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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 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 Week 9 - His Outrageous Temple Claim Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple revealed a radical claim: He Himself was the true meeting place between God and humanity, making God’s presence accessible to all.
John 2:12–25 “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up ” (John 2:19). After the wedding at Cana, Jesus spent a few days beside the Sea of Galilee with His mother, brothers, and the four or five disciples who had joined Him at the Jordan River. He then headed to Jerusalem for Passover to celebrate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt centuries earlier. When He arrived, the city was alive with pilgrims, its streets filled with music, dancing and expectation. But He found the Temple—the place of God’s presence, healing, forgiveness and worship—like a noisy and chaotic marketplace. Shocked, He took a rope as a whip. He chased the traders out, drove the cattle and sheep from the courtyard, overturned the moneychangers’ tables—scattering their coins across the stones—and told those selling doves, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” The disciples must have watched in awe and confusion, wondering at His boldness. In the short time they had known Him, they had not seen Jesus like this. His actions were intentional and revolutionary. But what was He doing? The Torah required these sacrifices (see Leviticus 1:1–17), and moneychangers facilitated the system by exchanging ordinary coins for the Tyrian shekels required in the Temple. Their role was essential for worship at the Temple, but they had turned it into a profit-driven, exclusionary process. In confronting them, Jesus disrupted their corruption. But it was more. This was the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The Temple had been rebuilt by Herod the Great on a massive 15-hectare (37-acre) plateau—the Temple Mount—where hundreds of thousands could gather. This Herodian Temple vied in size with Baalbek in Phoenicia (now Lebanon) and Serapis in Rome . Jesus was on a world stage. This Temple was the pinnacle of Jewish identity. He was confronting religious power and Israel’s nationalism. And when the Jewish leaders demanded a sign of His authority, Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Clearly, this was not a symbolic tidy-up of the Temple. It was a bold protest and redefinition. He was not merely cleansing the Temple—He was deconstructing it and Israel’s nationalism. In the boldest possible way, He was declaring that He was the Temple—the living dwelling place of God, the heart and soul of God’s kingdom. By presenting Himself as the true temple—the meeting place between God and humanity—the focus of worship was no longer a building, and God’s kingdom would no longer be a nation with borders and with Jerusalem as its capital. This was a radical, unprecedented, audacious, provocative and outrageous shift. But He wasn’t dismissed as crazy. The temple authorities took Him seriously. Literally. They recalled that it had taken 46 years to build Herod’s Temple, and they were indignant that He would speak of Himself as the new temple through which God’s presence would dwell among humanity—both Jews and gentiles. It was blasphemous! This Passover was the first of His ministry (in 28 CE) and marked the beginning of a radical redefinition. From there, He took the temple activities of healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and miraculous signs to city streets, marketplaces and villages—crossing ethnic and national lines. God’s presence was no longer confined to stone and rituals. His one-man temple system challenged the entire religious, political and social structure of Israel—and the Roman Empire. His kingdom movement emphasised a living, accessible God, not buildings or systems. This deconstruction continued through His life and was integral to His faith movement. It culminated in His predicting the Temple’s destruction (see Matthew 24:1–3), the ending of temple sacrifices with His death (see Matthew 27:45–56) and, ultimately, the dwelling of God’s presence in His followers (see 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Jesus demonstrated that God’s presence is personal, intimate and transformative, dwelling within those who follow Him rather than within walls of stone. He replaced the old system. He positioned Himself as the new meeting place between God and humanity. God was now accessible to all. In a city built around its temple, this was seismic! Excerpted and adapted from After 2000 Years: Reading the First Reports of the Life of Jesus by Dr Peter Roennfeldt. More Devotionals

Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple revealed a radical claim: He Himself was the true meeting place between God and humanity, making God’s presence accessible to all.

Week 9 - His Outrageous Temple Claim

Related topics Week 8 - His Spirit Dependence Jesus’ ministry was shaped by dependence on the Holy Spirit through prayer, obedience, Scripture, humility and transformative relationships.
Jesus was led by the Spirit (Matthew 4:1) Matthew 3:1–4:12; Mark 1:9–13; Luke 3:1–3, 21–23; 4:1–13; John 1:15–2:12 From a life of obscurity has come the most influential movement in history. But if you look closely at Jesus’ life, there is no hint of self-promotion, no calculated bid for power. Instead, there is a quiet, consistent reliance on “the Holy Spirit.” To understand how this movement began—and why it endured—we must understand this dependence. The Spirit was not a newcomer. The “Spirit of God” appears in the opening lines of the ancient Hebrew scriptures, hovering over creation, then is referred to more than 100 times through these scriptures, also known as the Old Testament. The Spirit is described as personal and active—guiding, empowering, speaking. From the beginning of Jesus’ life, He related to this Spirit. His conception was attributed to divine action. Then, at about age 30, when He was baptised in the Jordan River, witnesses reported that the Spirit descended and a voice affirmed Him. Immediately after, He retreated into the desert for 40 days, facing hunger, isolation and temptation. But the same Spirit led Him there! This is not the profile of a person grasping for control. It is the portrait of someone operating from deep dependence. Modern culture defines power as visibility, influence and dominance, but Jesus’ model looks almost inverted. Not muscle, but surrender. Not control, but trust. His POWER flowed from prayer, obedience, Scripture, humility and relationships: [i] Prayer is not about making polished speeches to heaven—in repetitious or religious language. It is about showing up—honestly, quietly—seeking alignment with Someone larger than oneself. In Jesus’ case, prayer anchored His sense of identity and direction. According to Luke’s Gospel, it was while praying after his baptism that Jesus’ defining moment occurred—the heavens “opened” and He received affirmation for His mission. For Him, prayer was not ceremonial. It was oxygen. Before major decisions, after exhausting days, in moments of grief or pressure, He withdrew to pray. Obedience meant staying true to His calling, even when easier options were available. Jesus was led into the wilderness to face a series of temptations—shortcuts to fame, spectacle and political control. Each time, He refused. He would not manipulate spiritual power for personal gain. He would not seize influence by compromising His mission. Obedience meant resisting the kind of power the world understands. What Jesus called “the word of God” (Mark 7:13) was His internal compass. When challenged, He quoted from Israel’s sacred texts. When teaching, He built on them. The Gospel of John portrays His earliest interactions with followers—men like Andrew and Peter—not as rallies, but as conversations rooted in those ancient writings. For Jesus, Scripture was not a rulebook to wield against others; it was a living story He inhabited. Exalting God. His humility, His refusal to centre attention on Himself is striking. The affirmation He received at His baptism pointed beyond Himself to the Father. In the wilderness, He insisted that only God is worthy of worship. He consistently redirected praise upward. In an age of self-branding, this is a radical posture. And finally, Relationships . Before sermons or miracles, Jesus began by inviting a few ordinary people to “Come and see.” Fishermen. Questioners. He spent time with them, answered their doubts, shared food and entrusted them with responsibility. His movement multiplied not through spectacle, but through intentional, person-to-person investment. Taken together, these activities redefine spiritual power. It is not loud or coercive. It is cultivated in dependence—through prayer, steady obedience, immersion in Scripture, honouring God above self, and building intentional transformative relationships. After 2000 years, the movement that began on dusty roads in first-century Judea circles the globe. At its foundation was not charisma alone, not strategy nor force. It was a life shaped—moment by moment—by reliance on the Holy Spirit. Excerpted and adapted from After 2000 Years: Reading the First Reports of the Life of Jesus by Dr Peter Roennfeldt. More Devotionals

