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Related topics The Five-Year Prayer Filip’s story shows how persistent prayer and Adventist education strengthened his faith, from praying for his family to attending KOMPAS, where Bible study and a caring school community became part of his everyday life.
Filip remembers what it felt like when his parents did not live together. “I stayed with my dad,” he said. “I saw my mom on weekends—sometimes.” He was still a boy when it happened. But he knew what to do. “I prayed,” Filip said. He kept praying for five years. Before that, he had heard many sermons at church. His mother had taught him that God listens. So even when things felt confusing and sad, Filip kept going to Sabbath School. He kept praying. And then something changed. “My parents are back together now,” he said quietly. “It has been three or four years.” Filip believes God answered his prayer. And even though sometimes God doesn’t answer in just the way we would like, we know that in the end we can always trust Him to do what is best. Today Filip is in grade 8 at the KOMPAS Adventist Primary School in Poland. But getting there was another answer to prayer. He did not always attend this school. For a time, he went to a public school near his home. His mother hoped he could attend the Adventist school, but it was a 40-minute drive each way. His father was not sure at first. “I prayed about it for one year,” Filip said. Then his father agreed. Now Filip has been at KOMPAS since grade 6. What does he like most? “P.E.,” he said quickly. “Football and volleyball.” He also likes the hot lunches. But when he compares this school to public school, he becomes more thoughtful. “In public school there were more students, so there were more friends,” he explained. “But here the teachers are more kind. They are more passionate about their work.” He says people are nicer. “There isn’t swearing,” he added. “And everyone is generally kinder.” Filip especially notices the spiritual atmosphere. Every morning the class gathers for Bible time. They sit in a circle and talk about Scripture. Sometimes they discuss stories about heaven and the great controversy. “It was sad,” he said, remembering one lesson, “that Satan was first so good and powerful and then he turned so bad.” The Bible stories feel real to him. At his old school, faith was something he mostly experienced at church. Here, it is part of every day. His mother has noticed the difference. “After one year at KOMPAS, his prayers became more mature,” she said. “He began praying about things he never prayed about before.” Once, Filip had a very high fever—41 degrees Celsius (105.8°F). Many children would be happy to stay home from school. But not Filip. “He still wanted to go,” his mother said with a smile. The school is not close. The family lives 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) away. Each day, Filip’s father drives him to campus in the morning, waits while working on his computer, and drives him home in the afternoon. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes sacrifice. But for Filip, it is worth it. When asked what he hopes to do in the future, he thinks for a moment. “Maybe something useful,” he said. “And maybe I could travel.” He has already learned something important: prayer matters. Today, many more children want to attend KOMPAS. More families are choosing this special place where students pray together, study the Bible each morning, and learn in a kind and caring environment. But there is a problem—the school is running out of space. That is why part of this Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help expand the classroom space at KOMPAS Adventist School in Poland. Your offering will help build more room for children to learn about Jesus. It will help create space for more circles of students opening their Bibles each morning. It will help more boys and girls grow in faith, just like Filip. When you give this Thirteenth Sabbath, you are not just building classrooms. You are helping to build faith. Thank you for giving generously.  Story Tips · Show the continent of Europe on a map, pointing out the country of Poland. Then point out the capital city of Warsaw and explain that the KOMPAS school is in the village of Podkowa Lesna, about 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) southwest of Warsaw. · Watch short videos and download photos at facebook.com/missionquarterlies · Read more about how the school began at: bit.ly/AdventistPrimarySchoolPoland MISSION RECORD Poland is a country in Europe with about 37 million people. Among them are 6,032 Seventh-day Adventists who worship in 117 churches and 33 companies. That means there is one Adventist for every 6,228 people in Poland. Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe. More than 70 percent of the people are Catholic. Only a very small number belong to other Christian churches. The first Adventist missionaries came to Poland from Crimea. In 1893, the first church was started. During World War II, Adventist churches were closed, but in 1946, after the war ended, the churches were allowed to open again. Today, there is an Adventist college in Podkowa Leśna, a publishing house in Warsaw, and a retirement home in Bielsko-Biała. Get to know the region More Children Mission Stories Topics

Filip’s story shows how persistent prayer and Adventist education strengthened his faith, from praying for his family to attending KOMPAS, where Bible study and a caring school community became part of his everyday life.

