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

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

God Is First, Part 1

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

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

“Show Me the Truth”

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

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

A School for Berta

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

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

“Change My Life”

Related topics To Adventist Leader (Part 2) Marek finds the Adventist Church, accepts Christ, and begins a transformed life of ministry and service.
Marek’s life began to change as he read The Great Controversy in Poland. He decided to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. He read that smoking is bad and decided to quit. But he couldn’t. One Saturday, he passed a street poster offering a five-day stop smoking class. The address was a Seventh-day Adventist church. Marek had never heard of the denomination before, even after reading The Great Controversy and visiting the Adventist bookstore where he had bought the book. Marek went straight to the church. He saw a poster for The Great Controversy on the church bulletin board and knew he had found the right place. It was 2 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, and the church normally would have been empty after worship services, but a group of literature evangelists were there, and they invited Marek to return the next Sabbath morning to worship. Marek returned the next Sabbath and enjoyed the sermon. He was amazed at the kindness of the churchgoers. They told him that a large group of young people would meet in a nearby city the next Sabbath and invited him to go with them. The next Sabbath morning, Marek waited by a road for the Adventists to pick him up. It was a hot day, and he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. As he waited, he sensed two voices speaking to him. One said, “Stay outside, and enjoy the nice weather.” The other urged, “Wait here because it’s really important that you go to this meeting.” The Adventists arrived and took him to the meeting. The worship service amazed Marek. Every word was meaningful to him. The preacher, a British pastor from London, spoke until noon. Then he said, “I know I am supposed to end now, but I know there is somebody here who needs Jesus.” Marek thought, “Who told him about me?” The pastor then shared his personal story. He was born into a religious family but had left the church. He had used drugs and drank. His church and even his mother had stopped praying for him. “Then I met Jesus,” he said. “He took me up from the bottom where I was, and now I’m here to tell you about His power. And that He can change your life.” Then the pastor made his appeal. “If you want Jesus to change your life, just come here to the front,” he said. Marek saw 1,000 people in the crowd and cringed at the thought of standing in front of them. With the very next sentence, the pastor addressed his doubts. “Don’t think about others looking at you,” he said. “Just come here. Come to the front. It’s between you and God.” Marek stood up. He couldn’t sit anymore. His heart beat wildly as he went to the front. As the pastor prayed, Marek understood the plan of salvation for the first time. He had lived a bad life, and Jesus had taken his place. Marek began to cry, and nobody could stop him. The tears flowed freely. But Marek also was excited and joyful. “I really feel that God saved my life not only for His kingdom but also from physical death,” Marek said later. While studying at the Adventist seminary, he learned that his childhood friend Matthew was found dead with a knife in his heart. He had been using a lot of drugs, and no one knows what happened. He was only 23. His other childhood friend, Martin, ended up in prison for seven “I really want to help young people find their purpose in life sooner than I did,” he said. “Maybe they will live better lives after hearing my story. I’m really thankful to God. He saved me from everything, and He gave me everything. So, I have given everything to Him.” Get to know the region More Inside Stories Topics

Marek finds the Adventist Church, accepts Christ, and begins a transformed life of ministry and service.

To Adventist Leader (Part 2)

