The Power of Preaching the Gospel Through the Written Word

By Cynthia Mendoza

Even before becoming Seventh-day Adventists, Pietro and Cecilia Peverini began keeping the Sabbath after reading Les Signes des Temps (The Sign of the Times in French) in 1885. Little did they know that their act of faith would be multiplied exponentially through the lives of their grandchildren, including Tulio Peverini, a now-retired pastor and communicator who, among many other callings within the church throughout his life, served as editor of El Centinela for more than 25 years.

Originally from Paysandú, Uruguay, Tulio and his twin brother Milton (former speaker/director for La Voz de La Esperanza, the Spanish language edition of the Voice of Prophecy) became grounded in the faith early in their lives as they saw it modeled in their father Hector, who served the church as a pastor for 46 years.

“The pious life of my father, a self-sacrificing pastor for 46 years, and the call of the Holy Spirit and the Bible, inspired me to become a pastor,” said Peverini, who graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree at the age of 20 in 1952 from Colegio Adventista del Plata. “I thought that eventually one day I too will be a pastor like my father was.”

On January 23, 1958, Tulio married Lilia Eleonora Wensell, the daughter of missionaries, a primary school teacher, and designer of books and magazines at Pacific Press. She has been his teammate in ministry and life since. For many years, Lilia dedicated her talents to teaching in the children's divisions of the Sabbath School.

“God favored Lilia with a beautiful presence, unusual artistic talent, and total loyalty to Christ and His mission,” Peverini said of his wife of 64 years.

Peverini went on to serve the church in various roles in Argentina. One of the highlights of his ministry was his ordination in 1972 at Soquel Camp Meeting. The service was officiated by Pastor H.M.S. Richards, founder of the Voice of Prophecy.

Peverini received a call from the General Conference to serve at Pacific Press as editor of El Centinela, the Spanish language counterpart to The Sign of The Times, which he gladly did, from 1970 until 1997, completing 45 years of service to the church. In his lifetime, Peverini has authored 225 articles, written 10 books, and published a four-volume series of 136 sermons called Preaching the Word.

“The certainty that written communication is more powerful and permanent than spoken communication is what drew me to the area of publications,” he said regarding his 27 years of service at Pacific Press. He quotes Ellen G. White on the role and importance of the written word as a form of sharing the gospel: “The publications sent forth from our printing houses are to prepare a people to meet God. Throughout the world they are to do the same work that was done by John the Baptist.… As John prepared the way for the first, so we are to prepare the way for the second, advent of the Saviour” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 139).

“The many letters from readers of El Centinela asking for advice, help, and prayer transformed my budding vocation for the printed page into an irrepressible passion,” he said. “Writing lasts forever. People remember writing from years ago.”

Throughout his 45 years of formal ministry, Peverini also experienced impactful situations that further strengthened him in his passion for sharing the gospel. One of the most sobering experiences was in Mexico.

After a service Peverini, along with four other pastors and leaders, traveled two and a half hours to pay homage to Fortino Sánchez, a colporteur martyred along the city's railroad tracks in the 1940s. Even after receiving death threats, Sánchez continued in his work as a colporteur. One day his enemies made good on their threats; four men dragged Sánchez to the railroad tracks and told him point blank one last time to stop or else.

Sánchez’s pleadings for mercy went unheeded.

Peverini and fellow pastors soberly laid a wreath of flowers next to the spot where Sánchez died. They prayed and reconsecrated themselves to the Lord, asking God for the same courage in sharing the gospel that Sánchez had.

On a much happier note, but equally impactful and noteworthy, Peverini recalls the 12 years of what he describes as “incessant, demanding, and complex” work required to produce the seventh volume of the Adventist Bible Commentary in Spanish, thus completing the set.

“All those years there was a united effort by administrators, translators, editors, proofreaders, and workers in the different workshops of the publishing house,” he said. “But the joy and gratitude to the Lord were immense. The work and efforts had been worth it. The Lord's church would be better prepared to receive the Lord when He came to look for His people.”

Early in his ministry, Peverini also realized the importance of a good education, going on to earn a doctorate and teaching.

“I felt the desire to pursue higher education to face a more intellectually demanding world,” he said. “By God's providence, out of my 45 years as a worker in the Adventist Church, I spent 35 in publishing work as an editor and the rest in teaching at three of our educational institutions.”

It could be said then, that Tulio Peverini, by the grace of God alone, is something of a “triple blessing” for the kingdom of God, having preached the gospel through education, pastoral ministry, and writing.

He continues to do so in retirement. He is an active and involved member of the Yucaipa Spanish church in the Southeastern California Conference, continues to share the gospel through his own personal writing projects, and has a passion for encouraging young people to be the best they can be in every area of their lives, including academically and professionally, for the glory of God.

But none of his numerous titles or professional accomplishments, noteworthy as they may be, mean a thing without the one single most important driving force behind them: his deep love for Christ and His church.

“The most important thing I would want people to know is Jesus, my precious Savior,” Peverini says as his eyes fill with tears and his voice abruptly breaks into a deeply heartfelt quiver, so that those listening to him are overcome with emotion too. “He is so patient with me, and His love is so immense. I love His church and I have preached His gospel for 45 years. He is the mighty Captain of the church.”

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