To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, January 17.

By Hyacinthe Santino

Théodore lives on the tropical island of Lifou. It is a part of the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. Théodore is from a small tribal village and is the youngest of twelve children born into a large, loving Christian home.

From a young age, Théodore attended church and followed religious traditions. Still, as he grew into his teenage years, something changed. The pleasures of the world and the influence of friends began to pull him in a different direction. During high school, he started making choices that he knew were wrong in God’s eyes. Théodore dropped out in his second year and slowly slipped deeper into a life of addiction.

He began smoking cigarettes and cannabis and drinking alcohol. What started as curiosity soon turned into a lifestyle. His days were filled with worldly pleasures, and his nights were clouded by regret. The more he tried to fill the emptiness in his heart, the more lost he felt.

Deep inside, Théodore knew something was missing.

As an adult, he joined a small worship group. He wasn’t sure what he was searching for, but he knew he needed something more than what the world was offering. He had trusted people, but they had let him down. Now, he wanted to try trusting God.

One Sunday after church, Théodore asked around for a Bible. It took a while, but he finally found one and began to read it on his own. At first, he didn’t fully understand what he was reading, but something kept pulling him back to the pages. He wanted to know more about Jesus.

The more he read, the more he searched. He began talking about Jesus with others, even though it wasn’t always welcome. One day, a teacher badly beat him for asking questions about the Bible, but even that didn’t stop him. At home, he kept reading God’s Word, seeking truth.

Then, one day, something unexpected happened. A family member who was a Seventh-day Adventist invited Théodore to attend a series of evangelistic meetings.

Théodore chose to go, and the decision changed his life.

During the meetings, he heard messages straight from the Bible—clear, powerful, and full of love. He learned about Jesus as a personal Savior, not just a distant figure from childhood. He also discovered the truth about the Sabbath and began keeping it as a holy day of rest, just as the Bible taught.

Théodore felt the Holy Spirit working in his heart, calling him to leave behind his old life and follow Jesus completely. With the support of kind pastors and church members, he decided to give his life fully to God.

On June 19, 2019, he was baptized. It was a day of freedom.

But the journey didn’t end there. Years of addiction had taken a toll on Théodore’s body and mind. He was still in treatment, still walking the path of healing. Yet, something was different now— Théodore wasn’t walking alone.

God had not only freed him from his addictions, but He had also forgiven him. He had broken the chains that held him for so long. What once seemed impossible had become reality. “All these things are impossible for man,” he says, “but possible with God.”

Today, the young man who once depended on drugs now depends on the Word of God. He reads his Bible every day, and his greatest joy is sharing the Good News with others, especially those who are going through the same struggles he once faced.

His life has a new direction. His heart has a new purpose. And his motto says it all: “Trust in God.”

Thank you for your faithful Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, which will have an eternal impact on the lives of people like Théodore. Your generous offering will help build a center of influence in Wallis, which will help Adventists build bridges of understanding and friendship with people in the New Caledonia Mission territory.