Related topics Every Step a Battle Joe’s journey from grief, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness leads him back to God and to OIKOS House in Helsinki, where he finds healing, belonging, and a calling to pastoral ministry.
Joe almost turned back more than once. The Sabbath morning he first came to OIKOS House in Helsinki, everything inside him resisted going. Though he had recently begun his journey of faith, anxiety pressed hard as he left his home, walked to the train station, boarded the train, and then walked again toward an unfamiliar house. “It felt like every step was a battle,” Joe recalled. “I didn’t know about spiritual warfare then—but I know now that something didn’t want me to come.” The final walk from the station should have taken five minutes. Instead, it took fifteen—and three prayers. Standing outside the door, Joe hesitated. What if this is the wrong place? What if they don’t accept me? he thought. He pressed the doorbell, telling himself that if no one answered within five seconds, he would run home. The door opened almost immediately. With warm smiles and a genuine welcome, the fear that had followed Joe all morning vanished. “It was like crossing a barrier,” he said. “The anxiety disappeared the moment I stepped inside.” For the first time, church felt different. Joe’s journey to that doorstep began long before Finland. Born in Thailand to a Finnish father and a Thai mother, Joe spent much of his childhood attending Adventist schools. He learned Bible stories, sang hymns, and prayed before meals—but faith felt distant. “I believed God existed,” he said. “But I didn’t know Him personally.” When Joe was 13, his mother passed away. Though she had found Christian faith shortly before her death, the loss left Joe deeply confused and bitter. A youth group that had once felt like a refuge dissolved soon after, and his questions about God went unanswered. “I didn’t understand why a loving God would take my mother, and then the youth group,” Joe said. “So, I walked away.” For years, he searched elsewhere for belonging through parties, alcohol, and later alternative spiritual paths. Nothing lasted. What once numbed the pain eventually deepened it. By his late twenties, Joe felt empty and exhausted. Depression and anxiety weighed heavily, and a painful breakup only intensified his despair. “One night, I felt like the world had nothing left to offer me,” he said. As Joe reached the lowest point of his life, a single word impressed itself on his heart: Pray. “I knew exactly who that prayer was meant for—the God I had learned about as a child,” Joe said. That night, Joe prayed honestly and desperately, asking God to take away his pain and give him life. Exhausted from months of sleeplessness, he fell asleep. When he woke, something was different. “The depression was gone,” he said simply. “I knew it wasn’t me. It had to be God.” Days later, biking to work in the cold winter darkness, Joe felt joy rising in his heart. “It felt like the sun was shining just for me,” he said. With a grateful heart, he committed his life fully to God. Not long afterward, Joe followed an invitation to OIKOS House. “I had never experienced church like that,” he said. “People listened. They wanted to know my story. There was no judgment—only belonging.” Joe stayed late that first Sabbath, sharing his testimony again and again with people who genuinely cared. From that day on, he knew he had found a spiritual family. “What struck me most,” Joe said, “was that OIKOS doesn’t just talk about Jesus’ teachings—it tries to live them.” Encouraged by the community that believed in him, Joe began to sense a new calling. Today, he is studying theology, preparing for pastoral ministry. His dream is to serve at OIKOS House and help plant new churches—places where others searching for belonging can encounter God just as he did. “This house is just a tool,” Joe reflected. “What matters is God’s kingdom—and helping others discover the love that changed my life.” Looking back, Joe sees God’s hand in every step, from seeds planted in childhood to a long, difficult walk toward a house where he finally found home. Joe’s journey reminds us that finding faith often begins with finding community. Through ministries like OIKOS House, God is creating spaces where people burdened by loneliness, doubt, or fear can encounter genuine belonging and the healing love of Christ. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will support OIKOS as it expands its outreach and prepares to plant new churches for the next generation. Thank you for your faithful giving.  Story Tips · Show the location of Helsinki, Finland on a map. · Download photos for this story from Facebook: bit.ly/fb-mq. · Share facts related to Finland (see below) Fast Facts · The official name of Finland is the Republic of Finland. · The capital and largest city of Finland is Helsinki. · The Finnish name for Finland is Suomi . · Finland’s currency is the Euro. · The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, although national languages like Sámi, Karelian, and Finnish Kalo are also recognized. · The national anthem of Finland (“Our Land”) can be sung in Finnish (“ Maamme ”) and Swedish (“ Vårt land ”). Get to know the region Related publications More Youth & Adult Mission Stories Topics

Joe’s journey from grief, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness leads him back to God and to OIKOS House in Helsinki, where he finds healing, belonging, and a calling to pastoral ministry.

