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The South American Division is a distinct area of the world with vibrant
church members and a desire to live for Jesus.
This quarter of the South American Division has been chosen to receive your
13th Sabbath Offering.
The offering will go to help those in the countries of Brazil and Peru.
The projects focus on meeting the needs to accommodate the tremendous growth of
membership of the church in South America.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South American Division contains more
than 2 million members but there are others still searching to learn of
God's love.
The first project we will look at is located in the country of Brazil.
Brazil is the largest country in South America
and the 5th largest country in the world.
It is a land of diversity, with everything from beautiful beaches, to
the Amazon Rainforest,
to some of the world's largest and well-known cities.
On the outskirts of the capital city of Brasilia lies one of the projects that
you're offering will help support.
Central Brazil Adventist Academy has operated for 25 years now and
has brought many youth to know Jesus.
One of these youth is a young girl named Daniella.
Before attending this school, Daniela was afraid to share her faith with others.
She did not feel God's presence in her life.
Since she began attending this school,
Daniela has gained an understanding of what God wants for her life.
Now she is not afraid to say she is a Seventh-day Adventist.
The structure and teachers at the school have contributed to her spiritual growth.
They have taught her
that God is her friend.
"I learned that God is the
only way people should follow.
The only true path.
I feel this is the right thing to do;
what everybody should do."
Daniela is just one example of how Central Brazil Adventist Academy has
impacted its students.
But there is a great need for a church on this campus.
They need a place where the whole student body and faculty can gather to worship.
Your 13th Sabbath offering will go to help with the construction of a
church on this campus
so students like Daniela will be able to worship with others in Brazil.
Bordering Brazil is the country of Peru.
Here, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is touching lives throughout the country.
Peru is a country rich with culture and life.
It is home to a variety of beautiful landscapes.
This quarter's 13th Sabbath offering projects will focus on some of Peru's
beautiful coastal cities.
In the small town of Huanchaco,
Eva Sanchez has been working hard to build a congregation of
Seventh-day Adventists
that did not exist
when she moved here more than 12 years ago.
Her attitude of reaching out to her community has had a great impact on
those around her. The people in the Huanchaco community were searching for
something but didn't know where to look,
until they met Eva. Eva visits
people in their homes, spending quality time
with each person individually.
She studies the Bible with those who are willing
and develops lasting relationships with those she reaches out to.
Eva has been a witness to her community and has brought many people to know the
Lord.
"I share the gospel
because I am thankful
to God because
Jesus touched my heart
and I really feel the power of Jesus.
I want to continue to share the gospel."
The congregation in Huanchaco has grown to about 50 members. The space
they currently meet in is old and confining. The members here desperately
need a church building to worship in.
A portion of your 13th Sabbath offering will go to help build a church here
so the members in Huanchaco can have a space to worship and bring others
to know the Lord.
The capital city of Peru is Lima.
Like Huanchaco, it is on the Pacific coast of Peru.
Lima is home to a man named Felipe.
Felipe has dedicated his life to sharing the love of Jesus with others.
He knows that God's plans can come from the most unexpected places.
He learned of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
because of a hat.
Felipe was searching for God but didn't know how to find Him.
Felipe liked hats so he purchased a random hat one day and wore it proudly
to work.
Felipe was unaware of the significance of the Seventh-day Adventist logo
on the hat.
"In my work, people asked me if I knew the meaning of the cap
and I said no.
They asked me if I was an Adventist
and I said no, I am not an Adventist."
Felipe was curious about what being an Adventist meant,
so he went seeking a Seventh-day Adventist Church.
By chance, Felipe asked an orange juice vender on the street if he knew about an
Adventist Church in the area.
The vendor replied by telling him that he was an Adventist.
The two men talked a bit and went to church together the next week.
Since that day,
Felipe has found his home
in the church.
"My life is not only complete. It is more than that.
When I ask God something, he gives me everything that I ask of Him so
now I help other people to know about the word of God."
Others in Lima
are searching the way Felipe was once searching.
A portion of your 13th Sabbath offering will go to help construct the
Sembrando Esperanza Church.
This church will be strategically placed in Lima for Global Mission evangelism.
It will help bring lives to Jesus
and provide a a place of worship for
more of the people in Lima.
God can use any situation to share His Grace with those open to accepting it.
Here in South America
people are eager to learn about the God who loves them.
These are just a few examples of how the South American Division is growing
and the challenges they face.
Please pray for the people in South America.
Pray that those working in their own communities will touch lives.
And thank you for your faithful support of the mission of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
around the world.
To learn more about missions please visit AdventistMission.org