From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

7dh1763952342639.jpg

fsE1763952331941.jpg

CC71763952320315.jpg

qVm1763952302958.jpg

Related topics Brave for Jesus Fourteen-year-old Lucjica grows in faith through the influence of her grandparents and courageously shares her Adventist beliefs with classmates, showing how young people can stand confidently for Jesus.
When Lucjica was a baby, her grandparents carried her to church. Now she is 14 years old and she walks into church on her own, holding tightly to the faith they helped plant in her heart. Lucjica lives with her mother in Croatia. Her mother believes in God but does not attend church regularly. But every Sabbath since she was six years old, Lucjica has gone to church with her grandmother and grandfather. “My grandma teaches me everything about Jesus,” Lucjica says. “She shows me how to live healthy, how to choose good things to watch, how to follow God’s rules.” Her grandmother reads from the Bible and from Ellen G. White’s books. Since she was just two years old, Lucjica has listened to Bible stories. One of her favorites is Queen Esther—the brave young woman who stood up for her people. Lucjica has learned to be brave too. Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She says she feels safe when she prays. She prays about school grades. She prays about problems at home. She prays when she feels unsure. And God answers. At church she loves Sabbath School. She is in the 5th–8th grade class. They study the Bible, pray together, and learn to forgive, to be kind, and not to judge others. “It’s very necessary,” she says. “Especially for the mental health of kids.” She also loves Pathfinders. They meet on Sundays: sometimes at church, sometimes in the park. She enjoys camping, being outdoors, and spending time with her friends. But one of the bravest moments of her life didn’t happen at church. It happened at school. Lucjica is the only Seventh-day Adventist in her class. All 22 of her classmates are from another religion. One day, she was talking with her teacher about her beliefs. She explained what Adventists believe about the Sabbath, about praying directly to God, and about healthy food choices. Instead of criticizing her, the teacher surprised her. “Would you like to make a presentation to the class about your religion?” the teacher asked. Lucjica agreed. She wasn’t afraid. “God stood by me,” she says simply. In her presentation, she explained why Adventists don’t eat pork. She showed what the Bible says about the Sabbath. She explained that Adventists don’t pray to saints but speak directly to God. Her classmates were quiet. They listened carefully. Many of them had never heard these things before. When she finished, her teacher gave her two “A’s” for her work. But more important than the grades was something else: courage. “It’s rare for young people here to know much about the Bible,” she says. “So, I want to share my beliefs with everyone.” Lucjica knows that being different can be hard. “You don’t always have real friends at school,” she admits. “So, we learn to be brave. We [friends at church] stick together.” Her faith is not loud or proud in a showy way. It is steady. It is grounded. It is taught by a grandmother who loves Jesus deeply—and by a God who answers prayer. This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help rebuild the Zagreb 1 Seventh-day Adventist Church in Croatia after it was severely damaged by an earthquake. A new church building will give children and young people like Lucjica a safe place to worship, learn, pray, and grow strong in their faith. Let’s give generously so more boys and girls can be brave for Jesus.  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 · For children’s Bible studies, resources, and more, visit: children.adventist.org MISSION RECORD Croatia has 40 Seventh-day Adventist churches and 2,389 members. With a population of 3,851,000 people, that means there is one Adventist for every 1,612 people in the country. Most people in Croatia are Christians—nearly 90 percent of the population. About 80 percent are Catholic, 3 percent are Orthodox, and about 5 percent belong to other Christian churches. A little more than 10 percent of the population say they have no religion or belong to another faith. The Adventist Church has had a publishing work in Croatia for more than 100 years. Around 1913, a small publishing house called Život i zdravlje (“Life and Health”) was started in Zagreb, the capital city. It continued its work until World War II. After Croatia became independent in the early 1990s, the Znaci Vremena (“Signs of the Times”) branch in Zagreb later became today’s Croatian Publishing House. Croatia is also home to Adriatic Union College and the Adventist Secondary School in Maruševec, where young people can learn and grow in their faith. Get to know the region More Children Mission Stories Topics

Fourteen-year-old Lucjica grows in faith through the influence of her grandparents and courageously shares her Adventist beliefs with classmates, showing how young people can stand confidently for Jesus.

