In Brussels, Belgium, a Portuguese fashion consultant named Ana Luisa rediscovered faith after visiting a warm, welcoming Portuguese‑speaking Adventist church plant. Through friendship, prayer, and the ministry of Global Mission, she found belonging, hope, and a renewed relationship with Jesus.
Ana Luisa never went to church. She didn’t read her Bible. And she didn’t pray.
She had done these things as a small girl in Portugal, but that felt like a lifetime ago. For the past 18 years, Ana Luisa had worked as a fashion consultant in Brussels, Belgium. She was busy and successful, but deep down, she felt empty and alone.
Then, one day, someone invited her to visit a new Portuguese-speaking church plant. The shy businesswoman hesitated but finally said yes.
The church plant had been launched by Ricardo Pereira, a missionary from Brazil who had come to Brussels to pastor a Portuguese-speaking congregation. But Ricardo soon realized that a large segment of the city was being overlooked—post-Christian people such as Ana Luisa. He felt a burden to reach them with the Adventist message. He partnered with the Global Mission Center for Secular and Post-Christian Mission to understand their needs and spiritual questions.
When Ana Luisa walked into the church plant for the first time, she was overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome she received.
“I’ve never seen that anywhere,” she says. “I felt so much love from the people. They held me and gave me food. It was exceptional. I don’t know how to explain it—I was deeply moved.”
Since that day, Ana Luisa’s life has been transformed.
“She loves what we’re doing at the church,” says Ricardo. “She’s made friends and has become part of a big, loving family.”
Ana Luisa agrees.
“I no longer feel lonely,” she says, “and I’ve started praying—for the first time since I was a child.”
Ana Luisa has committed her heart to Jesus and is now preparing for baptism. And she’s not alone—others like her have also come to know the love of Jesus through this church plant.
Looking to the future, the church plans to start an English-speaking congregation with the help of the Global Mission Center for Secular and Post-Christian Mission. We invite you to pray for this growing mission. Please pray for Ana Luisa, the Global Mission Center’s efforts, and the thousands of people in Brussels who don’t yet know Jesus.
As we face these challenges, let’s remember that they’re God’s challenges, too. He has a plan, and He’s invited us to be part of it.
