Cascavel Adventist Academy inaugurated the first Missions Agency of a day school in Paraná, Brazil, on July 24. The space, called "Missionary Identity," integrates Adventist education and the mission proposal of the institution and aims to prepare students for missionary experiences before going to the field, strengthening their commitment to volunteering.

The ceremony brought together representatives from the West Paraná Conference (AOP), Cascavel Adventist Academy, and students who have already participated in missionary projects sponsored by the Marco Zero project, an initiative involving students in disseminating biblical stories and the development of Christian values.

For Pablo Moleros, assistant to the Adventist Volunteer Service (AVS) in southern Brazil, the partnership is strategic. "The school, together with the AVS, is a partner to prepare and train new missionaries, thinking not only about the present but also about the future. A mission room is precisely that: an agency for preparing and integrating new generations into the world mission field," Moleros explained.

The agency's proposal stems from student experience. Students Lívia Machado and Jordana Bunhak, both 17 years old and in their third year of high school, have already participated in missionary activities through the Marco Zero project and recount how these experiences have influenced their lives.

During a mission in Paraguay, Machado participated in a visit to an indigenous village. One of her most memorable moments happened with a boy who received a box of crayons and didn't know what to do with them. "A colleague and I went to him and taught him what they were for. I believe we were used by God and the Holy Spirit at that moment. We helped the child draw, like a heart and the sun," Machado recounted.

"If you have the opportunity and resources to invest, it's very worthwhile. Every minute we spend there is special and impactful. And seeing the happiness of others makes us happy too," she added.

For Bunhak, the new agency will allow students to arrive at missions better prepared. "The expectation is that we can participate in volunteering much more prepared. That we have experiences here, in our region, before taking this message to other places," she emphasized.

She also talked about the personal impact of missionary experiences. "The mission changed my life. Each experience I lived through shaped me in a different way, to live this experience with God more fully. We go thinking we're going to bless people, but I realize that we are being blessed even more."

Gabriel Beirão, pastoral coordinator for Cascavel Adventist Academy, explains that missionary activities were already part of the institution's routine, but the new room expands on this purpose. "The idea is to create a personalized environment with its own identity. The goal is to prepare and train students, with training sessions, language classes, and knowledge about the culture of the places they will go, so that they are better prepared when sent to the field," he emphasized.

The initiative also reinforces the partnership between Adventist Education and AVS to encourage student involvement in mission. According to Evandro Sabino, secretary of AOP and leader of AVS in the region, the proposal is linked to the formation of a missionary identity among students.

"The room's title says it all: Missionary Identity. We want to form good citizens through Adventist Education, people who have mission in their hearts," stated Sabino. He emphasized that the space represents the purpose of forming students who understand mission as part of their journey and their formation.

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