Tetelestai: First Conference of FAF Brasil

DEBORAH BUFFONE WITH COLLEEN TINKER

This past August 1–3, 2025, Deborah Buffone, the coordinator of Portuguese outreach into Brazil for Life Assurance Ministries, experienced a dream come true. Since 2021 she has been conducting online Bible studies via Zoom for people questioning and leaving Adventism in Brazil. Now, four years later, she met many of those who have been participating online as they gathered to share a weekend of fellowship and worship in person at the first conference of FAF Brasil.

Participants met from around the country in the city of Sorocaba in Sao Paulo, and for three dynamic days, attendees shared worship, encouragement, and their stories of the triumphs and hurdles of their journeys out of the Seventh-day Adventist organization after realizing that they had been part of a cult. They cemented lasting personal and spiritual connections that had been forged online over the past four years of learning the gospel of the Lord Jesus’s finished work as Debbie has led them through books of the Bible on Friday evenings. 

Finally they met in person, and the conference theme, Tetelestai, defined their joy as they celebrated their shared faith in their Savior Jesus and His guarantee on the cross that their debts are “paid in full”. 

The air was electric with anticipation as people arrived from around the country. The venue was prepared: the pantry was filled, and the refrigerator was stuffed for the weekend. The hearts of those who  had previously connected virtually overflowed with excitement as they met and hugged in person. 

Making Disciples

The conference featured moderated round-table discussions on salvation through Jesus alone, the Sabbath, jewelry, and personal testimonies. Four moderators oversaw the table discussions, and Debbie did general presentations on the subjects of baptism in the time of the disciples and also on communion, emphasizing how Jesus inaugurated the new covenant in His blood with His disciples at that last supper. There was also some one-on-one counseling as some sought encouragement for the difficulties and losses they faced as they left Adventism. 

Meals were marked by the fellowship of friends who have become brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus as they have left the false gospel of their shared past in Adventism. On Saturday they ate their main meal around a big table spread with the famed Brazilian barbecue Churrasco. Then they all took communion together, remembering the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus on the cross who guaranteed salvation to those who believe.

Debbie said, “We understand the commission given by Christ Jesus in Matthew 28: 20 ‘Ide, portanto, fazei discípulos de todas as nações, batizando-os em nome do Pai, e do Filho, e do Espírito Santo’; and because of that, we also had a beautiful baptism.” 

This highlight of the weekend witnessed the decision of three of those attending—Mallu, Jeanne, and her sister Janine—who wanted to be baptized into Christ as their statement that they were leaving Adventism behind and were committed to being part of the body of Christ. The baptisms were conducted by Henrike D’Paula, a Christian who has never been Adventist but who has been an active and trusted apologist in the online Bible studies as he has defended the true gospel to the transitioning Adventists in the group. 

Hope for the Future

The gratitude of the participants is a lingering blessing. Mallu Cortez, one of the three who was baptized during the weekend, said, “I can’t express how grateful I am for all the love I received from you all this weekend. This conference was amazing”.

Jenny drove with her husband to join the group on Saturday and left early on Sunday. As she left she said, “The time we spent together was precious. Thank you for showing the true gospel that saves and liberates! I hope everyone stays on this path until we are all together in the presence of Jesus!” 

As the conference drew to a close, participants left not only with a renewed desire to make disciples, but also with a warmth in their hearts from the love shared with each other during the weekend and with  enthusiasm for the future that God has prepared for this group in Brasil. If the Lord wills, they hope to meet again for their second annual conference in 2026! †