South American Division

In Brazil, Adventist volunteers ride horses to deliver literature to isolated families

The "Knights of Hope" project traveled along precarious rural roads to deliver literature to isolated families in Rio Grande do Sul.

Brazil

Willian Vieira, South American Division, and ANN
The project was resumed with a second edition in 2026 with approximately 30 volunteers.

The project was resumed with a second edition in 2026 with approximately 30 volunteers.

Poor roads, dirt tracks, and difficult access to some properties in the rural area of ​​Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil motivated Seventh-day Adventist believers to resume the "Knights of Hope" project. In its second edition, held on May 24, 2026, the initiative used mounted transport as a practical solution to overcome geographical obstacles to provide social and spiritual assistance to families residing in hard-to-reach locations where ordinary vehicles cannot travel.

To make this year's event possible, the team of about 30 volunteers organized participants into two teams. A group of 10 riders took the lead to tackle the most complex and muddy sections of the route, while another 20 members provided support from behind, distributed in four support vehicles responsible for transporting supplies, books, and personnel.

In total, the group covered a distance of 15 kilometers (about 9 miles). As they progressed through the countryside, the teams made strategic stops at each mapped property, totaling 22 homes visited. At each stop, rapport was built. The leader of the initiative introduced themself to residents, prayed with the family, handed out a missionary book, and extended an invitation to participate in a community Bible class already operating in the region.

Missionary books were taken to people's homes in the rural area of ​​Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Photo: South American Division

Israel Ribeiro, responsible for the Cruz Alta district and one of the coordinators of the initiative, said, "There is a real geographical challenge in the interior; there are places that cars simply can't reach, only horses can. That's why this project is so well thought out and structured by the brothers of the church, who understand the urgency of going where the people are. I myself started the journey on horseback to accompany the riders at critical points, and in the final stretch, I switched to driving one of the support vehicles to help transport the books and rotate the team. The focus was on this synergy to ensure that support reached every home."

The mission was considered a success as participants found the residents were open to dialogue in all the properties visited. The success of this second initiative, coupled with the positive reception from the local community, solidified the project's place in the region's humanitarian action calendar, ensuring the continuation of future expeditions.

Volunteers were able to pray with residents of the rural area and invite them to a Bible class in the region. Photo: South American Division

Israel Ribeiro contributed to the content of this article. The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.

Willian Vieira, South American Division, and ANN

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