impacto Esperança on the same day. The event also marked the beginning of Holy Week commemorations, with special programs taking place throughout the area to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and share messages of hope.
The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
