“I would be dead by now because I tried to kill myself multiple times. I couldn’t think of the future. I just thought of the present and what was tormenting me and how I would kill myself.”

Deeply depressed, Consuelo abandoned her belief in God. She tried to start over, enrolling in nursing school and wanting to do something different with her life. But her past weighed on her wherever she went. After class one day, a professor noticed something was wrong and told her about the local Urban Center of Influence.

Consuelo visited the center, where she met Michelley and Angy, Adventist volunteers with the One Year in Mission program. She enjoyed talking with them and decided to take a Portuguese course offered here. Over time, Consuelo became friends with the volunteers.

“In what I saw, how they acted, what they said, and everything they did, I felt the presence of God in everyone. In the Adventist volunteers who are here, I saw this.”

Each time she returned to the center, she felt as if her deep wounds were being healed.

“They welcomed me with open arms. I found another family here, another home here.”

The volunteers began talking to her about God, and it was the first time in a while Consuelo felt ready to talk about spiritual topics. She asked for a Bible study, where she gradually developed a new understanding of and relationship with God.

“It helped me in every way to be here. I saw the love of God, the grace of God that I hadn’t seen anywhere else. I found myself growing closer and closer to God, believing in Him, and having more faith in Him during the time I was here.”

Since then, Consuelo was baptized and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She now volunteers her time at the center, doing medical consultations for free.

Like Consuelo, there are many who are looking for community and love. But most people are too suspicious of religion to seek these things in a traditional church.

“Many people come to this place with a vision. Maybe a little distrusting because they don’t really know what we will ask for afterwards. But when they see a different environment, where there is only empathy, love, and friendship, they completely change their vision. They are very grateful and bring more people to participate.”

By surveying the community, the Adventists learned what people in the area were interested in. The center runs various classes and activities for the community, including Portuguese and English lessons, healthy cooking demonstrations, crafts, and a variety of exercise classes.

“We’ve seen the effect of Christ’s method on people’s lives because we see a community today open to the Adventist Church that was not easy to reach in the past. Because when you have your religion, you guard your world, and you don’t want anyone to invade your life. The centers of influence are breaking down barriers, not just here, but we are meeting them at home with their families, and that’s where we can apply Christ’s method.”

Through genuine care for the people, this center has touched the hearts of many in the community. The results have exceeded the volunteer’s expectations.

“We’ve seen how this ministry isn’t just good for the community, it’s also good for the churches. It’s reviving the Adventist members. We’ve had a revival within the church.”

Please pray for Urban Centers of Influence like this. Pray that through friendship and compassion, people will see a glimpse of Jesus’ love. Thank you for helping us transform lives through your gifts to Global Mission projects like these!