Davinasser Santana de Matos lives in the city of São Francisco, in the interior of Minas Gerais. At the age of 16, due to a relationship, he stopped attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church and “got lost in life”.

“I went to the world and did everything: drugs; I went to the worst companies I can have; I was arrested many times; suffered a lot and caused a lot of suffering to my parents. They loved me and never stopped praying for me”, underlines Davinasser.

Son of Ariene Santana and Afonso de Matos, two pioneers of the Adventist message in this riverside city, Davinasser grew up in the Adventist Church. He became active, serving as youth director and secretary for missionary work. His father contributed to the evangelization of hundreds of people in the municipality and region.

Davinasser used to accompany his father in proclaiming the message of hope, on horseback or a bicycle, until God gave them their first car. “Several churches were built through my father, who invested time, money, and even manpower. He was a builder, a very well-known and renowned construction master,” recalls Davinasser.

With a feeling of sadness but, at the same time, hope, Davinasser tells of his parents, whom he lost a few years ago, but he keeps in his heart their advice and the certainty of meeting them again at Jesus' return. He never forgot the Adventist Church, and whenever he could, he prayed to God for mercy and strength to return.

Message to the Heart

When Davinasser was arrested, someone presented him with a Bible. He became attached to her and studied every day. Reading the Bible brought peace to his heart. “I felt more nurtured by studying the Holy Scriptures. On the back cover of the Bible, I wrote a prayer that I titled ‘Prayer of an Inmate’. In this prayer, I exposed my situation as a repentant sinner. I asked God for forgiveness for everything I had done, and I promised that when I got out of jail, I would have a different life. I wrote that I would no longer be involved in the life of crime. I started to work honestly, but I didn't want to go back to the church”, adds Davinasser.

The years have passed. Back in São Francisco, Davinasser began to live a more moderate life. He returned to attend the Adventist Church again, along with his daughters, Kefane and Agatha, 10 and 12 years old, respectively.

“I felt like returning to the arms of my Lord Jesus Christ, but I lacked the decision. That's when Pastor Marcello Fernandes came into my life and brought me to the reality of things. It drew my attention to the moment that we are all living due to the pandemic, and that I should make up my mind soon. The visit was essential for my return”, Davinasser assures.

With emotion, Davinasser describes the words of Pastor Fernandes, who leads the pastoral district in São Francisco: "I am not going to schedule your baptism for the end of the year; I am going to schedule your baptism for the next month, May 15, a Sabbath."

Return

According to Pastor Fernandes, the pastoral visit brings joy to the family. He stresses it is only during the visit that it is possible to better understand the reality and need of the people. “With the decision, we had a good feeling that cannot be explained. I ask God to always help us to save one more for the kingdom of heaven. For me and my family, accompanying [Davinasser] and his daughters and helping them to be closer to Christ is an honor”, he points out.

Davinasser was baptized Sabbath morning, May 15, at the Caravan of Hope, an evangelism campaign that resulted in another 63 baptisms in the region. There are 64 stories of lives transformed by the message of salvation in the pastoral district of São Francisco.

“[I was baptized] in a convicted manner. The decision is a very important thing, but the preparation is daily. I am happy because my parents died in Christ and I will meet them again on the morning of the resurrection. I always believed that God had a plan for my life. Christ today is my only reason for living. I am happy because my daughters are receiving a Bible study, and [on] June 20, they will [enter] the waters [of baptism, by the grace of God”, Davinasser expresses.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site