Jesus' command described in Matthew 28 is that all Christians are to make disciples, but what does this mean? In the day-to-day life of the church, it is common for the pastor to be considered the main person responsible for mobilizing actions, projects, and evangelistic activities. However, the missionary statistics of the first half of 2022 indicate significant involvement of the members.
The mission of making disciples is for everyone, and Cleber Acels' story exemplifies exactly that. At the age of 12, he wanted to be baptized but met resistance from his family. At 15, with their consent, he was able to make the decision that changed his life.
This teenager was a member of an Adventist church in Planaltina, Goiás, when he was welcomed by a group of Bible teachers. There he learned how to teach the Bible to other people. Since then, thirty-four years have passed. In the last ten, this mission has become a catalyst in his life.
"The secret is prayer," Acels says. "I started asking God to send me people who wanted to study the Bible." And the request was answered. He estimates that he has given more than 80 studies. In one of these cases, the student was a man who, at the end of the lessons, did not decide to be baptized. Acels was frustrated by this. Years later, while preaching in a church, a young woman approached him and asked if he remembered her. When he said no, she told him something surprising.
"She told me that while I was giving studies to the young man, she stayed behind the door, listening to everything," Acels recalls. That, to him, was surprising—certainly, a sample of the surprises he hopes to find in heaven.
Discipleship in Practice
Now Acels goes over the experience he had. One of the families to whom he taught the Bible and was baptized now studies with others so they can make the same decision. This is discipleship. Today, 158,778 people have been giving Bible studies since January 2022 in eight South American countries.
These instructors are helping 373,021 people interested in learning more about Jesus and His teachings, as well as the three angels’ messages. With that said, there are many different formats and possibilities for teaching the Bible, from traditional face-to-face study to digital media.
Eliezio received Bible studies from Cleber and now also teaches the Bible. (Photo: Personal Archive)
Because of the availability and involvement of so many people in preaching, 106,046 people were baptized this year in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
There are also those who dedicate their lives exclusively for this purpose. In this first semester alone, 296 people were sent to the mission fields through Adventist Volunteer Service. Of these, 186 serve here in South America, and 110 are spread throughout various countries around the world.
According to the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual (p. 151), all the money returned to God should be directed exclusively to missionary purposes so that there is an expansion of the preaching of the gospel. It is to maintain this work that the resources coming from the tithe exist.
Pastor Stanley Arco, president of the Adventist Church in South America, highlights that "seeing people mobilizing to teach the Bible reinforces the mission of the church, which is to tell about the return of Jesus to all peoples, languages, and nations." He also reinforces the importance of the involvement of all Adventists in missionary work, using their diverse talents and gifts.