Jaroslav Sevcik has enjoyed helping out with the Sherwood Park Seventh-day Adventist Church booth at the Sherwood Park Trade Show for the past 11 years. This past year’s trade show was from April 11-13, 2025 in Sherwood Park, Alberta and himself, Matthew Whyte, and Oswald Wallen spent 20 hours there during the weekend sharing books, engaging in conversation with people passing by the booth, and sharing information about the church and the possibility for Bible Studies. Every year, the Sherwood Park SDA Church booth has a variety of books to give away including the 5 books from the Conflict Series from Ellen G. White, as well as some of her smaller books, like Steps to Christ. Some other books they usually have on hand are Ten Commandments Twice Removed, National Sunday Law, a selection of Bibles, books for kids, magazines on lifestyle and health, and GLOW tracts.
Jaroslav was amazed at the amount of young people, as young as 10-12 years old, who were eager to take up to 4 or 5 books. He is assured that even if these young people don’t read the book themselves, they take them home and it creates an opportunity for their parents or caregivers to see and potentially read the books. He, and the others witnessed many beautiful moments over the course of the weekend of young people eager to receive Bibles, and other forms of literature.
Jaroslav says, “I love the trade show. There are so many opportunities to talk to people, and it is so encouraging to see so many young people coming and taking books; they don’t say no.”
This year they gave away at least thirty of The Great Controversy, and many of The Desire of Ages, and a variety of other books. There were also 3 individuals who filled out the form requesting Bible Studies, with whom Brennen Vaneck, the Bible Worker for Sherwood Park Seventh-dad Adventist Church, will follow up with.
-Jaroslav Sevcik’s story as recounted to Michelle Solheiro.