Brave for Jesus

Related topics Week 6 - His First Invitation: “Come and See” Jesus’ first invitation, “Come and see,” reveals how His ministry began through relationship, hospitality, trust and personal encounter.
John 1:19–51 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come and see,” he said (John 1:38, 39). Jesus’ baptism and temptations introduced His public life. Having been immersed in the Jordan and endured desert trials, He emerged with clarity about who He was and how His kingdom movement would unfold—shaped by humility, obedience and solidarity. The next step was strikingly simple. Jesus invited people to be with Him. Matthew, Mark and Luke move quickly from Jesus’ temptations to John the Baptist’s imprisonment and Jesus’ return to Galilee, but John slows the story. Writing decades later, with the whole sweep of Jesus’ life in view, John deliberately opens a window into those first 18 months of ministry in Judea. His purpose is that readers see that “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” and believe (John 20:31). In this often-overlooked phase, Jesus lays the relational foundations of His movement. It is no accident that Jesus looked for His first disciples among John the Baptist’s followers. They were already awake to God, longing for renewal, and shaped by repentance and hope. When John saw Jesus walking by, he pointed away from himself and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” Authentic spiritual leadership always knows when to step aside—and two of his disciples followed Jesus, curious and unsure, yet willing to move. Jesus turned and asked a disarming question: “What do you want?” Their reply was tentative: “Rabbi, where are you staying?” And Jesus answered with His first recorded invitation: “Come and see.” It was not a lecture, a demand, nor a slogan. It was an invitation to the curious—into relationship, to experience. And they went and spent the rest of the day with Him. In that culture, this meant time—shared food, long conversations, listening, watching, asking questions. Those first disciples did not sign up to a program; they began spending time with Jesus. Something profound happened in those unrecorded hours. Lives were shaped through presence. When Andrew left, he immediately found his brother Simon Peter, saying, “We have found the Messiah (which means ‘Christ’).” He did not argue to persuade; he simply shared his experience. What John the Baptist had hinted at—the Lamb of God, the Spirit-anointed Son—had become personal. Andrew’s confidence suggests Jesus likely opened the Scriptures, connecting Moses and the prophets to Himself. The invitation to “Come and see” became conviction: “We have found . . .” This pattern is instructive. Jesus did not begin by asking for commitment; He offered hospitality. He trusted that truth, when embodied and experienced, will speak for itself. It is relational and organic: one friend invites another—curiosity leads to encounter and encounter leads to confession. John’s Gospel helps us see why this matters. Matthew presents Jesus as King, Mark as powerful Son of God, Luke as Saviour for all people. But John goes even deeper. He pulls back the curtain and tells us that this Jesus is the eternal Word through whom all things were made, the One in whom life itself resides—and that this eternal Word “became human and made his home among us” (see John 1:1–18) The God who created the universe now says to two ordinary men, “Come and see where I’m staying.” This first invitation sets the tone for everything that follows. Later, Jesus will say, “Follow me,” calling people into deeper relationship. He will invite them to fish for others, to love enemies, and to receive the Spirit for empowered witness. But it all begins here—with presence, openness and shared life. Even on the cross, Jesus continues this pattern, welcoming a dying criminal into hope, and strengthening those who watch and believe. In our systems, success demands measurable outcomes and quick results, but Jesus built His movement on the foundations of time, trust and invitation. “ Come and see” remains one of the most powerful ways to be introduced to Him—not as a concept, but as a living person encountered in shared life, conversation, Scripture and prayer. Excerpted and adapted from After 2000 Years: Reading the First Reports of the Life of Jesus by Dr Peter Roennfeldt. More Devotionals

Jesus’ first invitation, “Come and see,” reveals how His ministry began through relationship, hospitality, trust and personal encounter.

Week 6 - His First Invitation: “Come and See”

Related topics From Drug Dealer (Part 1) Marek’s life of drugs and dealing begins to change when a search for truth leads him to Jesus and The Great Controversy.
Matthew and Martin were Marek’s best friends. If a fight broke out at school, the same three teens were always to blame: Matthew, Martin, and Marek. Today, Matthew is dead; Martin spent seven years in prison; and Marek is a former drug dealer who serves as one of the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland. What happened? Marek grew up in a Christian family in southern Poland. His life fell apart at the age of 18 when his girlfriend left him. He stayed home for two weeks, lying in bed and crying. Finally, he decided to pray: “God, I want her back.” Nothing happened. Then he prayed, “God, I don’t want to wake up anymore because it’s so painful.” Still, nothing happened. Marek stopped praying and became an atheist. He started using drugs. Then his friend Martin decided to sell drugs and invited Marek to join him. Marek quickly became successful at selling and using drugs. He thought, “This is great. You have lots of money, and you get to party all the time!” Two years passed, and Marek couldn’t find anyone to join him at a big party on New Year’s Eve. Disappointed, Marek decided to visit his grandmother. That night, he found himself staring at a picture of Jesus in his grandmother’s home. He thought, “Even if I don’t believe in God, Jesus was real. He was here.” His thoughts drifted back to how he read the Bible as a boy. He remembered that the Bible depicted Jesus as a good person who treated people well. Several days later, Marek visited a woman who promised to reveal his future. She shuffled cards and warned about the end of the world. Astonished, Marek asked when the world would end. She said in exactly one year. Marek started reading the book of Revelation, hoping to learn how the world would end, but understood nothing. Turning to the gospels, he was amazed to learn that Jesus had a kingdom where people would be happy and live forever. One night, after a party, he was sitting in a car, eating takeout food with friends. Out the window he saw a bookstore called Signs of the Times. The name caught his attention. The next day, he went to the bookstore and asked, “Do you have some books about Nostradamus?” The woman behind the counter said, “No, but if you are interested in prophecy, we have The Great Controversy .” Marek bought the thick book by Ellen White and was stunned as he read the story of the Christian church from the destruction of Jerusalem to Jesus’ second coming. He double-checked what he read in the Bible and online. Everything seemed to match up. One night, as he read The Great Controversy in bed, he asked himself, “Am I gaining light from reading this book?” At that moment, the light bulb in the lamp above his head began to blink for 10, 15, 20 seconds. That was unusual, and Marek grew nervous. Suddenly, he noticed a reflection of himself in a window. All he could see was his head and the light bulb right above it. The bulb stopped sputtering and shone brightly again. The answer was clear. It was the first time in his life that he sensed God’s presence and love. He knelt and said, “God, if You are like this, I want to serve You.” Get to know the region More Inside Stories Topics

Marek’s life of drugs and dealing begins to change when a search for truth leads him to Jesus and The Great Controversy.