Jesus’ ministry was shaped by dependence on the Holy Spirit through prayer, obedience, Scripture, humility and transformative relationships.

Week 8 - His Spirit Dependence

Related topics Week 7 - His Second Invitation: “Follow me” Jesus’ invitation to “Follow me” reveals discipleship as a shared journey of relationship, trust, everyday life and growing faith.
John 1:35–2:12 Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me” (John 1:43). Jesus’ way of making disciples was disarmingly simple, yet profoundly relational. He did not begin with a program, a syllabus or a strategy session. He began with the invitation: “Come and see.” Those who accepted were invited into His life to watch, listen, ask questions and slowly discover who He truly was. As they walked with Him, Jesus interpreted Himself through the Scriptures they already knew—the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets—showing how Israel’s story found its fulfilment in Him. What is striking is how quickly this way of disciple-making was caught and reproduced. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and declared, “Look, the Lamb of God.” Two of his disciples followed their curiosity and asked Jesus where He was staying. His response was not an address, but the invitation: “Come and see.” After spending a single evening with him, Andrew ran to his brother Peter—excitement spilling over—announcing, “We have found the Messiah.” Philip did the same with Nathanael, grounding his joy in Scripture: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote.” And again, came the invitation— “Come and see” (John 1:45, 46, NIV). What Jesus did, His disciples instinctively multiplied. A unique feature of this movement was the immediate participation of new disciples. Those invited soon invited others. New disciples made new disciples! The next invitation went deeper. Jesus was intentional. He went and found Philip, and said to him, “Follow me .” To follow Jesus meant walking the road of everyday life together—a shared journey. Disciple-making was not confined to formal teaching; it happened in conversations, meals, celebrations and travel. It required time and shared experiences. When Philip invited Nathanael to join, he encountered scepticism: “Nazareth! . . . Can anything good come from Nazareth?” The idea that God’s promised Messiah could come from such an unremarkable place—and be a local tradie—seemed absurd. Nathaniel was from Cana, less that 10 kilometres (6 miles) away. He knew the reputation of small villages and ordinary families. He knew the people. Yet Philip did not argue or become defensive. He simply echoed Jesus’ own words: “Come and see.” And it was to a family wedding in Cana that Jesus led His new disciples, not to a synagogue lecture or a political rally. He brought them home! They saw the world that had shaped Him—the rhythms of village life, the laughter and labour, the relationships of family and community. They met His mother, brothers and sisters. They discovered that the Son of God was deeply human, rooted in a real place, among real people—their people! At that wedding, Jesus also quietly revealed that He was more than human. When the wine ran out, Mary trusted Him to act, even though He protested, “My time has not yet come”—indicating more momentous events! But in response, Jesus generously turned water into wine—abundant and excellent. John tells us that in this first sign, Jesus “revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” Amid celebration and joy, they glimpsed the hidden glory of God, not as spectacle, but as a gift. Afterward, Jesus did not rush on alone. He walked to Capernaum with his now four or five disciples, as well as His mother and brothers, where they stayed for a few days. Disciple-making continued in shared space and unhurried time. Perhaps families met, stories were exchanged, fishing nets were mended and hearts were prepared for what lay ahead. All of this unfolded against the backdrop of intense messianic expectation. Israel longed for a liberator like the fierce revolutionary Judas Maccabeus, one who would overthrow Rome and restore national dignity. But Jesus did not fit that mould. He was not the Messiah they expected. Yet His disciples followed Him anyway, drawn not by political power, but by the truth, grace and life they encountered in Him. Having come and seen, they followed Him. They could not turn back. Excerpted and adapted from After 2000 Years: Reading the First Reports of the Life of Jesus by Dr Peter Roennfeldt. More Devotionals

Jesus’ invitation to “Follow me” reveals discipleship as a shared journey of relationship, trust, everyday life and growing faith.

Week 7 - His Second Invitation: “Follow me”

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 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)

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