On Dec. 13, 2007, Christina Cunha celebrated her 90th birthday then two days later she celebrated her rebirth through baptism as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. Most 90-year-olds are set in their ways and change is not easy, but change is exactly what Cunha wanted.

Cunha was born in New Bedford, Mass., to Catholic parents of Portuguese descent and was baptized at birth for fear of early death due to illness. Fortunately, Cunha recovered. She grew up adhering to the beliefs and doctrines of the Catholic church. All she knew was the Catholic faith, and she believed that she would receive her "final rites" as a Catholic.

Things began to change in Cunha's life on May 20, 2006, when her daughter-in-law, Delores, and two grandsons, Richard and Scott Salazar, were baptized after attending a Revelation seminar at the Reno Seventh-day Adventist Church. Soon after, her son, Paul, began attending. Cunha remembers the two going off to church each week and "never imposing their new-found faith" on her. Cunha's heart was moving. "It was like a voice was talking to me and saying ‘Why don't you start going to church and see if you like it?'" she explains. She announced one Sabbath afternoon, "I think I will go to church with you next week."

After that first Sabbath, Cunha longed to continue attending the Adventist church. She enjoyed attending Sabbath school, which was a new experience but a welcome change. She, along with Delores and Paul, began making new friends and was touched by the kindness of the church members. Cunha was satisfied with her new Christian life, but things were about to change even more.

The Cunha's were invited to "Shout Out," an evening praise and worship service, at the Sparks church. Once again they were instantly welcomed. The Cunha's decided to attend a Sabbath morning church service at Sparks; the same Sabbath Pastor David Hall, the new conference youth director, preached his first sermon at this particular church. After hearing Hall, Cunha decided she wanted to be baptized. "I told Pastor Hall, at the next weekly conference prayer session, that I wanted to be baptized. But being a Catholic and baptized at birth I was unsure of the whole process," explained Cunha.

The next Sabbath, two young men were baptized and Cunha was impressed. The story of Nehemiah being reborn, laying down the old man, and becoming a new creation inspired her. Cunha couldn't wait any longer. She and Paul decided to be baptized together and combine the rebirth in Christ with her earthly birthday celebration.