Adventist Woman in Brazil Makes Handwritten Copies of the Bible

Eliana Selmer displays the second Bible she wrote as a gift for her daughter. [Photo: Matheus Drobenko]

In southern Brazil, a 65-year-old retired nurse is inspiring her entire church with a remarkable act of devotion.

Eliana Selmer, a Seventh-day Adventist from Castro, Paraná, began hand-copying the Bible in 2006 to help her better memorize Scripture.

Each morning before work, she spent 45 minutes transcribing a page—a practice she kept for over four years. Using 35 pens, she filled 2,500 handwritten pages across four volumes.

Her first completed Bible became a treasured gift to her son. Then, she started a second copy for her daughter—this time writing the words of Jesus in green ink.

Her dedication caught on. Women in her church followed her example, and eventually, over 140 members joined a collective Bible-writing project.

Each volunteer hand-copied a chapter, and together they created a beautifully illustrated, handwritten Bible.

Church pastor Luiz Ferreira says the effort has brought people closer to God’s Word—not just as a book for worship, but as part of their daily lives.

"No Compromise: Adventist Athlete’s Stand for Sabbath Recognized by Law"

Tiago de Alencar (first on the right) with his judo team. [Photo: courtesy of Tiago de Alencar]

In a landmark win for religious freedom, a Brazilian court has ruled in favor of Tiago Corte de Alencar, a Seventh-day Adventist lawyer and judoka from São Paulo, allowing him to observe the Sabbath while pursuing his passion for judo.

De Alencar, a black belt, faced rejection when he requested an alternative date for his graduation exam—normally held on Saturdays.

As a Sabbathkeeper, he refuses to compete or train from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.

After repeated requests and silence from the Judo Federation, he took the matter to court—not to stir conflict, but to protect freedom of belief.

The court agreed, ruling in his favor. Following the decision, the São Paulo Judo Federation not only offered him a new exam date, but also opened the door for other Adventists to do the same.

Adventist leaders are hailing the decision as a spiritual and civic victory, reminding us all that freedom of conscience is a right—and a responsibility to defend.

Karinea te Taabati te Minita Ibukin te Akawa mai Nauru Imwaain Bowiin PNA

Nauru Fisheries Minister, Hon. Reagan Winson Aliklik; Photo: Courtesy, Government of the Republic of Nauru.

Inanon te waaki n onimaki ae riaon tuan te Nakoa, e a tia te Minita Ibukin te Akawa mai Nauru ae Honourable Reagan Winson Aliklik ni katikui tabena ni kabane iaan nakoana ao ni kawakina te Taabati ao n taromauri ma kaain te Ekaretia ni kaitibong i Kiribati."

E roko te Minita ibukini kaean aia Boowi Minita man Aban PNA ae boo i Tarawa n te wiiki aei, ao n te Taabati ae 31 n Meei, e a tia the Minita ni kamaunai wewete ma tabena n te tautaeka ao ni kawakina te Taabati ma kaain te Ekaretia ni Kaitibong iaon Korobu.

E boni ngae ngke e rang ribwa ana tai imwaain te boowi, ma e kabanea ana Taabati te Minita n taromauri, ao ni katawanou ao ni maroro ma kaain te Ekaretia.

N ana kaotioti are e anga, ao e kaota aron moan noran te onimaki ni Kaitibong irouna ngke e reirei i Isalei, Biiti, ao n okina nako Nauru ao e a boni kakawakina naba te Taabati—e boni ngae ngke bon ti ngaia n taua ana koaua anne ni mwengana i Nauru.

Boni ngaia naba are e anga abana bwa e na kateaki iai ana umwantabu te Aro ni Kaitibong iaon Nauru.

E taku Honorable Aliklik bwa e a tia ni kaitarai kauntaba aika bati n te Autintei, n ikotaki ma waaki ni kakamaku nakoina ibukin rawana ni mwakuri n te Kaonobong.

N te taina ao e tuangaki bwa e na tuea iaon te Baibara, ma e aki katoka baina iaon te Baibara ma e a kauka naba te Baibara ni wareka te koaua iaon te Taabati.

Iai naba te taina ae a baireia angiia kaain te Autintei bwa a nang kamotirawa man te Autintei, ma e aki bwai naba te waaki anne ngke a boni bane n nakonako naba angiia kaain te Autintei n te aro are e aki bwaati te mwaiti ibukin kamotirawaana.

Right: Te Minita n te Akawa mai Nauru, Hon. Reagan Winson Aliklik inanon te Umwatabu i Korobu; Left: Te Tia Raitaeka, Pastor Titau Tavita, Tia Koroboki ni Kabuta, Kiribati SDA Mission.

N ana tai ni maroro ma kaain te Ekaretia i Korobu ao e kaota ana iango ibukin karekean te reitaki n i-wa-waaki imarenaia kaain te Ekaretia i Kiribati ao Nauru n te aro are a kona n roko kaain Nauru i Kiribati ao kaain Kiribati a nako Nauru ibukin karekean te iraorao ma te katiteuanaaki.

E kaukaki ana Boowi PNA n te wiiki aei, are a roko iai iaon Tarawa Minita man Botaki n Akawa man aba aika Tuvalu, Babua Nukin, Toromon, FSM, Vanuatu, Matiare ao Kiribati ibukin maroroakinan bwaai aika kakawaki n rekereke ma te akawa n te Aono.