May 18 - Why the Kids Stayed in Church

For more than 110 years,
the 13th Sabbath Offering

has empowered
the Seventh-day Adventist Church

to launch mission boats,

fly mission planes,

heal the sick,

educate young people,

reach the unreached,

and change lives.

The sacrificial giving
of faithful Adventists

for more than a century

has brought light and hope
to every corner of the globe.

Many of these offerings
have gone toward children's projects.

In 2011, a portion
of the 13th Sabbath Offering

was used to translate
children's materials, like books,

into the local languages of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

More than ten years later,

we can see the effects
that these materials had

on that generation of children.

Guram is a video editor
in the Adventist Church

in the city of Tbilisi, Georgia.

The translated materials
from the 2011 13th Sabbath Offering

were instrumental
in shaping his spiritual life.

I was about eight years old
when my parents brought me to church.

At that time, there was already
a group of children

who would actively study the Bible.

These lessons, which were conducted
in my native language,

significantly contributed
to my getting to know God.

Years passed, and today,

I try to be actively involved in service.

Currently, with the support
of Adventist World Radio,

I participate in the preparation
of video materials.

I hope God will help us to do
even more in our country.

In another Georgian city,

Lela remembers not being interested
in church as a kid.

It wasn't until there were materials
designed for her

that she started to enjoy going to church.

Lela grew closer to God

and began getting more involved in church.

Today, she's the assistant
Sabbath school teacher for the children.

She loves passing on her passion for Jesus
to this young generation.

Children's classes are important

because children need to grow
in understanding God

and grow in knowledge of God,

so they can stay in church
when they grow up.

Thanks to your giving
to the 13th Sabbath Offering in 2011,

children such as Guram and Lela
have grown up loving Jesus

and continue to be active contributors
to ministry as young adults.

The impact of this offering
will only truly be known

when we all get to heaven.

Thank you for your support
of the 13th Sabbath Offering

that makes a difference in so many lives.