Adventist magazines in trash leads to Bible studies
Discarded church magazines sparked a friendship, Bible studies, and a desire to attend church.
Maycon Santos, South American Division, and ANNBrazilJul 9, 2026, 8:04 AM
In Teresópolis, in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, discarded Adventist magazines ignited a resident's interest in studying the Bible and transforming her life.
Maria da Glória found the magazines in a trash can in the São Pedro neighborhood. After taking the magazines home, she began to look through them. She soon realized she needed help understanding the content. She decided to find the neighbor who had discarded them.
"I felt good looking at the little book, but I didn't understand anything. I needed someone to teach me. So, I went to talk to her, and she explained that those books were no longer useful to her because they were complete. But they were useful to me," recalls Glória.
The neighbor was Leonice Pimentel, a Seventh-day Adventist of 58 years with a passion for teaching the Bible. Pimentel was surprised to discover the fate of her magazines.
"She came to me and told me she had found some books in my trash and that she was really enjoying them. She said she needed help understanding them. When I saw them, they were old, completed Sabbath School lessons," she recounts.
The magazines were discarded because there was no longer space to store them in Pimentel's home. She believes the fate of the material was no coincidence.
"There comes a time when we can't keep anything anymore. That's exactly the kind of material that Mrs. Glória found. I was very happy because I understood that it was a light found in the trash," said Pimentel.
What began as a conversation between neighbors quickly blossomed into a friendship strengthened by Bible studies.
For Pimentel, the experience further reinforced her commitment to the mission.
"Our neighborhood is very large, and sometimes we feel small in the face of so much need. But this only increases our desire to work to reach as many people as possible for Christ," she said.
Between discarded magazines and a friendship built through studying the Bible, Glória found a new purpose. She faces mobility difficulties that prevent her from venturing far from home. She is now working to regain her health so she can attend an Adventist church.
The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.
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