Bringing Family to Church

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, November 1.

Little Ana walked up to Mom in their home in Brazil on a Wednesday afternoon.

“You’ve never taken me to church,” she said. “Why don’t you take me to church?”

Mom was speechless. A thousand thoughts filled her head. She wondered, “Why have I never taken my child to church? Some kids complain about having to go to church, but my daughter is complaining that I don’t take her to church.”

Mom felt terrible. There was only one thing that she could say.

“OK, I’ll take you,” she said.

“When?” Ana demanded.

“I’ll find out what time church starts and then take you,” Mom said.

“All right,” Ana said.

Five-year-old Ana and her family were not Adventist, but they had learned about Adventists when Ana took swimming lessons from an Adventist teacher. The teacher had invited Ana to become an Adventurer.

At the Adventurer club, other children had asked her why she didn’t come to church on Sabbath. That’s why she asked Mom why they didn’t go to church.

That same day, Mom called the director of Ana’s Adventurer club and found out what time church started on Sabbath.

The next day, on Thursday, Ana walked up to Mom again.

“When are we going to church?” she said.

Mom explained that it was Thursday and that church would be on Saturday.

“Saturday is only two days away,” Mom said.

“Why is it taking so long?” Ana complained.

Then she brightened up. “OK, fine,” she said. “Only two days are left.”

The next day, on Friday, Ana said excitedly, “Tomorrow we’re going to church, right Mommy?”

Mom nodded with a smile.

Ana woke up early on Sabbath. It was 6:30, and she ran to Mom, who was sleeping soundly with Dad in their bed.

“Mommy, today is the day that we are going to church!” she exclaimed.

Mom was surprised to see Ana up so early. It usually was a struggle to get her up for kindergarten, and now she was wide awake and ready to go to church. It was Mom’s turn not to want to get up. “Why don’t you sleep a little more?” she said. “It’s so early.”

“No!” Ana said. “I can’t sleep any longer. I need to take a shower and get dressed.”

Several hours later, Mom took Ana and her little sister, Helena, to church. Dad said he couldn’t go because he was busy.

Ana enjoyed church very much.

The next week, she asked every day, “Are we going to church next Sabbath?”

Mom was happy to take her two daughters to church every Sabbath. She also liked going to church. After three months, she gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized.

Meanwhile, Ana began to ask Dad to go to church. “When are you going?” she said.

Dad was happy that Ana enjoyed church, but he always seemed to be too busy.

“Daddy is still preparing himself to go,” he said. “I’ll go one day.”

Ana wouldn’t take no for an answer. “You’re going next Sabbath, right?” she said.

There was only one thing that Dad could say. “Fine, I’ll go,” he said.

But when Sabbath came, he didn’t go.

Ana was distraught every time that Dad changed his mind. She cried, saying, “Daddy, you’ve got to go!”

Many months passed. Early one Sabbath morning, Ana came to her parents’ bedroom to invite Dad to church.

“Are you going today?” she asked.

“No, not today,” he said.

Ana plopped herself down on the bed and firmly folded her arms.

“Then I’m not going today,” she said.

“No, go with your mom and sister,” Dad said.

“No,” Ana said. “We have to go as a family. I’m not going unless you are.”

There was only one thing that Dad could do. Dad went to church. It was the happiest day of Ana’s life! Her eyes were shining, and her lips were smiling. Her whole family was together in church on Sabbath. A few months later, Dad also gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized.

Now Ana is dreaming about bringing all her uncles and aunties to church. She is dreaming that they will be baptized, too.

Pray that many mommies and daddies, uncles and aunties, in Brazil will give their hearts to Jesus with the help of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, also known as the Quarterly Mission Project Offering. Part of the offering will help open a church for children at Pernambucano Adventist Academy, which is located in the region of Brazil where Ana and her family live. Thank you for planning a generous offering for this important project.