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Salvador is known throughout Brazil
for having a vibrant, unique culture.
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It boasts the fourth largest population
in Brazil with almost 3 million people.
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The Adventist Church
has experienced significant growth here,
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with churches scattered
throughout Salvador.
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Despite the strong Adventist presence,
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there are still
unentered areas of the city.
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Global Mission is working to identify
areas with no Adventist presence
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and establish new congregations there.
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Josenildo’s neighborhood
is one of these unentered areas.
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He was known as a drunk nuisance
whose bad habits disrupted his family life
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and the whole community.
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Arivaldo, an Adventist, lived nearby
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and ran into Josenildo often
on his way to work.
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Arivaldo knew he was looking for work,
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so he offered him
a construction job building churches.
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It didn’t take long for the two of them
to become friends.
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Arivaldo treated him with respect,
which made Josenildo wonder
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why he was always so kind.
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Over time, Arivaldo asked
if he was interested in Bible studies,
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and the two began reading
the Bible together.
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Before I met Jesus,
I didn’t have happiness.
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When I came to know Jesus,
my life was transformed,
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and today, for God’s glory, I’m happy.
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My family also was transformed.
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Josenildo was baptized
and changed for the better.
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Even his neighbors took notice
of his transformation.
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When the usual loud music
from his home stopped one day,
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everyone wondered if he was ok.
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When they checked on him,
they saw that Josenildo was a changed man.
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He spoke kindly to them
and treated them respectfully,
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and they wanted to know
what inspired these changes in his life.
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Josenildo used this opportunity
to minister to his neighbors.
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Every Friday night,
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they gather in his living room
to talk about their week.
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They bring their concerns,
requests, and praises here.
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Josenildo points them to the Bible,
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showing them a Creator
who cares deeply about them.
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There’s even something for the children
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as Josenildo’s daughter
leads an activity in the hallway.
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This group has grown close,
and as a result,
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10 people have already
been baptized this past year,
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and more are studying for baptism.
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Small groups like this one are the core
of church planting in Salvador.
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Small groups develop into congregations,
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and these congregations
divide into more small groups
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that spread throughout the city.
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Nearly five years ago,
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the church leadership
in Salvador’s state of Bahia
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had an ambitious goal
of building 1,000 churches in five years.
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They reached their goal,
and the final church is being built
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where a new congregation
will worship soon.
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The goal of building 1,000 churches
across the state
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isn’t just for the purpose
of having new buildings.
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The church buildings represent
ever growing congregations of believers
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who, like Josenildo,
have been changed by Jesus.
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Jesus is good. Jesus transforms.
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Just as He transformed my life,
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He can transform anyone’s life.
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No matter the struggles someone may face,
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Jesus has the power
to transform their life.
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And more lives are impacted
as churches are planted
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throughout the world.
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Thank you for helping us change lives
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by supporting church planting
through Global Mission!
Team Adventist
