Crystal couldn't purchase any books from Amanda Bastos, a student literature evangelist, because she couldn't afford them. Then, she noticed a Bible study card and asked, “Can I get those Bible studies?"

Crystal had grown up in a nominal Christian home and had become an Adventist after her daughter, Hailey, was born. Unfortunate events caused Crystal to be angry with God, leave the church, and adopt her former lifestyle of drinking and smoking— so angry she even burned her Bible.

After surviving breast cancer and several other health problems, she was left with a small disability check inadequate to support her and her small daughter. She moved back with her family, who did not react well to Crystal’s studying the Bible again.

When Amanda came to her door, Crystal had been praying that God would take her back. She wanted to study the Bible, but her environment discouraged it. Now, through this young literature evangelist God had sent to her door at just the right time, she had another opportunity. Amanda not only signed her up for the Bible correspondence course, but also told Crystal that she could study the Bible with someone personally, if she preferred.

A week later Erdal Estay, also a literature evangelist, arranged a ride for Crystal and Hailey to go to church and to attend vacation Bible school. Both mother and daughter were excited. “Really?” exclaimed Crystal, “That would be a dream come true.”

They attended VBS at the Victoria church in Loma Linda for the next three nights. Crystal took Bible studies and decided to join the church again. Erdal received a message on her phone saying, "Thank you for bringing my life back; thank you for bringing me home."

Student literature evangelism has been a vital ministry in the Adventist church for 100 years. For 10 weeks this summer, 15 students worked in San Bernardino County based at the Victoria church. They slept on the Sabbath school room floors, used make-shift showers, and knocked on nearly 60,000 doors. In this short time, each student earned commissions averaging $2,500 for Christian education and deepened their own walk with God.

More than 8,000 books were delivered to homes. Each book is a seed and each home is the soil. Some will fall on good soil and produce everlasting life (Luke 8:5-15). Literature evangelists plant the seeds, pray that God will water them, give them the sunshine of His love, and harvest them for Heaven.

For information on being a student literature evangelist, visit www.youthrush.org and click on your local conference's link.