Every Step a Battle

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 A Miracle of Mercy A dying young woman encountered Jesus through the prayers and care of Global Mission pioneers, gaining precious months of life and the hope of salvation.
When we entered the patient’s room, we found a small, weak 19-year-old girl lying in bed. From her mother, we learned that her name was Lina* and that she had thalassemia, an inherited blood disease. There was no cure, and her treatment offered little relief. She seemed to be waiting in the hospital to die. We were friends with several Christians living in the area, and one day we learned they were going to visit a patient at the hospital. We asked whether we could accompany them, and they welcomed us. This is how we met Lina. After everyone in the group prayed for Lina, my husband and I had an idea. We had come to this city as Global Mission pioneers—sent to share the gospel in a place where few had ever heard it. Because hospitals in our country don’t provide food for patients, we wondered whether we could prepare healthy vegetarian meals for Lina to help her feel better. We shared the idea with her mom, and she eagerly agreed. The next morning, we brought Lina breakfast. Before we ate, we introduced her and her mother to Jesus. “He is our marvelous Creator, a loving and merciful God who can sustain us in this life and grant us eternal life,” we told them. Then we asked them to join us in prayer as we pleaded with God for Lina’s healing. When we finished, Lina said, “Amen!” Each day that we visited Lina, we saw small improvements. Then, a week later, we heard the incredible news. Her body functions had essentially returned to normal, and she was discharged from the hospital. The attending physician was astonished. “What kind of miracle cure did you give this young lady?” he asked. “You must tell me so I can help more patients.” We explained that we had simply prepared healthy vegetarian meals and prayed for her, but we made it clear that Jesus alone had brought about her improvement. A few days later, our Christian friends heard about Lina’s recovery and asked us to teach them how to prepare the “miraculous” meals. Again, we explained that the meals weren’t the source of healing. We had prayed to the Lord in heaven, and He had answered. We began studying the Bible with Lina and her mother, telling them about God’s incomparable love. Both wanted to learn more about Jesus. For six months, Lina’s health was relatively good. Then she was readmitted to the hospital. She died shortly after. As we looked back on those six months, we realized how wonderfully God had provided. When we first met Lina, her condition was considered a death sentence. Yet, the Lord had given her precious additional time—and during those months, she came to know and accept Jesus as her Savior. God had transformed her life. He had given her peace in this life and the promise of eternal life free from sickness and pain. We were grateful for His miracle of mercy and for using us to share His love with Lina and her mother. Marvelous things continued to unfold after Lina’s death. We were worried that her mother might lose all interest in Jesus, so we constantly prayed for her. Instead, she not only continued studying the Bible with us, but she also chose to be baptized. She introduced us to her relatives, and we were able to tell them about God’s love. This gospel work began with a girl on the brink of death. Though she now rests in the Lord, the seed of the gospel has taken root in her extended family. God was true to His promise: although we had sown in tears, we would indeed reap “with shouts of joy!” This is what Global Mission pioneers do. And it’s what your support makes possible. * Name has been changed † Global Mission pioneers start new groups of believers in unreached areas or among unreached people groups. They’re paid a small stipend and, where possible, work among their own culture.  Help Reach the Unreached Lina’s mother is worshiping Jesus today because a pioneer couple was there. Somewhere right now, there’s another Lina living in a city where no one has ever told her that God loves her. A Global Mission pioneer is ready to go. Your support helps send them. Give today at gmSDA.org/Give1 or call 800-648-5824. Ways to Give ONLINE Scan this code or visit gmSDA.org/Give1 to help Global Mission pioneers bring the hope of Jesus to unreached communities. PHONE Call 800-648-5824 MAIL In the United States: 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 Transform lives, one month at a time; join our recurring donor family! Please remember Global Mission in your will and trusts. Visit gmSDA.org/PG or call 800.648.5824. More Stories Topics

A dying young woman encountered Jesus through the prayers and care of Global Mission pioneers, gaining precious months of life and the hope of salvation.

A Miracle of Mercy

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

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