From Drug Dealer (Part 1)

Related topics “Just One Friend” Stranded in Finland during the pandemic, Kathy finds friendship, faith, and a new spiritual family at OIKOS House, where a simple prayer for one true friend leads her to baptism and a life of welcoming others.
When Kathy stepped off the airplane in Finland, she carried two suitcases, and a very lonely heart. Kathy had grown up in Slovakia, a country far to the south of Finland. She had come to the city of Helsinki for an internship connected to her university studies. She was excited—but also nervous. She didn’t know anyone. She didn’t even know much about Finland before she arrived. Then something unexpected happened. Because of COVID restrictions, the borders closed, and Kathy couldn’t go back home. Suddenly, the adventure didn’t feel exciting anymore. It felt scary. The winter days in Finland were long and dark. Snow covered the streets. The sun seemed to disappear. Kathy missed her family. She missed hearing her own language. Most of all, she missed having someone to talk to. “I just wanted one true friend,” she said later. One day, someone told her about a small church group that met in a house in Helsinki. It wasn’t a big church building with stained-glass windows. It was simply a home where young adults gathered to read the Bible, sing, pray, and eat together. The group was called OIKOS House. Kathy wasn’t sure what to expect. But she decided to go. When she rang the doorbell, she wondered, What if I don’t belong here? The door opened, and smiling faces welcomed her inside. That evening, people talked with her. They listened carefully. They asked about her life. They didn’t rush her or pressure her. They simply cared. Kathy kept coming back. Sometimes they played board games. Sometimes they cooked meals together. Sometimes they studied the Bible. No one forced her to believe anything. But Kathy began to notice something different about these young people. They were kind. They were patient. They seemed to truly love one another. “They loved me even when I felt broken,” she said. As winter continued, Kathy felt both lonely and hopeful at the same time. One night, she decided to try something she hadn’t done seriously before. She prayed. “God,” she whispered, “please give me one true friend.” She didn’t ask for ten friends. She didn’t ask for a big group. Just one. But God had a bigger plan. Little by little, Kathy realized something amazing. The people at OIKOS House were becoming more than friends. They were becoming family. When she felt like crying, someone sat beside her. When she felt homesick, someone invited her for dinner. When she had questions about the Bible, someone opened Scripture with her and read patiently. One evening, she read a Bible promise that said, “When you walk through deep waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). It felt as if God was speaking directly to her heart. “For the first time,” Kathy said, “I felt loved by God.” Her simple prayer for one friend had been answered in a surprising way. God had given her a whole church family. In May 2021, as the weather grew warmer and the ice melted, Kathy made an important decision. She chose to be baptized. In a beautiful Finnish lake, surrounded by her new church family, she gave her life to Jesus. It was one of the happiest days of her life. Today, Kathy still lives in Helsinki. She helps welcome other young people who come through the doors of OIKOS House. She knows what it feels like to be new. She knows what it feels like to be lonely. And she wants others to find the same love she found. “I prayed for one true friend,” she says with a smile. “God gave me a family.” Across Finland, many young people are searching for friendship and hope—just like Kathy was. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help OIKOS House grow and start new home church groups, so even more people can find a place where they belong. Your offering can help someone far away discover that they are never alone, because God is always listening to even the simplest prayer.  Story Tips · Show the continent of Europe on a map, and then the countries of Slovakia and Finland. · Watch a short video of the OIKOS House and download photos at facebook.com/missionquarterlies · Visit the OIKOS House on Instagram at instagram.com/the.oikoshouse/ MISSION RECORD The very first Seventh-day Adventist in Finland was a sea captain named A. F. Lundqvist. In 1885, while his ship was docked in Liverpool, England, Captain Lundqvist bought two books from a colporteur: Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith and The Great Controversy by Ellen White. As he read these books, he became convinced of the Bible truths they shared. Soon he was baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist. Captain Lundqvist remained a faithful church member until his death in 1955 at the age of 97. Today in Finland there are 58 Seventh-day Adventist churches, 9 companies, and 4,063 members. Finland has a population of 5,624,000 people—that means there is one Adventist for every 1,384 people in the country. AMAZING COUNTRY The Finnish name for Finland is Suomi . Finland’s national animal is the brown bear. Its national bird is the swan. The national flower is the lily-of-the-valley, and the national tree is the beautiful silver birch. Reindeer roam freely across the northern countryside, especially in a region called Lapland. In fact, Finland is known as “the land of a thousand lakes”—but there are more than 168,000 lakes and about 179,000 islands throughout the country. Get to know the region More Children Mission Stories Topics

Stranded in Finland during the pandemic, Kathy finds friendship, faith, and a new spiritual family at OIKOS House, where a simple prayer for one true friend leads her to baptism and a life of welcoming others.

