South American Division

Amazonia Adventist College Faculty Distributes Books in Prisons

Amazonia Adventist College distributed more than 20 thousand books to bring hope to those in custody.

April 11, 2024

Brazil

Alinic Teles

The book brings knowledge that provides peace and strength for the journey of life without fear of the future [Photo: Ricardo Ribeiro]

The Amazonia Adventist College (Faculdade Adventista da Amazônia - FAAMA) participated in the Impact Hope (Impacto Esperança) project and distributed books in prison units in the city of Belém, Brazil. Between the years 2023 and 2024, FAAMA reached a total of 18 prisons and distributed more than 20 thousand The Great Controversy books.

This annual mission project involves the pastors, college students, high school, boarding school, and the entire community of the FAAMA Adventist Church. "In partnership with the Federation of Adventist Entrepreneurs of Pará, FAAMA is fulfilling the mission of bringing the Gospel of Jesus, this hope that saves and redeems," declared Júnior Prudêncio, general director of the educational institution.

Hope Beyond Bars

Moments of prayer and biblical messages brought hope to those in custody. (Photo: Handerson Borges)

In 2024, the Custody and Reinsertion Unit in Ananindeua, the metropolitan region of the capital of Pará, in Brazil, was one of those that received the missionaries. In gratitude for the project and the book, the custodians sang. "Raise my voice just to say I am free,", they sang, moving everyone.

In addition, the prison visits included the sharing of biblical messages and moments of prayer. The project currently continues and other visits will be made in April. FAAMA will distribute books in seven custody units and two maximum security prisons located in the city of Santa Isabel, still in the metropolitan region of Belém.

As Josué de Almeida, pastor of the FAAMA Adventist Church, explained, "In the prison system, people are sometimes forgotten. But now they are being remembered and, through the book, they will certainly also remember that there is a God who offers a much greater liberation for them."

Impact in Benevides

In addition to delivering the book, young people from FAAMA surprised the population with social actions [Photo: Ricardo Ribeiro]

The FAAMA community also distributed books to the population of Benevides, in Pará, the municipality where FAAMA is located. The mobilization took place on the streets, T traffic signs, and at local businesses.

The young people living in boarding schools, university students, and members of the FAAMA Adventist Church surprised local community members with creative initiatives to let them kno that they are special to God. They provided face painting, dinners, free hugs, and other actions such as car washing.

Each activity had a unique purpose. "In the goal of hope we said: Jesus is rooting for you; at dinner, the message was: God has an appointment with you, get ready! When we wash the car as a surprise, we talk about God's goodness and grace. We always continue with the spiritual focus, which included the delivery of the book and a prayer with people", explained Andrés Gomez, youth pastor at FAAMA.

These projects will also continue beyond the Hope Impact project, as part of the ministries developed by FAAMA young people. Other initiatives like this will be carried out every month in nearby communities. The objective is to continue involving young people in the mission.