The Five-Year Prayer

Related topics Finding the Missing Piece After his dream of becoming a professional basketball player ends, Goran searches for meaning and finds purpose in Jesus, leading him to baptism, marriage, and a growing ministry that shares Christian books and Bible studies across Croatia.
Basketball was Goran’s life. From the age of 12, he thought about it, dreamed about it, and built his identity around one goal: becoming a professional player. After high school in Croatia, that dream seemed within reach when he received a basketball scholarship to the University of Maine at Fort Kent in the United States. In northern Maine, Goran studied business management and trained intensely as part of the student-athlete program. But by his senior year, reality set in. He would not make it into the professional leagues. “With my lifelong dream crushed,” he said, “everything felt pointless.” He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and returned to Croatia, landing a job in tax consulting in Zagreb. Outwardly, he was successful. Inwardly, he was empty. “I would be in a nightclub,” he recalled, “and suddenly the thought would come: What am I doing here? This life is meaningless, too.” Goran had grown up in a good family. Around the time he became obsessed with basketball, his mother began studying the Bible with Seventh-day Adventists and was baptized. Occasionally he attended church with her. Before he left for the United States, she gave him a Bible in English. At university, he sometimes read it, especially Revelation, though he understood little. In difficult moments, he even prayed. But he never felt a personal relationship with God. Now, back in Croatia and searching for purpose, he decided to try again. “I told myself, I’ve tried everything else. The only thing left is to go back to the Bible and see about a life with God.” He began reading and praying earnestly. Wanting to find his own way rather than simply follow his mother’s path, he attended a Sunday-keeping church. But one issue troubled him. “The thorn in my eye was always the Sabbath,” he said. “From childhood, I knew what the Bible said.” When his Bible study group reached Exodus 20, he listened carefully. The explanation of the fourth commandment was brief: “Our Sabbath is now Sunday.” Then they moved on. Goran was not convinced. One night, pouring out his heart in prayer, he opened to Isaiah 58 and read about calling the Sabbath “a delight.” The words struck him deeply. The conviction became clear. He decided to visit the Zagreb 1 Seventh-day Adventist Church. He even invited his mother to come with him. “As soon as I came,” he said, “I felt my heart was at home.” He was ready for baptism, but one question remained: Ellen G. White. Around this time, he met Daniela, a young woman at church who would later become his wife. Goran shared his concerns about Ellen White’s prophetic ministry. “OK,” Daniela told him, “have your opinion. But watch just one video.” The presentation carefully explained the biblical characteristics of a prophet. It made sense. Goran began reading for himself. “The more I studied the Bible and her writings,” he said, “the more convinced I became that I was on the right path.” He was baptized at Zagreb 1. Six months later, he and Daniela were married there. “I finally found the missing piece,” he said. “I found it in Jesus.” But the story did not end there. Wanting others to experience the same joy, Goran and Daniela launched a Facebook outreach called “Giveaway Books.” They offered free copies of The Great Controversy, The Desire of Ages, and other Christian books—shipping included. The response was overwhelming. More than 10,000 books have been distributed across Croatia. As interest grew, the Trans-European Division helped expand the project, and similar initiatives began in neighboring countries. Goran and other young members of Zagreb 1 also adapted their printed Bible studies into an online course called “Bible Truth.” Thousands enrolled. One student, who had nearly abandoned his spiritual journey, is now studying to become a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. Then, in 2020, a devastating earthquake struck Zagreb. The historic Zagreb 1 sanctuary—home to so many life-changing decisions—was damaged beyond repair and had to be demolished. “It was heartbreaking,” Goran said. “But when we heard about the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering project, it gave us hope.” The building may be gone, but the mission continues. The faith of this vibrant congregation remains strong. Through social media, online Bible studies, and personal witness, they are reaching more people than ever. Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help rebuild a new sanctuary in the heart of Zagreb: a place where searching hearts like Goran’s can find the missing piece. Thank you for giving generously so others can find their home in Jesus.  Story Tips · Show the location of Croatia on a map. · Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq. · Share facts related to Croatia (see below) Mission Post · The Seventh-day Adventist message first entered the Balkan Peninsula, where Croatia is located, in 1880, when A. Seefried went to Skoplje in what is now the Republic of Macedonia. · A branch publishing house was established around 1913 in Zagreb called Zivot i zdravlje (“Life and Health”) and remained active until World War II. Fast Facts · The most popular sports in Croatia are football (soccer), basketball, handball, and water polo. · Seventeenth century Croatian mercenaries wore the first neckties. The French word for necktie, cravate , comes from the Croatian word hrvatska . · The inventor and engineer, Nikola Tesla, was born in 1856 in the village of Smiljan, in Croatia. His childhood home has been converted into a museum. · On June 25, 1991, Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia, which led to the Croatian War of Independence. Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

After his dream of becoming a professional basketball player ends, Goran searches for meaning and finds purpose in Jesus, leading him to baptism, marriage, and a growing ministry that shares Christian books and Bible studies across Croatia.