“Just One Friend”

Related topics Week 5 -  His Baptism and Temptations Jesus began His public ministry not with power or applause, but with baptism, wilderness, and temptation. At the Jordan, His identity as God’s beloved Son was affirmed; in the desert, that identity was tested. Through both experiences, Jesus revealed the foundation of His movement: solidarity instead of status, obedience instead of shortcuts, and Spirit-led trust instead of control.
PHASE TWO: FOUNDATIONS for His faith movement For a faith movement that has grown to be the most influential of all time, the way Jesus stepped onto the public stage—to begin the second phase—still feels improbable. He was about 30. With no headlines or manifesto, He walked to the Jordan River to be baptised in its muddy waters by the desert preacher John the Baptist. Then, instead of gathering supporters, He disappeared into the wilderness east of Jerusalem for six weeks. Many times, I have led groups down through the Wadi Qelt, a jagged ravine slicing through the Judean desert between Jerusalem and Jericho. Drivers leave us on a cliff edge, to take a zigzag path down into silence and heat. Across the gorge, the Monastery of Saint George of Choziba clings to the cliff. In the 5th and 6th centuries, more than 70 such monasteries and hermit caves dotted this wilderness—a kind of desert city. For Jesus it was harsh and risky. Summer temperatures climb past 40°C (104°F). Winter nights can drop near 5°C (41°F). It was a refuge for wild animals, fugitives and fringe religious groups. Less than 20 kilometres south lay Qumran, home of the Essenes—the community associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Jesus went into this desert alone. Then, after a 40-day fast, weakened and exposed, He faced a barrage of tests aimed at His identity, allegiance and purpose. The public launch of His history-shaping movement began not with triumph but with hunger and degradation. And what followed over the next year and a half—before Jesus relocated north to Galilee after John’s arrest—formed the foundation of everything that came later. All four Gospel writers mark this transition from private life to public ministry, but the apostle John lingers on this early Judean period, as if to say: Stop. Pay attention. This is where the pattern is set. Judea, Samaria, Galilee Week 5 - His Baptism and Temptations Matthew 3:1–4:12; Mark 1:9–13; Luke 3:1–3, 21–23; 4:1–13; John 1:15–35 After his baptism . . . he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 3:16–4:1). When Jesus stepped into public view, He was not welcomed with popular applause but introduced by two unsettling experiences—baptism and temptation. These were foundational to what both Jesus and His relative John called God’s kingdom—something radically different! Jesus arrived at the Jordan River, where John was calling Israel to repentance. John’s life and message were stark: desert solitude, simple food and uncompromising words—fitting Israel’s expectations of the return of the prophet Elijah (see Malachi 4:5, 6; Matthew 11:14). Crowds desperate for spiritual cleansing were confessing their sins and stepping into the muddy river as a sign of turning back to God. When Jesus joined them, John was shocked! Why would One conceived by the creative miracle of the divine Spirit and without sin submit to a baptism meant for the guilty? He tried to talk Jesus out of it. Jesus’ response was quiet but profound: “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:14, 15, NIV). For the first time, Matthew records Jesus speaking of righteousness , a word that would shape Jesus’ entire teaching. It was not about rule-keeping or moral superiority, but faithfulness to God’s saving purpose. By entering the waters, Jesus was identifying fully with those He had come to save—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the desperate, broken and repentant. This is what righteousness is like, immersed in the mud and reeds of the Jordan, choosing solidarity over status. As He paused on the riverbank to pray, the Spirit descended as a fluttering dove upon Him, and a voice from the heavens declared, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” The silence of 30 years was broken, and Jesus heard His identity proclaimed aloud. He was God’s Son. This was later described as His anointing (see Acts 10:37, 38). He was Jesus Christ, meaning Jesus the anointed— the Messiah. His ministry and movement building would flow from this identity—empowered to bring good news, healing and freedom. The Spirit then led Him into the wilderness. The same Spirit who affirmed Him drove Him into isolation, hunger, testing—and temptation. It jars. It seems wrong! But for 40 days Jesus faced the devil’s assaults, each temptation offering a shortcut to power without obedience. Turn stones to bread—and meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. Jump from the temple—to force God’s hand and secure public acclaim. Bow down—and gain the kingdoms of the world without the cross. Each temptation was designed to undermine and cast doubt on His identity. “ If you are the Son of God . . .” the tempter mocked. Jesus responded not with spectacle or strength, but with Scripture, trusting His Father’s word. He refused to grasp, manipulate or dominate. The wilderness revealed the kind of king He would be. His kingdom is not built on appetite, presumption or control, but on trustful obedience. He was Spirit-anointed and Spirit-led. Then, after the testing, angels attended Him and He returned to the Jordan where John the Baptist declared, “Look! the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John pointed to future sacrifice and promise. He declared that Jesus is “the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” He is “the Chosen One of God,” “the Son of God.” The foundations of this movement were strangely counter-intuitive, but what began in unsettling humiliation in muddy water and a harsh desert environment was divine purpose. Jesus’ baptism and temptations uncovered the nature of the triune God—Father, Son and Spirit—fully present in our world, living in our neighborhood. With Spirit-anointing and Spirit-leading, these experiences of status reversal, even degradation, revealed Jesus’ real identity—and were foundational to His radically different movement. Excerpted and adapted from After 2000 Years: Reading the First Reports of the Life of Jesus by Dr Peter Roennfeldt. More Devotionals

Jesus began His public ministry not with power or applause, but with baptism, wilderness, and temptation. At the Jordan, His identity as God’s beloved Son was affirmed; in the desert, that identity was tested. Through both experiences, Jesus revealed the foundation of His movement: solidarity instead of status, obedience instead of shortcuts, and Spirit-led trust instead of control.

