Sabbath school Mission stories

05/04/2025

The title: Long Walk to God, Part 2.
In the quiet mountains on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, a young boy named Pada grew up in poverty, watching the world from the shadows of hardship. He lived with his mother in a small, simple home, where survival was the goal and dreams were a luxury. He had never stepped foot inside a school, and at twelve years old, his future seemed as uncertain as the mist-covered peaks surrounding his village.
But then, something unexpected happened—his older brother Morja changed. He left the family religion and became a Seventh-day Adventist, something that puzzled Pada. What could possibly make his brother walk a different path?
Curious and seeking answers, Pada accepted an invitation to live with Morja, his wife, and their three sons. Every Sabbath, they would rise before dawn and walk eight miles—no matter the rain, cold, or fatigue—to attend church. At first, Pada didn’t understand. But he watched. He listened. He saw.
He saw how Morja gave tithe and offerings faithfully, even though they weren’t rich. He saw how the family always had food, clothes, and tuition for the boys’ school. Morja told him, “I’m returning to God what already is His—as a thank-you gift.”
Years passed. Pada remained quiet, observant. He began to see a pattern: despite not having wealth, his brother had peace, provision, and purpose.
Morja’s three sons grew older and went to an Adventist school in another town. Morja was not rich, but somehow he found the money for his sons’ tuition.
At fifteen, never having gone to school, Pada had a question burning in his heart: “Could this be why my brother became an Adventist?”
And then, a miracle began.

04/20/2025

My name is Renato.
It was the night before my 37th birthday, and I was alone in Thailand far from my home in Brazil. As a missionary teacher in my first year here, I didn’t know how to celebrate. So, I asked my pastor for something unusual.
Let me preach, I said. I’m far from family, far from everything familiar. Preaching is the only way I know to celebrate.”
That Friday night, I was going over my sermon notes, preparing to share the Word the next day. But then, the phone rang. It was a call from the South American Division back in Brazil. I had no idea that God was about to rewrite my birthday plans.
“A Brazilian young man has been arrested at the Bangkok airport for drug trafficking,” said the church leader on the phone. “He used to be a member of the church. Could you go to him? He needs someone to pray with him. Maybe give him a Bible. He needs someone to hug him.”
My heart broke. I didn’t know this young man, and I barely spoke Thai. I felt nervous — even afraid. But I couldn’t ignore the call.
I put aside my sermon notes and rushed to the airport. But when I arrived, it was too late. The young man had already been transferred.
There was nothing more I could do that night.
Weeks went by. Then another call came — this time from his lawyer in Brazil. She told me he was being held in a prison near Bangkok. “Could you go visit him?” she asked.
I went. That visit turned into a regular part of my life.
We talked about God. He told me he wanted to make things right. He knew he had made a big mistake. I brought him food, since prison meals often included pork and seafood — things he didn’t eat. His mother and I worked together to make sure he was taken care of.
Then his lawyer asked me to visit another Brazilian inmate. And just like that, I found myself not just teaching fourth graders — but also becoming a missionary to two young men behind bars.
Now I visit them every month. I pray for them. I pray for their hearts to be changed. I may never know what will come of it, but I trust that God is planting seeds.
This wasn’t the birthday I expected. But it was the birthday God had planned for me.

04/17/2025

It began in class. I was fascinated by what I was learning in world civilization. But in Bible class, something grabbed hold of me. We studied a prophecy in the book of Daniel that outlined the rise and fall of major world empires. I couldn’t stop thinking about how the Bible’s account matched what I was learning in history. I asked myself, “How is this possible?”
Then the 1967 Six-Day War happened. I read the headlines: Israel had defeated several larger neighboring countries. That small nation, only founded in 1948, had somehow won. I wondered, “Is this the same Israel from the Bible we’re studying?”
I started searching for answers. I found a book written

Je m'appelle Soorachet.Lorsque je suis arrivé dans un lycée adventiste du septième jour en Thaïlande, j'ai pris une décision ferme : « Je resterai dans le do...

04/17/2025

When I first arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, I was filled with anticipation—but also uncertainty. I was 36, a long way from my home in Brazil, and I had just signed up to be a volunteer missionary teacher at an Adventist school. It was a new beginning, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I was walking into. Was I really ready for this? Was I late to the game?
Early the next morning, I stretched in the lobby of my apartment building, trying to shake off the jet lag before a run. That’s when an elderly Thai woman approached me. She didn’t hesitate.
“Who are you?” she asked bluntly.
“I’m a new teacher,” I replied.
“Where are you from?”
“Brazil.”