Finding the Missing Piece

Related topics God Is First, Part 1 Seven-year-old Naum courageously defends his Sabbath convictions before school officials and police despite threats to his education.
Naum had to stand up for his faith at the tender age of seven. In Yugoslavia, school was obligatory every Saturday. Although young, Naum determined to not attend school on Sabbath. After missing two Saturdays in a row, the first grader was confronted by a special commission set up to interrogate him. Coming to his classroom, the group of five officials dismissed everyone in the class except for Naum. Standing alone, the seven-year-old bravely faced the school director, two teachers, and two uniformed police officers—one of whom was the regional director of the secret police. “Why aren’t you attending school on Saturday?” the interrogator began. “Because I believe in God, and according to the fourth commandment of His law, I’m not to be in school on His Sabbath. This is why I’ll be in church every Sabbath, not in school,” Naum replied. “You’ll be expelled from school, and will have no further opportunities to receive an education!” the man glared. Naum’s response came quickly. “I’ll be in church anyway, because God is first in my life.” “So what do you do at your church?” the interrogator continued. “We read the Bible, sing songs, and pray.” “Sing us a song!” the group demanded. So, Naum sang a hymn and prayed a simple prayer, thanking the Lord for opportunities given, for health, for the government, and to direct the commission properly and honestly. Following his prayer, Naum was asked if his father had told him not to go to school. “No,” Naum answered honestly. If the answer had been “yes,” his father would have gone immediately to prison. Knowing his son could be interrogated, Naum’s father had never told him not to attend school. The commission was silent for a few moments. Then abruptly Naum was told, “You will be informed whether or not you will stay in school.” Naum hurried home to tell his parents what had happened. Not surprised, “they knew what my decision would be,” he recalls. No directive came from the commission, so Naum continued attending school, except on Sabbaths. Upon completing primary school, Naum was not allowed to continue his education because of his firm decision to keep the Sabbath. So, at age 15 he started working fulltime with his father on their farm. But God had other plans for Naum. He remembers well the day he learned that there would be a Seventh-day Adventist secondary school and college in his own country. “A brother from the Yugoslavian union came to visit my church and told us about this Adventist school that was going to be opening. We were delighted!” The school in Maruševec opened in 1969 with 45 students. “It was like a miracle to have this school!” exclaims Naum. “We were the first generation, the experimental generation. The staff read the book, Education, by Ellen G. White, and the education we received was the best!” Since the school was not then accredited, the students had to pass all 17 subject exams given by the government at the end of every school year. “It was a severe drill,” Naum recalls, “but at the end of the fourth year, we were scoring higher than the students from the State schools! We were considered to be the best school in what was then Yugoslavia.” After graduating, Naum attended university in the city of Zagreb where he studied French and Latin. Upon completion, Naum had two job offers— one from the communist government, offering him a highly desired political position with many benefits; the other a teaching position at the Adventist school in Maruševec. In speaking with the government officials, Naum said, “You know I’m an Adventist. I’ll go to church every Sabbath. Why are you inviting me for this position?” “Because we need honest people in politics; they are rare!” came the surprising response. “We need people with principles!” “Thank you,” Naum replied, “but I’ve accepted a job at the school in Maruševec.” For many years Naum faithfully served the students at Maruševec, not only by teaching them French and Latin, but eternal values. “God and salvation—these were the first things I wanted my students to learn. After that comes knowledge, and accepting the obligations in life—to take life seriously. We’re not playing at life; times are serious.” Today, with the majority of the students coming from non-Adventist, even atheistic homes, Naum sees Maruševec as even more of a mission field. “There’s a reason why our school should stay and develop,” he says. “The exceptional possibility to witness for the truth is here. How could you ever, anywhere in the world, put together 200 non-Adventists who are learning about God every evening, every Sabbath, every day?” Thank you for supporting the mission outreach in Maruševec, Croatia. Get to know the region More Inside Stories Topics

Seven-year-old Naum courageously defends his Sabbath convictions before school officials and police despite threats to his education.

God Is First, Part 1

Related topics Being a “PK” Teodor and Anastasia experience the joys and challenges of growing up as a pastor’s children in Croatia, learning through family worship, church service, Pathfinders, and everyday life to remain strong in their faith.
Teodor, 12, and his sister, Anastasia, 10 have lived in many places. They were born in Croatia. They lived in Maruševec, then Zagreb. For a time they even lived in England while their father studied. Then they moved again. And again. Why so many moves? Because their dad is a pastor. Being a pastor’s kid—a “PK”—is sometimes exciting. And sometimes it’s tiring. “Sometimes it’s fun to travel,” Teodor says. “But sometimes we need to wake up very early.” “It’s a little bit hard,” Anastasia adds. “We are in the car a lot.” Their father preaches in different churches around Croatia and even near the Austrian border. Wherever he goes, the children often go with him. And they don’t just sit quietly in the pew. They help. “We sing,” Teodor says. “We collect the offering. We pray during the service.” They’ve been singing in church since they were five and seven years old. Now they even sing in the adult choir, even though there aren’t many other children in it. At home, faith is part of everyday life. Every evening, the family studies the Bible together. They read a chapter, talk about what it means, and then each person prays. Right now, they are reading about Moses leading God’s people through the desert. “We ask what we can learn from it,” Anastasia explains. They also attend Pathfinders. They’ve participated in Bible competitions and even traveled to Budapest for the Pathfinder Bible Experience. They love Bible camp: making friends, playing games, and learning more about God. But not everything is easy. In public school, sometimes other children tease them because they are Adventists. “They didn’t like that I was Adventist,” Teodor says quietly. Anastasia was teased too. “I ignored it,” she says. “I had good friends.” Living in a country without Adventist elementary schools means they attend public schools. They stand out sometimes. Their beliefs are different. But instead of hiding their faith, they live it. They help their dad. They sing about Jesus. They serve in church. They study the Bible. They pray. And they keep going. Being a pastor’s kid means more than traveling and singing. It means learning that church is not just a building—it’s people. It’s service. It’s family. And when church buildings are damaged, like the Zagreb 1 church that was hurt in the earthquake, children still need a place to gather, sing, pray, and grow. Our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help rebuild the Zagreb 1 church in Croatia. A new church building will give children a safe place to worship, sing in choirs, study the Bible, and make friends who love Jesus. Let’s give so more boys and girls can grow up strong in faith—just like Teodor and Anastasia.  Story Tips · Show the continent of Europe on a map, pointing out the country of Croatia. Then show the capital city of Zagreb, where part of this quarter’s offering will go to help rebuild the church that was severely damaged by an earthquake. · Watch short videos and download photos at facebook.com/missionquarterlies · Ask the children how they would share Jesus with children who do not know Him yet. AMAZING COUNTRY One of Croatia’s most famous landmarks is the Pula Arena. Located in the city of Pula, this ancient Roman amphitheater was built nearly 2,000 years ago. It is the only remaining Roman amphitheater in the world with its entire circular outer wall still standing. Get to know the region More Children Mission Stories Topics

Teodor and Anastasia experience the joys and challenges of growing up as a pastor’s children in Croatia, learning through family worship, church service, Pathfinders, and everyday life to remain strong in their faith.