Week 5 -  His Baptism and Temptations

Related topics Celebrating Hussein’s Birthday A simple act of generosity opened the door to sharing God’s Word with a sincere seeker in the Middle East. Through prayer, friendship, and a gifted Bible, Hussein began discovering Jesus for himself.
I wish you could meet Hussein,* the security guard at the building where my wife and I live in the Middle East. From the moment we met him, we could tell that he was sincere in his faith and committed to living according to his beliefs. We liked him immediately. Over time, Hussein visited our home many times, and he invited us to his as well. We shared conversations about everyday life and, occasionally, spiritual matters. Whenever we invited him to join us in prayer, he graciously accepted. As our friendship with Hussein deepened by God’s grace, my wife and I sensed God leading us to take another step. We began praying for the right opportunity to give Hussein a Bible. One day, I noticed that Hussein seemed upset. He explained that his bicycle—his only means of transportation to work—had been stolen. He was anxious about finding a bicycle to borrow. That day, I began praying that God would provide a bicycle for my friend. Several months later, we unexpectedly received a gift of US$40. I was puzzled. It felt as though God had sent the money directly from heaven. As I prayed shortly afterward, a clear impression came to mind: Show Jesus to your friend. Buy a bicycle for Hussein. I set aside the money and began saving. But the country’s economy was worsening by the day. No matter how much money I saved, it was never enough to purchase a bicycle. I continued praying and saving and began visiting secondhand bicycle shops. I often imagined the joy of giving Hussein a bicycle for his birthday. When Hussein’s birthday arrived, my wife baked a cake, I prepared a special meal, and we invited him to our home for supper at 5:30 PM. Confident that God could still perform a miracle, I spent the afternoon searching for the bicycle we had prayed about for so long. At 5:00 PM, I returned home discouraged and empty-handed. My wife gently reminded me that God knew how much we wanted to help Hussein and how faithfully we had prayed. “He’s taking care of the situation,” she assured me. The evening was a wonderful surprise for Hussein. He was delighted and told us how grateful he was to have us in his life. We enjoyed the meal together, presented him with the birthday cake, and prayed a special blessing over him, thanking God for his life. But we still had no bicycle. The next day, while continuing my search online, I came across an advertisement for a bicycle in excellent condition at an unusually low price. The listing had been posted only 10 minutes earlier. I immediately called the owner and even gathered the courage to ask for a small discount. I was thrilled when he agreed. When I lifted the bicycle into the back of my car, I knew God had answered our prayers. With the discount, the bicycle cost exactly the amount I had saved over many months. As my wife and I admired this answer to prayer, we asked each other, “What if we give Hussein a Bible along with the bicycle?” We wrapped the Bible we had purchased months earlier, wrote a card, and prayed for the right moment to present both gifts. I carefully planned what to say. I knew Hussein would appreciate the bicycle. I hoped he would receive the Bible with the same enthusiasm. Indescribable Joy When we arrived at Hussein’s door with the bicycle, he was overwhelmed with emotion. But nothing prepared me for the expression on his face when he gently held the Bible and carefully turned its pages. He was amazed. He was delighted. And I’m not sure who was happier—Hussein or me. After two years of friendship, I was finally able to give my friend the gift I had prayed about the most. My joy was indescribable. A few days later, Hussein invited me to his home for tea. When I arrived, I found him reading the book of Genesis. His eyes sparkled as he told me that he had never read the Creation story before. I knew we had much to discuss, and I prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide our conversation. That evening, we talked about heaven, death, and God’s promises. I shared several meaningful Bible verses with him. As we spoke, Hussein continued turning the pages of his Bible. He seemed completely absorbed in God’s Word. Sensing God’s prompting, I asked whether he would like to study the Bible together. My heart leapt when Hussein eagerly accepted. That very week, we began studying Scripture together. God has been working in both our lives as we grow closer to Him and to each other. My heart is filled with gratitude. I stand in awe of the privilege of sharing God’s love with Hussein. I’m thankful for my wife’s faith-filled support and for the friends who prayed with us throughout this journey. Most of all, I thank God for providing the money for the bicycle, for giving us the courage to share His Word, and for leading a sincere seeker to discover the joy of learning about Him for the very first time. * Name has been changed  Every dollar given to Global Mission goes directly to frontline mission work, reaching remote villages and overflowing cities where millions of people are waiting to hear about Jesus. Three Ways to Give Mail — In the US: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission, SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East, Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8 Online — GMsda.org/Give4 Phone — 800-648-5824 Transform Lives, One Month at a Time: Join Our Recurring Donor Family! Please remember Global Mission in your will and trusts. Visit Global-Mission.org/PlannedGiving or call 800-648-5824.  More Stories Topics

A simple act of generosity opened the door to sharing God’s Word with a sincere seeker in the Middle East. Through prayer, friendship, and a gifted Bible, Hussein began discovering Jesus for himself.

