February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings
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0:05 - 0:07I would be dead by now,
-
0:07 - 0:10because I tried
to kill myself multiple times. -
0:12 - 0:15I couldn't think of the future,
I just thought of the present-- -
0:15 - 0:20what was tormenting me,
and how I would kill myself. -
0:23 - 0:26Deeply depressed, Consuelo abandoned
her belief in God. -
0:26 - 0:29She tried to start over,
enrolling in nursing school -
0:29 - 0:32and wanting to do
something different with her life, -
0:32 - 0:35but her past weighed on her
wherever she went. -
0:35 - 0:38After class one day, a professor noticed
something was wrong -
0:38 - 0:41and told her about
the local Urban Center of Influence. -
0:46 - 0:50Consuelo visited the center,
where she met Michelly and Angie, -
0:50 - 0:54Adventist volunteers with a
One Year In Mission Program. -
0:54 - 0:56She enjoyed talking with them
-
0:56 - 0:59and decided to take
a Portuguеsе course offered here. -
0:59 - 1:02Over time, Consuelo became friends
with the volunteers. -
1:06 - 1:10In what I saw-- how they acted,
-
1:10 - 1:14what they said, and everything they did,
-
1:14 - 1:16I felt the presence of God in everyone.
-
1:18 - 1:22In the Adventist volunteers
who are here, I saw this. -
1:25 - 1:27Each time she returned to the center,
-
1:27 - 1:29she felt as if her deep wounds
were being healed. -
1:30 - 1:32They welcomed me with open arms.
-
1:32 - 1:36I found another family here,
another home here. -
1:37 - 1:39The volunteers began
talking to her about God, -
1:40 - 1:42and it was the first time in a while
-
1:42 - 1:45Consuelo felt ready
to talk about spiritual topics. -
1:45 - 1:48She asked for a Bible study,
where she gradually developed -
1:48 - 1:52a new understanding of
and a relationship with God. -
1:53 - 1:56It helped me in every way to be here.
-
1:56 - 2:02I saw the love of God, the grace of God
that I hadn't seen anywhere else. -
2:03 - 2:08I found myself growing closer and closer
to God, believing in Him, -
2:08 - 2:12and having more faith in Him
during the time I was here. -
2:13 - 2:15Since then, Consuelo was baptized
-
2:15 - 2:17and joined
the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. -
2:17 - 2:19She now volunteers
her time at the center, -
2:19 - 2:22doing medical consultations for free.
-
2:22 - 2:26Like Consuelo, there are many who are
looking for community and love, -
2:26 - 2:30but most people are too suspicious
of religion to seek these things -
2:30 - 2:32in a traditional church.
-
2:35 - 2:38Many people come
to this place with a vision, -
2:38 - 2:40maybe a little distrusting,
-
2:40 - 2:44because they don't really know
what we will ask for afterwards. -
2:44 - 2:47But when they see a different environment,
-
2:47 - 2:50where there's only empathy,
love, and friendship, -
2:50 - 2:53they completely change their vision.
-
2:53 - 2:56They are very grateful
and bring more people to participate. -
2:58 - 3:00By serving the community,
the Adventists learned -
3:00 - 3:02what people in the area
were interested in. -
3:03 - 3:06The center runs various classes
and activities for the community, -
3:06 - 3:09including Portuguese and English lessons,
healthy cooking demonstrations, -
3:10 - 3:12crafts, and a variety of exercise classes.
-
3:15 - 3:18We've seen the effect
of Christ's method on people's lives, -
3:18 - 3:22because we see a community today
open to the Adventist Church. -
3:22 - 3:25That was not easy to reach in the past.
-
3:25 - 3:29Because when you have a religion,
you guard your world, -
3:29 - 3:32and you don't want anyone
to invade your life. -
3:32 - 3:36The Centers of Influence are
breaking down barriers, not just here, -
3:37 - 3:40but we were meeting them at home
with their families, -
3:40 - 3:43and that's where we
can apply Christ's method. -
3:44 - 3:46Through genuine care for the people,
-
3:46 - 3:49this center has touched the hearts
of many in the community. -
3:49 - 3:53The results have
exceeded the volunteers' expectations. -
3:53 - 3:56We've seen how this ministry isn't
just good for the community, -
3:56 - 4:00it's also good for the churches,
it's reviving the Adventist members. -
4:01 - 4:03We've had a revival within the church.
-
4:04 - 4:07Please pray for Urban Centers
of Influence like this. -
4:07 - 4:09Pray that through friendship
and compassion, -
4:10 - 4:13people will see a glimpse of Jesus' love.
-
4:13 - 4:16Thank you for helping us
transform lives through your gifts -
4:16 - 4:19to Global Mission projects like this.
- Title:
- February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings
- Description:
-
Deeply depressed, Consuelo abandoned her belief in God until one day she visited an Urban Center of Influence and met Michelley and Angy. From this point on, her life changed!
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- Team Adventist
- Project:
- Mission Spotlight DVD
- Duration:
- 04:25
Donna Rodill edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings | ||
sebastiao nascimento edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings | ||
Natalia Antokhin edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings | ||
Natalia Antokhin edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings | ||
Natalia Antokhin edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings | ||
Natalia Antokhin edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings | ||
Natalia Antokhin edited English subtitles for February 29 - New Friends and New Beginnings |