Being a “PK”

Related topics “Show Me the Truth” Nika’s search for spiritual truth leads her from New Age beliefs to the Bible, the Sabbath, and baptism, and today she serves children through Zagreb’s Prilaz School while helping others discover faith in God.
On weekday afternoons in Zagreb, laughter and quiet concentration fill a church library known as the “Prilaz School.” At one table sits Nika, patiently helping a child work through a difficult assignment. At another moment, she pauses and asks gently, “Shall we pray?” For up to twelve students each week, Nika is more than a tutor. She is a steady presence—someone who listens, encourages, and points young hearts toward God. One day a student’s mother was hospitalized unexpectedly. The children were worried. “Let’s pray for her,” Nika suggested. They did. Soon afterward, the mother recovered. Another child, so happy in the warm atmosphere of the program, once declared, “I want to work here when I grow up!” For Nika, moments like these are deeply meaningful. “I feel very fulfilled and very close to Jesus,” she says. “I know the Holy Spirit is leading me.” But only a few years ago, her life looked very different. Like most people in Croatia, Nika was raised in the country’s traditional religion. As a young adult, however, she began searching for something more. Her spiritual curiosity led her into New Age teachings. She even traveled to India, exploring ideas about reincarnation and participating in elaborate rituals. “But it was empty,” she recalls. “Nothing changed. I prayed, but everything stayed the same.” What troubled her most was the inconsistency. “They talked about good things,” she says, “but they were not living them.” Disillusioned and spiritually restless, Nika returned to Croatia feeling alone and without purpose. Then one day, she met an older woman who invited her to church. There she received a Bible. As she began reading, something caught her attention—the Sabbath. It seemed clear in Scripture. “Why don’t you go to church on Saturday?” she asked the pastor. “It’s not important,” he answered. “It’s only a day.” But Nika could not ignore what she was discovering. “It’s not only a day,” she thought. She began praying: “Show me the truth.” While searching online, Nika came across a YouTube channel addressing topics she had once wrestled with—reincarnation, creation, and the reliability of Scripture. The presentations made sense. She learned the speaker was a Seventh-day Adventist and would soon be lecturing at a local Adventist church. She decided to attend. Again, what she heard resonated deeply. Even more, the people welcomed her warmly—especially Mileta, the church librarian, who asked if she would like to enroll in the Discovery Bible Correspondence School. “I’ll do the lessons at home,” Nika replied, “and come once a week so we can talk.” For three to four hours at a time, they studied together. Mileta introduced her to the writings of Ellen White, which Nika eagerly read. Truth was unfolding—clear, biblical, consistent. When she became convicted about keeping the Sabbath, Nika made a difficult decision. She left her job and accepted night work as a security guard so she would be free during Sabbath hours. The long quiet shifts gave her time to read and reflect. Finally, she knew she had found what she had been searching for. Nika was baptized on December 16, 2023. Because the historic Zagreb 1 church building had been severely damaged in the 2020 earthquake, her baptism took place in another Adventist church. Her family attended. Her stepfather, who had long claimed to be an atheist, told her afterward, “You are in the right place.” Just weeks later, he passed away. Nika treasures those words and continues praying for her mother and brothers. Six months after her baptism, an unexpected opportunity came. The church’s Prilaz School, an after-school tutoring outreach begun during the pandemic, needed help, and Nika gladly responded to the need. The program, supported by the Trans-European Division and the Croatian Conference, was designed to serve families overwhelmed by academic and social pressures. Now, Nika helps children with homework—and gently introduces them to the God who changed her life. She also drives a taxi part-time. In her car, she keeps copies of Steps to Christ and health magazines, praying each day that God will send someone who is searching. “Show me the truth,” she once prayed. Now she helps others find it. Today, the members of Zagreb 1 continue meeting in temporary spaces while they look forward to rebuilding their church home—severely damaged in the 2020 earthquake. But while they wait, the mission continues. Through outreach projects like the Prilaz School, lives are being changed. Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help provide a new church building in Zagreb—a place where worship, Bible study, children’s programs, and community outreach can flourish again. It will be a spiritual home not only for members, but for seekers like Nika who are praying, “Show me the truth.”  Story Tips · Show the location of Croatia on a map. · Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq. · Share facts related to Croatia (see below) Fast Facts · The official name of Croatia is the Republic of Croatia. · The capital city of Croatia is Zagreb in the north of the country. · Croatian is the official language of Croatia. · The Euro is the currency of Croatia. · Croatia’s coastline contains more than a thousand islands, only 48 of which are inhabited. · The Pula Arena, in Pula, Croatia, is an ancient Roman amphitheater and is the only one in the world where the whole circular wall is still intact. Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

Nika’s search for spiritual truth leads her from New Age beliefs to the Bible, the Sabbath, and baptism, and today she serves children through Zagreb’s Prilaz School while helping others discover faith in God.