Celebrating Hussein’s Birthday

Related topics Healing the Landowner’s Daughter A landowner’s young daughter was healed after a Global Mission pioneer prayed with her and shared God’s Word. The miracle opened the family’s heart to Jesus, leading the father to accept Christ as his Savior.
In 2021, the Lord sent me to a region in South Asia where the local people cultivate the surrounding plains and hills. One day, I met the man who owned much of this land. We talked, and that one conversation soon turned into a friendship. He invited me to his home, where I met his wife and seven-year-old daughter, and in turn, I invited him to mine. During one conversation, I noticed that my new friend seemed troubled. He told me that his little girl was very ill. Worried about her health, he had taken her to the village doctor and then to a magician, who told him to sacrifice a hen. Although he did everything they instructed, nothing he tried worked. Finally, he came to me and shared his fear and pain, wondering whether I could help. I agreed to do what I could and went to his house with my companions. When we arrived, we found his daughter lying in her bed, weak and listless. Gathering around her, we read the Bible aloud and prayed for God to heal her. During the next few days, we visited several more times, hoping she would get better. One day after our visit, I asked the landowner to let us know whether his daughter’s condition improved. He called soon after our departure and told us his little girl was feeling better. She was even hungry and eating. By God’s grace, she had been healed. The miracle of his daughter’s healing opened my friend’s heart to learning more about Jesus. As we studied the Bible together, he chose to accept Him as his personal Savior. Please pray for my fellow Global Mission pioneers and me as we bring God’s love to our people around the world.  Every dollar given to Global Mission goes directly to frontline mission work, reaching remote villages and overflowing cities where millions of people are waiting to hear about Jesus. Three Ways to Give Mail — In the US: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission, SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East, Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8 Online — GMsda.org/Give4 Phone — 800-648-5824 Transform Lives, One Month at a Time: Join Our Recurring Donor Family! Please remember Global Mission in your will and trusts. Visit Global-Mission.org/PlannedGiving or call 800-648-5824.  More Stories Topics

A landowner’s young daughter was healed after a Global Mission pioneer prayed with her and shared God’s Word. The miracle opened the family’s heart to Jesus, leading the father to accept Christ as his Savior.

Healing the Landowner’s Daughter

Related topics Principal to Two Parents In Macea, Romania, the principal of a Seventh‑day Adventist school helped prevent a family from divorcing by offering biblical counsel, encouragement, and steady support. Through patience, prayer, and practical guidance, Antonio’s parents reconciled, found work, and eventually began attending church—strengthening both their home and their faith.
M other had her mind made up when she arrived at the principal’s office at the Seventh-day Adventist school in Macea, Romania. “I’ve come to take my son out of your school,” she said. “I’m divorcing my husband, and I’ve already moved to another city. The daily commute from our new home to this school is too far.” Principal Camelia was sad to hear that Mother wanted to transfer eight-year-old Antonio to a public school. She felt impressed to ask a question. “Can you bring your husband and come back to see me?” she asked. Mother agreed and returned a short time later with Father. “Getting a divorce would be a major loss,” Principal Camelia told them. “Antonio would lose his parents, and he would lose his school.” Mother was very upset about the marriage, and she insisted on the divorce. Father, however, expressed a willingness to stay together. Principal Camelia knew that neither of them attended church regularly, so she spoke to them from the Bible. She said God made marriage in the Garden of Eden and that He frowns on divorce. She quoted Jesus saying, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6, NKJV). “Divorce isn’t part of God’s plan,” Principal Camelia said. “It’s Satan’s plan because he wants to destroy families. He knows that a divorced parent will have an especially difficult time facing society’s challenges alone.” Mother and Father listened attentively. “I have an idea,” Principal Camelia continued. “Instead of arguing, try telling each other something you appreciate about the other. Think about what you like about your wife. What good qualities does she have? What good qualities does your husband have? What do you like about him?” Mother agreed to wait on making a final decision about transferring Antonio out of the school. But a few days later, after another argument with Father, she stormed into Principal Camelia’s office. She was determined to get a divorce and transfer Antonio. “My husband is unemployed,” she fumed. “He doesn’t have enough money. He can’t support the family. He isn’t interested in us.” Principal Camelia sympathized with Mother’s concern but urged her to have patience. Jobs were hard to find in that region of Romania. Mother realized that Principal Camelia had a point. She began to warm up to the idea of not getting a divorce. Then, after another argument, Father called the principal on the phone. “My wife keeps telling me that I don’t have enough money to support the family and that I’m not interested in providing for them,” he said. Principal Camelia urged him to keep looking for work. “You need to get a job to show your wife that you’re committed to your family,” she said. “So what?” he said. “Should I go to work just because she told me to?” “Yes,” she said. “Your wife knows your child’s needs. Find a job. You have a child to raise. You are responsible for him.” And so, it continued. Every time they argued, Mother came to the principal’s office, and Father called on the phone. The arguments were always about money and Father’s unemployment. Principal Camelia kept encouraging Mother to be patient and Father to find work. In between the quarrels, the couple followed the principal’s advice and found something kind to say about each other at home. Then Father found a job in France. He moved away and began sending money back to Romania. Mother was satisfied, but she missed her husband. The man she had once wanted to divorce was now her good friend. After two years, when Antonio was 10, Mother withdrew him from the school and moved to France to reunite the family. While in France, the family kept in touch with Principal Camelia. Antonio missed her and insisted on calling her regularly. Principal Camelia learned that the family had found a church in France and started attending. They were growing closer—not just to each other, but also to God. The family moved back to Romania in time for Antonio to enter sixth grade at a public school. He would have liked to return to the Adventist school, but it only provided education through the fourth grade. Principal Camelia remains a good friend of the family. Whenever she sees Father in town, he smiles and says, “Thank you, Miss Camelia. Because of you, I didn’t lose my family.” Part of this quarter’s offering will help the Seventh-day Adventist elementary school in Macea, Romania, expand so it can accept more children. Thank you for planning a generous offering.  Story Tips Show Romania on a map. Then point to Macea, where the school is located. Know that the Macea school was founded in 2011 and had 72 students and preschoolers in 2025. It has seven full-time teachers. Mission Post Seventh-day Adventist doctrines were first preached in Romania by M. B. Czechowski, a former Polish Catholic priest who had learned of the seventh-day Sabbath and Christ’s imminent return while in America. Returning to Europe in 1864, he preached these doctrines in Italy and Switzerland. In the winter of 1868-1869, he came to Romania and preached in Pitesti. About 12 people accepted his message. Permanent Adventist work for Romanians began in 1904, when J. F. Ginter, an evangelist from Russia, settled in Bucharest. Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

