"While athletes will be breaking sports records, Seventh-day Adventist university students ... are going to transform Rio de Janeiro into the capital of service and witness," says Pastor Otimar Gonçalves, youth ministries leader for the Adventist church in South America. He spoke to a work group planning public outreach during the July 13 to 29 Pan American Games (CO-RIO) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

With delegations from 42 countries and 5,500 athletes competing for titles in 28 sports, the Pan American Games is considered the largest sporting event of the Americas, according to the Olympic Committee. In response to the games, the Adventist church in Brazil has named their activities 'Impact Rio' as church leaders see many educational, social and other outreach opportunities.

The work group is composed of church leaders from various parts of the Adventist church in Brazil. From July 21 to 28 they plan to distribute 1 million tracts in three languages and break the Chilean record for copying the entire Bible in less than 15 minutes. In addition to church leaders, 4,000 Adventist university students from eight countries in South America are involved in planning the activities.

The main outreach activity will take place on the Copacabana Beach pedestrian path with morning devotionals and seminars. In the afternoons, university students will participate in social services in the communities throughout Rio.

"Seven dental clinics will support the students and health professionals," says Stanley Arco, the youth ministries leader from the Adventist church in East Brazil. And at night, the focus will be public meetings.

In preparation for the Pan American Games, Bibles with the 'Impact Rio' logo and special training for leaders will be available. Limited editions of the Adventist Review, the official church paper in Portuguese, will be distributed in June and July and will highlight Pastor Jan Paulsen, the world church president, and his responses to questions that young people have asked.

This is a "historical moment," says Edson Romero, youth ministries leader for the Adventist church in Rio de Janeiro. He explained that the date on the sports calendar is an "excuse" to promote peace, especially during a time when Max Guilherme Schaubb, the Youth Ministries leader for the Adventist church in Rio Fluminense, says violence in Rio is on the rise. "As we unite witness with service, the city is receiving a present," he says of the planned events.

"From the opening ceremonies for our activities on July 21 through the closing ceremony on the 29th ... Rio will be impacted by an attitude of solidarity," Pastor Gonçalves affirms. [Editor: Jael Enéas for ANN/APD]