“Show Me the Truth”

Related topics A School for Berta A teacher follows what she believes is God’s leading to serve at Poland’s Adventist school, changing both her life and her son’s.
Berta was excited when she heard that the first Seventh-day Adventist church school had opened in Poland. She was a highly qualified teacher and was looking for work. She would love to teach children at a Seventh-day Adventist school. But there was a problem. The Adventist school was located near Poland’s capital, Warsaw, far away from her home in Krakow. “This is not the job for me,” Berta thought, sadly. Then a friend unexpectedly started talking to her about the Seventh-day Adventist school. “Maybe you could apply to teach there,” the friend said. “No, it’s too far away,” Berta replied. It seemed more realistic to look for work in Krakow. Then another friend told her about the Adventist school. “I heard about this Adventist school,” the friend said. “Maybe you would like to apply to be a teacher there.” After the second friend mentioned the school, Berta wondered whether God might be trying to tell her something about becoming a teacher there. She prayed, “God, what should I do? Should I stay in Krakow, or go to the school?” Berta decided to apply for two teaching jobs— at the public school in Krakow and at the Seventh-day Adventist school outside Warsaw. “I will go to the first school that replies to my job application,” she prayed. “God, I will interpret it as Your will.” The Adventist school was the first to write back. “Thank you for your interest in the teaching position,” the reply said. “Please come in for a job interview.” Then Berta got worried. She had a 16-year-old son named Jacob. His school and friends were in Krakow. Would he be willing to move to another place? Berta prayed again. She decided to give Jacob the option of staying with a relative in Krakow or going with her to the new school. Jacob didn’t hesitate. “Mother, let’s make the move together,” the boy said. “I want to be with you.” Berta was surprised and pleased. For her, his words seemed like the latest indication that God was guiding her path. She took the job. Today, Berta is the principal of the Seventh-day Adventist elementary school, which is located on the grounds of the Adventist Church’s seminary outside Warsaw. She has no doubt that God led her to the school. And her son affirmed she had made the right decision. He said he had not had any Adventist friends in Krakow and had not been interested in church activities. But now he has many Adventist friends and is active in the church. “Mom, you made a good decision in coming here,” he said. “I’m so glad that we are here.” Berta said she wouldn’t have it any other way. God brought her to the school, and she is happy. “That’s why I am here,” she says. Thank you for your Sabbath School mission offerings that help support Seventh-day Adventist education in Poland and around the world. Get to know the region More Inside Stories Topics

A teacher follows what she believes is God’s leading to serve at Poland’s Adventist school, changing both her life and her son’s.

A School for Berta

Related topics “Change My Life” Mikael’s journey from addiction, isolation, and spiritual struggle to surrender and ministry reveals how God transformed his life and led him to help launch Oikos House, a growing Adventist church plant in Helsinki.
“If You exist, change my life.” It was a simple prayer from a discouraged teenager who felt trapped in habits he couldn’t break. Mikael grew up in a Christian home in Finland, a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist on his father’s side. His mother discovered the Adventist faith through evangelistic meetings shortly after marrying Mikael’s father. When she later learned she was pregnant, she made a quiet promise to God: I will dedicate this child for Your service. As a small child, Mikael sensed that dedication without fully understanding it. He remembers pretending to be a pastor at age three, holding “home church” services in his living room. He was baptized at 11 and felt sensitive to God’s leading. But soon after, his family moved to rural Finland, where the Adventist church was small and Mikael felt isolated—both as a believer and as part of an ethnic minority. Wanting desperately to belong, he began smoking, drinking, and partying during his early teen years. Weekends were filled with alcohol, and Sabbaths sometimes found him sitting in the back of church with a hangover. He never stopped believing in God, but he felt torn between faith and the pull of the world. Adventist summer camps became a lifeline. Each year, Mikael felt drawn back to God—but once he returned to school, willpower alone wasn’t enough to change his habits. By age 15, his struggle reached its darkest point. “I made choices I deeply regretted,” he recalled. “It felt like a spiritual battle.” At one camp, Mikael listened as a visiting speaker shared his testimony of transformation. Sitting in the back row, Mikael thought, When I’m 25, I’ll get my life together. Even then, beneath the confusion, he sensed a quiet calling—a purpose he couldn’t fully explain but couldn’t escape either. The turning point came not through self-discipline, but surrender. Late one night, after another weekend of partying, Mikael looked at his reflection at a train station and asked himself, Who am I becoming? Back in his dorm room, he prayed honestly: “God, I love this lifestyle. I don’t even want to change. But if You want to, You have my permission.” Not long after, he prayed again: “If You exist, change my life.” God answered—not with dramatic emotion, but with quiet transformation. Mikael found himself longing for something different. He stopped his bad habits and began spending time with friends who took faith seriously. One evening, after praying with them, he felt no rush of emotion—yet everything changed. “I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “But I was never the same again.” Soon after, God began stretching him in unexpected ways. One Sabbath afternoon, while bored and wandering through a shopping mall, Mikael felt impressed to speak to strangers about God. Though he felt unqualified, he obeyed. As he spoke, faith that once felt distant suddenly became real. “It was like God was teaching me as I spoke,” he said. That experience marked the beginning of a journey into ministry. After high school, Mikael joined a mission training program in Australia. There, a dream began to form: planting a church back home in Finland. In 2019, he contacted church leaders and joined early planning efforts for a new ministry in Helsinki. Then came 2020. The pandemic halted plans, separated Mikael from his girlfriend overseas, drained his finances, and plunged him into deep discouragement. Sleep-deprived and isolated, he questioned why God would give him such hope only to take it away. Yet even in that season, God was quietly at work. That summer, a small team formed. Then a house became available with less than a month’s notice. By August 2020, the doors of Oikos House opened. What began as a fragile step of faith has grown into a vibrant Seventh-day Adventist church plant. Each Sabbath, young adults gather in the home for Bible study, worship, shared meals, and fellowship. People come from many backgrounds, over 30 nationalities, creating a warm, welcoming space where faith feels real. Over the past six years, hundreds have passed through Oikos House. Many have chosen baptism. Others have grown deeper in faith and stepped into leadership. Young people once searching for belonging have found a spiritual family. Mikael sees God’s hand clearly now. Today, Oikos House is outgrowing its space. The dream is bigger now: to plant another church and raise up a new generation of young leaders who will serve across Finland and beyond. This quarter, part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help support future church plants branching off of the Oikos House—places where faith is lived around the table, prayers are honest, and lives are changed.  Story Tips · Show the location of Helsinki, Finland on a map · Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq · Share facts related to Finland (see below) Fast Facts · The brown bear is the national animal of Finland. The national bird is the swan, the national flower is the lily-of-the-valley, and the national tree is the silver birch. · There are more than 168,000 lakes in Finland and 179,000 islands. · Lapland is the largest and furthest-north region in Finland and is partly in the Arctic Circle. The Finnish name for Lapland is “ Lappi ” and in Swedish it is “ Lappland. ” · Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country for the last seven years. · There are around 3 million saunas in Finland: that is one sauna for every two Finns. · The colors of the Finnish flag represent the blue of the lakes and white of the snow.  Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

