For Safira Grant, life has been anything but easy. A devoted mother of five, with four children living with her, she has faced challenges that tested her strength in every way. When her husband walked away, she found herself in an overwhelming situation, unsure of how she and her children would make it from one day to the next.
“There were days I didn’t know where our next meal would come from,” she shared. “Before he left, things seemed okay, but after he was gone, everything became a struggle.” Adding to her difficulties, her second oldest child was facing serious challenges, leading to the involvement of the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS).
Amid these hardships, Safira found herself longing for something more—something stable, something greater than her circumstances.
An Invitation That Changed Everything
One day, a friend came across a Facebook post about an upcoming event at Park Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church. She mentioned it to Safira, suggesting they go together. It was a moment of divine timing—Safira had already felt the pull to reconnect with God.
“I had already been thinking about getting closer to God,” she recalled. “I used to go to church, but I had stopped. Then my mom got really sick—she couldn’t walk for six months and ended up in the hospital. I remember sitting by her bedside, thinking, ‘We can’t do this on our own.’”
Her friend ultimately decided not to attend, but Safira was determined.
“I told her, ‘If you don’t go, I’m going anyway.’”
That night, she walked into the church with her kids and never stopped coming.
Finding a Place to Belong
Safira attended every night of the evangelistic series, from the opening night, when toys were given away, to the final Saturday meeting. But it wasn’t the giveaways that kept her coming back—it was something much deeper.
“I felt welcomed. I felt like I belonged,” she said. “The love, the support, and the messages—it all spoke to me.”
Through Bible studies and the encouragement of her new church family, Safira’s faith deepened. She witnessed firsthand how God moved in her life, strengthening her, providing for her, and restoring what was broken.
The Turning Point
One night during the series, something shifted in her heart.
“There was a message that really spoke to me,” she said. “I don’t remember exactly which one, but I just knew—right then and there—that I needed to give my life to God.”
Safira had no hesitation. She knew she was ready to surrender and take the next step in her faith journey.
Growing in Faith and Family
Since joining the church, Safira’s life has changed in ways she never expected. Her faith has grown, not just spiritually, but also in how she approaches life.
“I feel stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally,” she said. “And I’ve been able to bond better with my kids. At one point, my daughter Jakariya wouldn’t come to me when she saw me struggling. She wouldn’t ask what was wrong, but now, she sits down with me, talks to me, and we work through things together.”
Even her mother, who once struggled to walk, is now taking steps again.
“I know God has been working in my life,” she said. “I see it every day.”
Looking Ahead
Now that she has been baptized, Safira is excited for what’s next in her walk with God.
“I know He is always there, no matter what storm I face,” she said. “Even when things seem bad, He is always there.”
She hopes to continue growing in her faith and, one day, be able to encourage others who are struggling.
“If someone is thinking about baptism but isn’t sure yet, I’d sit with them, listen, and remind them to always trust in God,” she said. “Because He’ll never let us down.”
Safira’s story is a beautiful reminder that God meets us in our hardest moments, walks with us through the struggles, and leads us into something greater. Her journey is just beginning, and she’s stepping forward with faith, knowing that God will continue to guide her every step of the way.
Safira and her daughter Jakariya were baptized together on Sabbath, December 7, 2024.
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Safira Grant and Pastor Day Fernandez are in the photos above.
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