03/21/2025

Philip stepped off the plane in Atlanta, his heart brimming with excitement and a hint of nervousness. At just 23 years old, the young South Korean missionary had committed to three months of service in the Compass Missionary Training Program. His mission was clear: work with refugees during the week and teach children’s Sabbath School on weekends. What he didn’t anticipate, however, was the life-changing lesson that awaited him—not from the people he served, but from his own heart.
Philip was paired with Samuel, a fellow missionary three years his junior. They moved into a rented house together, but their relationship quickly became strained. Samuel was slow to think and speak, a habit that irked Philip. Simple moments, like deciding what to eat or how to prepare meals, became sources of frustration. The tension between them grew silently, simmering beneath the surface.
One evening, Samuel tried to reheat a leftover Korean rice cake but burned it in the oven. Annoyed, Philip held his tongue. When Samuel tried again using a stovetop pan and met the same fate, Philip’s patience wore thin. But still, he said nothing, allowing resentment to build.
A month into their mission, Samuel hesitantly suggested they pray together before heading out to work with the refugees. This was a new routine for them, but Philip agreed. Then came the shock. As Samuel slowly spoke his prayer, his words cut Philip deeply: “Please, Lord, help me not to hate Philip.”

03/18/2025

10/27/2024

This week mission story is coming from the city of Page

10/20/2024

Standing for the Sabbath.
Ana's journey to becoming a Seventh-day Adventist was not an easy one. Growing up in the Philippines, she cherished the church of her childhood, and the idea of worshiping on Saturday, instead of Sunday, brought her to tears. She resisted the change but couldn’t ignore the truth she discovered through her study of the Bible. Her convictions grew stronger, and eventually, Ana embraced the Sabbath and became an Adventist.
However, her newfound faith soon faced a test. As a first-year math teacher for special needs students in a public high school, Ana needed to attend Saturday classes to complete her master’s degree in special education. Fear gripped her as she realized she was stuck between her faith and her job. She approached the city’s superintendent of public schools with a plea.
"I can’t take those classes because I am a Seventh-day Adventist," she said.
The reply was blunt and terrifying: “If you don’t want to take those classes, then you will lose your job.”
For a semester, Ana attended Saturday classes, but her conscience wouldn’t let her rest. It troubled her deeply until she made the bold decision to stop attending the classes altogether. “I can’t do it,” she told the superintendent, expecting the worst.
To her astonishment, the superintendent simply responded, “That’s your decision.”
Ana discovered that because she had finished her probationary period, she could not be fired. Her heart swelled with gratitude and a deepened resolve. She promised herself that she would never break the Sabbath again.
For nine years, Ana taught at the school, growing in her faith and work. Yet, another Sabbath test awaited her. When she applied for a teaching position in the United States, a California school was interested, but they insisted the interview be held on a Saturday. Ana stood firm. “I can’t do the interview on Saturday,” she explained, choosing her faith over a possible job.
Believing God had other plans, she withdrew her application. But a month later, a recruiter called again, this time with an opportunity in Arizona. When Ana asked if the interview could be scheduled for a day other than Saturday, she received a surprising answer: “You can have the interview on any day of the week.”
Ana interviewed on a Friday and, just four days later, was offered the job. She was overjoyed, praising God for His faithfulness. When she handed in her resignation, her Philippine superintendent, who had applied several times to teach in the U.S. without success, was stunned.
Ana felt a profound sense that God had honored her commitment to keep the Sabbath. Yet, her faith was tested again when she arrived in Arizona. Shortly after beginning her new job, the principal informed the teachers they were required to attend training sessions—on Saturdays. Ana, unwavering, prayed, “Lord, I’m here because I kept the Sabbath, and I know You will help me now.”
With faith in her heart, she went to the principal. “I cannot do the training,” she said. “I believe that Saturday is holy, and I need to keep it holy.”
The principal was firm. “If you do not go to the training on Saturday, I will fire you for insubordination.”

10/14/2024

In week one, we explored the conclusion of the Gospel of John, which explains his purpose for writing. This week, we return to the beginning, where John, guided by the Holy Spirit, lays out the direction for his Gospel. Like other New Testament writers, John introduces key themes right from the opening, using a grand cosmic perspective that reveals profound truths about Jesus Christ, truths that span back before Creation. This gives readers, who already know Jesus as the Messiah, an insight that the characters within the narrative lack. As John recounts Jesus' life, he revisits these central themes within the context of history. This week's lesson will focus on the Prologue of John chapter 1 verse 1 to 18, summarizing its key themes and tracing them throughout the rest of the Gospel.