Mikael’s journey from addiction, isolation, and spiritual struggle to surrender and ministry reveals how God transformed his life and led him to help launch Oikos House, a growing Adventist church plant in Helsinki.

“Change My Life”

Related topics One Gospel, many urban accents: rethinking mission in the world’s cities New resources and mission experiences highlight the need for approaches shaped by the people and communities of each city.
Seventh-day Adventist mission in the world’s cities cannot rely on a single model or approach, Manuel Arteaga told members of the General Conference (GC) Executive Committee on October 11, calling on church leaders to listen more closely to the communities they hope to reach. Arteaga, director of the Globla Mission Center for Urban Mission (CFUM) at the GC, presented his report on the third day of Annual Council, highlighting lessons from urban mission projects around the world and outlining new initiatives designed to connect, inspire, and equip urban missionaries and church planters. “There’s no such thing as ‘the city,’” Arteaga said. “We have cities, and they’re diverse, and they’re different, and each one of them has a different context.” Urban mission, he added, requires the church “to learn how to speak to each and every one of these contexts.” Drawing on the experience of Pentecost, Arteaga said the early church did not expect people to learn its language first. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, the church learned to speak theirs. That principle, he said, shapes the work of CFUM, one of six Global Mission Centers supporting the church in sharing the gospel across diverse cultural and religious contexts. Rather than exporting a single urban mission model worldwide, the center works with divisions to develop approaches suited to individual cities. “There is one gospel that we proclaim. We know that we have one mission as a church,” Arteaga said. But reaching diverse cities, he added, requires the church to speak in “many urban accents.” Listening to cities During the past year, CFUM leaders visited several regions to listen, learn, and develop mission approaches alongside local leaders. Those conversations centered on a key question: “What are our cities saying?” Arteaga said effective urban church planting must go beyond simply establishing churches in cities or for cities. Congregations, he said, should be “doing life with the city,” understanding their communities and building bridges with the people who live there. The center also worked with church leaders to develop contextualized mission initiatives for priority cities and to produce Urban Life in the Word , a new Bible study resource designed to explore biblical prophecy from an urban perspective. The resource is part of a broader series of Bible studies developed collaboratively by the six Global Mission Centers to reach people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. The studies include materials designed for Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, urban, and secular audiences. Plans call for the studies to be made available online through Adventist World Radio ’s Global Bible School. Online training designed to help members and mission workers use them will also be available. Divisions will also be able to localize materials for their own cultural and mission contexts, in collaboration with the Global Mission Centers. “We don’t have the answer,” Arteaga said of CFUM’s role. “We are here to make sure that we come alongside you to discern faithful answers together,” including asking what the Holy Spirit is already doing in cities around the world. Mission taking different forms Arteaga illustrated that approach with experiences from recent visits to Japan and cities in Taiwan, where he saw mission taking different forms according to the opportunities within each community. In Tokyo, Japan, Adventists are using hospitality, house churches, and urban centers of influence to connect with people in one of the world’s highly secular cities. One house church began during the COVID-19 pandemic after a woman facing a cancer diagnosis began worshiping at home with her children. One Sabbath, a neighborhood boy knocked on the door and asked if he could join. He returned with friends, and the group continued to grow. Arteaga said about 20 young adults now regularly gather for worship in her home. In Taiwan, Arteaga met a businessman whose encounter with Jesus changed the way he used his time and resources. An apartment purchased with money his mother had saved for retirement became a place of worship in his community. To connect with neighbors, he began playing the ukulele and writing songs based on their stories. “What we see in him is someone who is faithfully using his time and his talents to reach people for Jesus Christ,” he said. Another experience came from a Korean pastor serving in Taiwan who initially tried to reach students at a nearby university but encountered restrictions on proselytizing. Interest in Korean culture eventually provided another way to connect. Students approached the pastor to learn Korean, and those relationships developed into a language club. Arteaga said the ministry has since expanded, creating opportunities to connect with students and share the gospel. Finding the next urban missionaries The experiences led Arteaga to turn his attention to people who may already have ideas for reaching their cities but need encouragement and support to move forward. “How many more potential missionaries?” he asked. “How many more young adults are staying awake at night, imagining this church plant that they believe [in]?” Arteaga outlined plans for a new global initiative centered on what he called “Dreamers,” designed to connect people with a vision for urban mission. Plans include a video series featuring missionaries, urban centers of influence, church plants, and house churches from across the world, allowing their experiences to be shared in one place. “A space where ‘Dreamers’ inspire ‘Dreamers’ to do mission,” Arteaga said. “A space where realized mission awakens new mission. A space where someone’s mission breakthrough becomes someone else’s mission beginning.” The center also plans to launch the Dreamers Academy, an online space where those interested in starting an urban mission initiative can learn the steps involved and receive coaching. A Dreamers Playbook and stories featuring church planters, Urban Center of Influence pioneers, house church leaders, and other urban missionaries are also planned. Arteaga closed his report by returning to the idea that reaching cities requires the church to understand and speak to their different contexts. “The city may not speak our language, but the Holy Spirit teaches us to speak theirs,” he said. “One name. One gospel. One voice. And we will do so in many urban accents.” This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