In Macea, Romania, the principal of a Seventh‑day Adventist school helped prevent a family from divorcing by offering biblical counsel, encouragement, and steady support. Through patience, prayer, and practical guidance, Antonio’s parents reconciled, found work, and eventually began attending church—strengthening both their home and their faith.

Principal to Two Parents

Related topics The Broken Cup In Sofia, Bulgaria, little Dany entered the Colorful Hope Adventist kindergarten at just 1 year and 9 months old. Her love for Bible stories touched her entire extended family, drawing them closer to Scripture and Adventist teachings. Even after leaving the kindergarten, Dany’s connection remained strong—showing how early spiritual seeds can transform whole families.
D any was only one year and nine months old when her mother brought her to the Seventh-day Adventist kindergarten in Sofia, Bulgaria. Mother was pregnant and about to give birth to a second child, and she needed someone to help watch little Dany. Though Mother wasn’t a Seventh-day Adventist—she belonged to another Christian denomination—she trusted that the Seventh-day Adventist kindergarten teachers would help Dany grow to love Jesus. Dany immediately fell in love with the teachers and the Bible stories that she heard at the kindergarten. Mother and the rest of the family also quickly grew fond of the kindergarten and its staff. Dany’s parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts became the kindergarten’s biggest fans on social media, always liking and commenting on its posts. One day, Dany’s mother came to the kindergarten with an unusual request. “Could you help us find a place for Dany’s birthday party?” she asked. “We need a large venue because we would like to invite many guests.” The kindergarten teachers agreed to help, and the family ended up hosting the party at the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bulgaria. Imagine that—a family of devoted Christians from another denomination celebrating their little girl’s birthday in the conference room of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s national headquarters! The kindergarten teachers helped organize the special celebration and included many spiritual elements to remind the guests of Jesus’ love. All the children, parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts who attended were deeply impressed and happy. Afterward, Dany’s family began to read Seventh-day Adventist books, including The Desire of Ages by Ellen White. Eventually, Dany grew older and left the kindergarten to begin first grade. Still, she and her family remained in close contact with the kindergarten and its teachers. They are studying the Bible and seeing it in a new light. A year after Dany left the kindergarten, Mother called the kindergarten’s founder at 10 o’clock at night with an urgent request. “Dany broke her cup,” she said. “She is devastated and crying. Can you help?” Every kindergarten child receives a glass drinking cup with his or her name on it, along with a hand-drawn picture by the kindergarten’s founder, Maria. The cups are treasured by the children, and when they leave the kindergarten, they take their cups home. Dany had broken her cup, the cherished item that kept her emotionally connected to the kindergarten. Maria quickly sent a new cup by courier to the city where Dany now lived. She also included several Christian books in the package. “We see the imprint that God leaves on children’s minds,” Maria said. She can’t wait to see what plans God has next for Dany and her family.⎭  Part of this quarter’s offering will allow the Colorful Hope (Tzventna Nadezhda) kindergarten to move out of a rented facility into a building of its own in Sofia. More than half of the children who attend the kindergarten come from families who are not members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Some don’t believe in God. Thank you for your generous support of this life-changing project in Bulgaria.  Story Tips Show Bulgaria on a map. Then, point to the capital, Sofia, where the Colorful Hope (Tzventna Nadezhda) kindergarten is located. Know that the photo on the opposite page is a stock image that depicts a Bulgarian girl similar to Dany. Pronounce Dany the same as the English name “Danny.” Pronounce Tzventna Nadezhda as tsvet-na na-dezh-da. Watch a YouTube video of the kindergarten’s founder, Maria, at: bit.ly/Maria-YA-EUD . Fast Fact The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. The official language is Bulgarian. The Bulgarian national anthem is “Mila Rodina” (“Dear Motherland”). The Balkan Mountains run through Bulgaria from west to east. Bulgaria is Europe’s fifth-largest coal producer. Meat consumption is lower in Bulgaria than the European average; Bulgarians prefer many different salads. Many Bulgarians shake their heads for “yes” and nod for “no.” The Bulgarians were the first people to use the Cyrillic alphabet. The first group known to live in Bulgaria was the Thracians, a tribal society of artisans, farmers, and horsemen. Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

In Sofia, Bulgaria, little Dany entered the Colorful Hope Adventist kindergarten at just 1 year and 9 months old. Her love for Bible stories touched her entire extended family, drawing them closer to Scripture and Adventist teachings. Even after leaving the kindergarten, Dany’s connection remained strong—showing how early spiritual seeds can transform whole families.

