Speaking a New Language of Love

Something new and exciting was happening on campus at the Adventist University Institute of Venezuela! Students and faculty from the theology department wanted to do something to have a lasting impact on the people around them.

So, in 2016, they opened the Center of Languages, giving university students access to learning English, Portuguese, and French. Language skills were in high demand!

“I had the privilege of seeing the birth of the Center of Languages and organizing the curricular contents of the courses that were taught,” recalled former coordinator Jane Mendes. “It was a great challenge, but with the support of my team of teachers, we were able to advance in fulfilling the mission.”

This urban center of influence has since evolved and now opens its doors to the entire city community, many of whom are not familiar with the Adventist message.

Antony Vera, the current coordinator, spent a year teaching English at the center before accepting the responsibility of its leadership. “In 2019, we received a lot of students that weren’t believers,” he said. “So we created some strategies for reaching them and sharing the gospel with them.”

The courses include devotionals and spiritual discussions that have piqued the interest of some students.

Former language student Rafael Álvarez observed that one of the best things about the center was that spiritual seeds were planted in each student’s heart.

Juan Diego Benavides, coordinator of the theology program, reported that, “In 2020, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the urban center of influence continued teaching its classes online with 138 students attending, 16 of them non-Adventist. This center of influence will continue working to reach the unreached!” Please pray that God will continue to bless the workers at the Center of Languages at the Adventist University Institute of Venezuela as they share Jesus with their community.

Ricky Oliveras, Office of Adventist Mission

Watch this story at m360.tv/s21213!

Urban Centers of Influence

Global Mission supports wholistic mission to the cities through the ministry of dozens of urban centers of influence (UCIs). UCIs follow Christ’s method of ministry to meet people’s needs and start new groups of believers. To learn more, visit MissionToTheCities.org.

Please support urban centers of influence (Fund # 9730) by visiting Global-Mission.org/giving.