New resources and mission experiences highlight the need for approaches shaped by the people and communities of each city.

One Gospel, many urban accents: rethinking mission in the world’s cities

Related topics Global Mission Centers introduce new Bible studies for diverse communities Six new Bible study guides designed to share faith across cultures and religions.
In response to frequent requests for contextualized Bible study resources, the Seventh-day Adventist Church ’s six Global Mission Centers have developed six new study guides adaptable to local communities. ChanMin Chung, director of the Global Mission Centers, introduced the resources on October 11, during the 2026 Annual Council. These adaptable studies will provide church members and frontline workers with resources to share their faith with people from different traditions, including those who express interest through digital media. Chung explained that the centers focus on three mission windows: urban populations, secular and post-Christian communities, and the 10/40 Window. “Jesus is for everyone,” Chung emphasized. “We are not talking about headcounts or numbers. We are talking about people who need to know Jesus. That is why our six Global Mission Centers exist.” Bible studies for different audiences The new Bible studies are designed to help Adventist members and frontline workers share biblical teachings with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds. Recognizing that traditional approaches may not resonate with every audience, the guides introduce Scripture through familiar concepts and questions, providing a foundation that can be adapted to the unique needs of local communities. Among the guides introduced was Prophecies of the Coming Messiah , a 12-part Bible study series developed by the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations. Recognizing that many Muslims honor Jesus and want to learn more about Him, the studies explore Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment in Jesus' life. “Our goal is to equip Adventists to use these 12 Bible studies with their Muslim friends to explore the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and how they were fulfilled in the life of Jesus,” explained Petras Badahaur, director of the Global Mission Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations. “The studies encourage respectful conversation and careful reading of Scripture within relationships of trust and friendship.” The Global Mission Center for Urban Ministry also developed another study, Urban Life in the Word , to connect biblical teachings with the experiences of people living in cities. The lessons explore the same gospel message and biblical prophecies found in traditional Adventist Bible studies, but approach them through the realities and questions of urban life. “The intention is more than gaining biblical knowledge. The hope is that every encounter with Scripture will lead to a deeper relationship with the God who is love,” explained Manny Arteaga, director of the Global Mission Center for Urban Ministry. “At its heart is a simple yet transformative invitation: to fall in love with a God who knows us fully and loves us deeply.” Making the resources available The new Bible studies will be distributed to division leaders and mission directors, who will work with the Global Mission Centers to adapt the materials for their respective communities. Chung emphasized that the initial printed copies are intended for review and discussion rather than immediate public distribution, allowing local leaders to recommend changes before the studies are shared more broadly. Beyond the printed guides, the Global Bible School will make the studies available. Video versions are being developed to accommodate different learning preferences, allowing individuals to watch or listen to the lessons. To help members use these resources, the Global Mission Centers are preparing online training courses through the Adventist Learning Community . Chung also highlighted existing courses on the platform that help Adventists build friendships with people of other faiths. Following the presentation, church leaders joined in prayer to dedicate the new resources to God. The studies are expected to give Adventist members additional tools to share Jesus with people in their communities. This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

Six new Bible study guides designed to share faith across cultures and religions.

