‘Serving Is Our Way of Living God’s Purpose for Our Lives’

After finishing high school, Ellen Lopes found herself facing a decision that would define her life. She had dreamed of being a missionary, but she wasn’t sure how to go about it.

During a devotional initiative titled “40 Dawns With God,” Ellen began praying earnestly for direction. “Each prayer seemed like a conversation with God, as I asked Him to show me what next step to take,” she recalled.

The answer came with an opportunity to study at Wildwood Health Institute, a missionary college in the United States. There, Ellen discovered the world of medical missionary work and immersed herself in topics that would transform her way of looking at life, such as living a healthful lifestyle and eating healthfully. “It was as if God opened a door and said, ‘This is the way.’ I knew that it would change my life forever,” she says.

A Higher Purpose

After this remarkable experience, Ellen returned to Brazil and decided to study advertising at Brazilian Adventist University (UNASP), combining her passion for communication with the desire to serve. “I saw how communication could be a powerful instrument for the mission. I wanted to use what I learned to help bring hope to people,” she explained.

With a diploma in hand, she left for her first major missionary project, in Peru. For six months, Ellen worked in isolated communities, using various methods of communication to support local action. “Every day was a learning experience. I saw the joy of people when they were reached, and that fed my soul. It was there that I confirmed that serving was what made my life meaningful,” she said.

Ellen Lopes and the group of volunteers during a service project in Côte d’Ivoire [Photo: courtesy of Ellen Lopes]

Ellen Lopes chose to put her profession and talents at the service of others, making a difference in the lives of many. [Photo: courtesy of Ellen Lopes]

Ellen Lopes (right) with her husband, a dental surgeon [Photo: Ellen Lopes]

Ellen Lopes during a service project with children in India [Photo: courtesy of Ellen Lopes]

She returned to Brazil because of family issues, yet Ellen did not forget about mission service. She began working as a marketing manager at Central Brazil Adventist Academy (formerly IABC) in Goiás, where she found opportunities for service. Although she thought her stay would be temporary, her passion for mission in her community kept her there.

Since then, Ellen and her husband, who is a dental surgeon, have dedicated their vacations to short-term projects. “Every year, we are involved in at least two projects, whether local, national, or even international. Serving is our way of living God’s purpose for our lives,” she says.

A Dream-driven Mission

Among the many experiences that volunteer service has provided her, Ellen fondly remembers her work in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, where in approximately one month, her husband performed more than 200 dental procedures, while she dedicated herself to communication and support for the project. “It was exciting to see how small gestures can transform lives. The gratitude in people’s eyes was something I will never forget,” she said.

Ellen, however, dreams of going further. Since college, she has had the desire to create a communication agency focused exclusively on missionary projects. “Many incredible projects do not come to people’s attention because there is a lack of resources or professionals to promote them. I want to help change that, to show that missionary work has powerful stories that deserve to be told,” she said.

Ellen has also fulfilled another one of her dreams, thanks to her missionary heart. From when she was a child, she had wanted to visit India. A mission trip took her there. The trip was filled with challenges, such as discovering she was pregnant and being denied a visa, but she decided to trust God. “It was one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. I realized that even when everything seems impossible, God is in control. He always acts at the right time,” she said.

When she arrived in India, Ellen felt that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. “Despite several challenges, God took care of every detail. It seemed that my baby was also part of that mission,” she said.

Today, Ellen looks back with gratitude and forward with hope. Each project, each experience, and each challenge reinforce her certainty that mission is not just a job but a lifestyle. “Life only makes sense when we make ourselves available to God to serve where He calls us,” she said. “That’s what warms my heart and gives me the strength to continue.”

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.