Fortim, Brazil—With great joy and gratitude to God, we commemorated the Reform Movement centennial in the city of Fortim. It was an unforgettable milestone in the history of God’s people. One hundred years have passed since the first steps of faith were taken, and today we reap the fruits of a seed planted with prayer, courage, and fidelity to the Word. Each testimony, each family reached, each generation steadfast, are truly living evidence that the Lord has led His people with a mighty hand.
Being part of this history is a privilege and a responsibility. We are the continuators of a legacy of faith that cannot be silenced and that inspires us to look forward with hope, keeping alive the flame of present truth. May this celebration renew in our hearts our commitment to the mission and unite us even more as a living and active church. A fraternal embrace to all our brothers and sisters, may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to guide and strengthen His people throughout the world!
Your brothers and sisters in Fortim, Ceara, Brazil
Fortaleza, Brazil—With immense gratitude to God, we record here a summary of the unforgettable centennial celebration of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, held from July 10-13 in the city of Fortaleza. We had the privilege of experiencing a remarkable and deeply spiritual weekend.
Our hearts were filled with joy as we welcomed Pastor Davi Paes Silva, former president of the General Conference. He arrived on Thursday afternoon (July 10th) and that evening shared words of reflection with us, introducing the theme that would guide the entire conference: The Gospel of Grace.
The meetings were held in Parquelândia, with brothers and sisters coming from various parts of the state of Ceará, as well as from other states such as Rio de Janeiro, Pará, Piauí, and even from other countries, such as France and Senegal. It was moving to see brothers and sisters united, from near and far, with a single purpose: to praise God and celebrate our history.
The program officially began at 7:30 pm on Friday with the special opening of the conference, under the theme “The Gospel of Grace.” After sunset, we gathered for praise and a message, beginning the Sabbath with enthusiasm and spirituality.
Early on Sabbath morning, at 8:45 a.m., we began with a time of praise, followed by Sabbath School and Divine Service, with the theme “Jesus Receives Sinners.” Pastor Davi’s messages, the praises of the Fortaleza youth choir, quartets, and local groups deeply touched our hearts.
At noon, we had a special lunch at Júlio de Ponte School, a location near the church, where everyone was comfortably accommodated and enjoyed fellowship.
In the afternoon, we resumed at 3 p.m. with the second part of the conference: “Galatians, the Letter of Freedom.” We experienced moments filled with praise, activities, experiences, and reflections that left an impression on everyone present.
Early in the morning, at 9:30 a.m., even though it was Sunday, the church was packed. We had a special Bible study with Pastor Davi, with over 40 people in attendance. This made the moment even more memorable—seeing the church full on a Sunday morning was a testament to the interest and spiritual thirst of our people. The morning program lasted until approximately 1:00 PM, concluding with much learning and active participation from the church.
In the evening, at 6:00 PM, we began the final message of the conference. Although it was initially planned to be the second part of the theme “Galatians, the Letter of Freedom,” Pastor Davi felt called to change the topic at that moment, led by the Spirit of God. Thus, he presented us with a profound and spiritually exhorting message on “The Vine and the Branches,” based on John 15. It was a clear and direct call to the church: the importance of being connected to the Vine (Christ) and bearing fruit—good and lasting fruit. A living and current message about commitment, spiritual productivity, and a true connection with Jesus.
In addition to the spiritual program, we encourage all members to record the special moments of the conference, sharing them on social media with the hashtag #100YearsIASDMR and tagging the profiles @_iasdmr_centralfortaleza and @asce.cearense
This weekend was spent in gratitude for God’s grace and a reminder of our identity as a church, and the living hope in Christ’s soon return. May the Lord help us remain steadfast, reforming not only institutions, but our very hearts.
Mare, New Caledonia—Our brethren from New Caledonia assembled in Mare for the centennial celebration. New Caledonia is a territory of France in the Pacific, about three hours away by plane to Australia. Mare is an island where most of our members are from originally. The gospel arrived several years ago through brethren from French Polynesia, as they share French as a common language.
The church building you may see in the background is the result of your prayers and support. Brethren from Australia and French Polynesia flew to build this church, the largest building on this island.
The centennial celebration included music, praise for God’s guidance, as well as history lessons and prayers for guidance for the future. A great emphasis was placed on raising the children and youth for Christ so that they may be the next pillars in the church.
May God bless His church around the world!