Global Mission Centers introduce new Bible studies for diverse communities

Related topics ‘Mission Refocus’ stories challenge Adventist leaders to go where the need Is greatest Annual Council program highlights the need for more missionaries in underserved communities.
Seventh-day Adventist leaders on the second day of Annual Council set aside votes, reports and other agenda items Friday evening, October 9, for worship and reflection on what it means to answer God’s call to mission. More than 440 church leaders from around the world, gathered at the General Conference (GC) headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, heard firsthand accounts of faith, sacrifice, and service from missionaries serving in communities where sharing the gospel often begins with building trust, forming friendships, and finding new ways to connect with people. Their experiences, woven throughout the evening with music, Scripture readings, and interactive moments, offered a glimpse into Mission Refocus, the church’s effort to send more missionaries and resources to places where the Adventist presence is limited or nonexistent. The initiative emphasizes the 10/40 Window, major urban areas, and secular and post-Christian societies. The testimonies also reflected this year’s Annual Council theme, “Called for Mission,” through the experiences of missionaries serving across cultures and far from familiar surroundings. “Tonight is a special program centered on the stories and lives of those who have been sent through Mission Refocus,” said Rick McEdward, executive secretary of the GC, as he welcomed leaders. A mission that changed her Among the missionaries featured was Katie Davis, who spent nine months as a student missionary in Cambodia through the Andrews University student mission program. Davis served at an Adventist center of influence where language and music classes, a vegetarian restaurant, and other activities are designed to build relationships within the community. She said she quickly discovered that sharing her faith in Cambodia required a different approach. “My mission changed to be representing Jesus through my actions, my words, and my daily behavior, and completely relying on the Holy Spirit every single day,” Davis said. During her nine months there, Davis said she used her social work training to conduct mental health workshops in villages, help children develop social-emotional skills, form friendships that led to Bible studies, and help a Cambodian teenager prepare for studies abroad. But Davis told leaders that one of the greatest transformations took place in her own life. “My mission experience wasn't about what I wanted to give to my people, but it was the very tool that God used to disciple me, to break my assumptions, and to build my faith,” she said. Now pursuing a master’s degree in community and international development, Davis challenged church leaders to give young people opportunities to serve now. “When you give us, young people, the trust, the opportunity, and the space to go serve, whether that’s across the world in Cambodia or right here locally in our communities, God does incredible things in our hearts.” Building relationships in a post-Christian community For one missionary family serving in a highly secular, post-Christian setting, church planting has centered on building friendships and trust. By creating opportunities for meaningful connections, they have opened the way for people who might not initially connect with a traditional church to explore questions about life and faith. Those connections have gradually opened the way for deeper spiritual conversations. One participant who identified as an atheist began studying the Bible and attending Sabbath worship, while another who had described himself as agnostic expressed a desire to give God another chance. A Bible study group has since taken shape and is being developed as the foundation for a new congregation and a model for reaching other post-Christian communities. That experience reflects a broader challenge across the Trans-European Division (TED). Robert Csizmadia, the division’s executive secretary, pointed to its largest mission field, home to some 65 million people and nearly one-third of the division’s population, where there is roughly one Adventist for every 82,000 non-Adventists. In a region increasingly shaped by secular and post-Christian cultures, Csizmadia said reaching people requires new approaches to mission, describing TED as a “mission lab” for finding new ways to connect with those communities. “We want to be partners in mission,” he said. “We would like to accept you into our mission field. And we would like to support you in your mission field.” An alarm clock for mission Throughout the evening, the sound and image of an alarm clock reinforced a sense of urgency. Bible passages including Romans 13:11-12, John 9:4, Luke 10:2, Matthew 25:13, and Matthew 28:19-20 were used to point leaders toward the urgency of reaching people who have yet to hear the gospel. “These Bible verses are meant to be alarm clocks to awaken us in mission,” said Justin Kim, editor of Adventist Review . Kim then turned that reflection toward the audience, inviting leaders to use their phones for an interactive word cloud. They responded to questions about where they had served, where mission workers are most needed, and what mission needs most. Countries and regions from around the world appeared on the screen, while “workers,” “Holy Spirit,” “love,” and “prayer” emerged among the needs identified for mission. Kim also challenged leaders to consider what they were willing to surrender for mission, calling them to “reconsecrate” and “recalibrate” their lives with a greater burden for other cultures, countries, and peoples. Crossing the barriers McEdward returned to that urgency in his closing appeal, tracing the biblical call to take God's blessings to the nations and challenging leaders not to allow geographic, ethnic, linguistic, or religious barriers to limit the church's mission. “God's people are called to cross barriers for the gospel,” he said. “It's not for adventure that we go. It's not for some kind of extra stamp on our passport that we go.” He also pointed to the relationship between Mission Refocus and OneVoice27 , the church’s worldwide digital evangelism initiative. Digital tools can carry the gospel into new places, he said, but the church also needs people on the ground who can build relationships with those reached through technology. The connection reflected the church’s broader emphasis on being “Integrated for Mission,” bringing missionaries, members, leaders, and initiatives together in a shared effort to reach people beyond the church’s current presence. McEdward challenged leaders to ensure that OneVoice27 extends to languages and populations where the Adventist Church has little or no representation. “Make sure we're doing something for the groups, ethnic groups, and languages which we have no representation in the church,” he said. Pointing to missionaries who had left familiar surroundings and, in some cases, significant security to serve elsewhere, McEdward stressed the need for more workers. “Can we have more? Can we send more like them?” he asked. “Can we see this world have more shining lights like them?” But he emphasized that the responsibility extends beyond those who are sent. Drawing from God's call to Abraham to bless the nations, McEdward reminded leaders of their own place in that mission: “You also are part of the solution to bring God's blessings to the nations The evening closed with a prayer by GC president Erton Köhler, who thanked missionaries for their service and called leaders to renewed commitment. “Keep the mission alive through us,” he prayed. “Help us to be always focused on the mission in everything we do to prepare this world for the second coming of Jesus.” This article was provided by the ANN . Get to know the region More Stories Topics

Annual Council program highlights the need for more missionaries in underserved communities.

‘Mission Refocus’ stories challenge Adventist leaders to go where the need Is greatest

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