The Broken Cup

Related topics Week 1 – A Baby While they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:6. He came to us as a baby. The Gospels begin here. Not with power, miracles, or crowds, but with vulnerability—with the breath of a newborn in the arms of his young mum.
PHASE ONE: PREPARATION for a life that would multiply Long before Jesus became a public figure—before crowds formed and His words were recorded—He lived a life that appeared unremarkable by most measures. For around 30 years, Jesus remained largely unseen. There were no sermons, miracles or followers. He grew up in a small village, lived within a family, learned a trade and took His place in a local community. His days were shaped by work, relationships, prayer and Scripture. These were slow years, marked more by faithfulness than drama. Yet these decades were not a pause before the real work began. They were the necessary preparation. The first four reports in this book examine these unseen years—not to idealise them, but to take them seriously. What does it mean that such a world-changing faith movement began in quiet preparation? Only later, when John the Baptist publicly identified Him at the Jordan River, did Jesus step into view. Then, His public teaching and activities lasted only a few intense years. At the end, He left His followers with a simple but expansive commission: “Go and make disciples [followers or apprentices] of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). The movement He began grew through ordinary people sharing who they had found with others. Behind it all stands a striking claim, later summarised by the apostle Paul: that Jesus was fully divine but that he “made himself nothing,” entering human life without privilege or advantage (see Philippians 2:5–8, NIV)—learning, waiting and accepting limitations. Week 1 – A baby Luke 1:1-2:38; John 1:1-18; Matthew 1:1-25, cf. Luke 3:23-38 While they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:6. He came to us as a baby. The Gospels begin here. Not with power, miracles, or crowds, but with vulnerability—with the breath of a newborn in the arms of his young mum. The beginning of this movement, surprisingly, is a womb, not a throne room. Matthew names his flawed family—including abusers and murderers; with four women— Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife—whose lives were marked by scandal, tragedy and deep sorrow. Jesus was the Son of David, and quite literally the Son of outsiders, immigrants, the overlooked and exploited. Luke brings us closer to the family drama surrounding his arrival. Mary’s pregnancy shocked her village. Joseph wrestled with hurt, doubt and anger before stepping into extraordinary obedience and courage. Both were asked to accept something that would cost them dearly—and both said yes. Luke also records Mary’s Magnificat and Zechariah’s prophecy—announcing both revolution and mercy: with social injustice overturned, the proud scattered, and the humble valued. Long before his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was reshaping the world— the script being rewritten by an unmarried village girl and her aging cousin’s husband. And there is the birth story itself. We often imagine chaotic scenes: frantic travel, rejection at every door, a desperate couple in a lonely stable. But Luke simply says, “While they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came for her baby to be born”—suggesting something calmer. In a simple village home, with women who knew what to do—and the manger a practical crib available in the family living space, not a sign of neglect—Jesus entered the world into warmth, care, and community. The first to hear the news were not the rulers, scholars, or priests in nearby Jerusalem, but shepherds—poor, rough men whose testimonies held little weight. To them, the sky split open with song: “Today… a Saviour has been born to you” (Luke 2:11 NIV)— not only for the powerful, self-righteous, or self-serving; but for those who smell of sheep, the overlooked. His first worshippers were from the margins. They ran, saw, believed, and then told everyone they met—the first evangelists. His earthly life and kingdom began there at the edges with their unpolished joy; the holy One held in their rough hands. John reminds us that this baby was “the Word” who had always been—present before creation, eternally with God, eternally God—who chose to become one of us. Fragile. Dependent. Learning obedience and trust as we do. Jesus was not a mythical character, but a real infant with all the limitations of human life. He entered the world as we do—fragile, dependent, needing care. He willingly accepted the slow pace of human development—experiencing hunger, cold, tears, learning to walk and talk. He surrendered or veiled his divinity—not losing it but not drawing upon it. He lived within ordinary human limitations, as one of us. He launched his movement from this place of vulnerability. He did not ask of followers what he was unwilling to embrace himself. The way of his kingdom still begins here: emerging from unlikely places, with surrender, humility, and presence. Not in perfection or strategy, but in quiet availability—perhaps in a renewed sense of gentleness, a slower pace, a greater respect for small beginnings, a readiness to look for God at the margins, and a desire to honour the ordinary people he chooses! Might his invitations still come disguised as interruptions, misunderstandings, or pain— calling for courage? How did his becoming a baby—one of us, who understands us—shape his preparation for the most significant faith movement of all time? Excerpted and adapted from After 2000 Years: Reading the First Reports of the Life of Jesus by Dr Peter Roennfeldt. More Devotionals

While they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:6. He came to us as a baby. The Gospels begin here. Not with power, miracles, or crowds, but with vulnerability—with the breath of a newborn in the arms of his young mum.

Week 1 – A Baby

email

FIRSTNAME