Seka lives in Ivory Coast, West Africa. From the time he was born, his parents, who were Seventh-day Adventists, had family worship every day. His father and mother told him the stories of the Bible. Every Sabbath, Seka and his family went to Sabbath School. At Sabbath School he learned to sing the songs that give praise to the Lord. He heard wonderful mission stories of faraway lands and he heard more Bible stories. Seka had learned from the Bible that the Sabbath is a very special day and that on that day God wants to have special fellowship with the people He has created. So Sabbath after Sabbath Seka looked forward to this special time with his family and with God.
When Seka was six years old, his parents sent him to the community school. How they wished that they had a Seventh-day Adventist school where Seka could go, but alas, there was none. Like most schools in West Africa, Seka's school had classes on Sabbath. Seka was expected to be there every Sabbath. But Seka knew that it would be wrong to go to school on Sabbath. God Himself had set that day aside for a very special relationship with His people. Each Sabbath, instead of going to school, Seka went with his parents to Sabbath School and church. After several weeks, the teacher called Seka to his desk after school. "Why have you been absent each Saturday?" he asked. Seka stood tall and answered, "I am a Seventh-day Adventist Christian and I don't work on Sabbath. I go to Sabbath School and church instead." The teacher was so impressed by this sincere response (Seka was only six years old, remember), that he decided not to say anything about Seka's absences on Sabbath.
"Why have you been absent each Saturday?" Seka had witnessed for Jesus. His parents were so proud of him! They knew that God had given him courage to stand firm for what he knew was true.

By Priscille Metonou, Africa-Indian Ocean Division