Silvana Reis is dedicated to saving lives and coordinates blood donation campaigns at a blood center in Manaus, Amazonas. When she learned that a group from the Adventist Church planned to donate blood on the same day as her scheduled campaign, she reached out to them to offer support and coordinate a joint effort. This led to her discovery of the Vida por Vidas project.
Both groups donated blood at an Adventist church, and Reis enjoyed the partnership so much that she continued coordinating campaigns with young people in the denomination. Over time, she started attending the Adventist Church, receiving Bible studies, and was baptized in 2020.
Reis began coordinating the Vida por Vidas project campaigns in the central region of Amazonas. Meetings and activities were held at her house, and her husband Valter Baía, who had previously refused invitations to go to church, became interested in the Adventist message due to the influence of the youth group. Eventually, he agreed to study the Bible and also decided to be baptized.
His baptism was witnessed in person by around 20,000 people on the opening night of the Maranata Youth Convention on May 29, 2024, at the BRB Mané Garrincha Arena in Brasília. Baía expressed that his baptism was his best decision and a turning point in his life, bringing him immense happiness and emotional fulfillment.
Reis, who prayed for almost six years for her husband's transformation, expressed her gratitude and happiness, emphasizing that everything happens in God's time. She felt honored, and her faith was further strengthened by the experience.
From the Volleyball Court to the Baptismal Tank
On June 1, Denilson Barbosa was baptized at the BRB Mané Garrincha Arena, just like Baía. His decision was influenced by friends he plays volleyball with, who introduced him to the Adventist Church. Barbosa lives in Rio Preto da Eva, Amazonas, where members of an Adventist church wanted to reach out to young people in the community. However, due to opposition from neighborhood factions, their initial project was not allowed. Instead, they started a volleyball group near the church, attracting many young people, including Barbosa. He was invited to participate in the Easter program and, as a result, started studying the Bible.
Transformed Life
After battling alcohol addiction for eight years and being influenced by negative influences, he felt a significant change after encountering God. According to Barbosa's brother-in-law, Leandro Souza, he now appears to be a completely different person. "I can confidently say that he has been transformed, all to the honor and glory of God. I'm overjoyed by his decision and the opportunity for it to come true in Maranata. I thank God and this wonderful ministry that young Adventists have established to reach people for the Kingdom of God," says Souza.
Denilson believes that everything that has happened in his life has a divine purpose. Now baptized, he hopes to inspire other young people to have the same transformative experience that he has had. "I am thrilled to have been baptized at such a significant event like the Youth Convention. I feel that God has called me for a mission, and that's why I want to share His word with people who feel they are beyond salvation," he concludes.
The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese website.
