June 24, 2004 Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia …. [Bob Donaldson/ANN]
With 2004 being the Year of Evangelism for the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, children at the Port Macquarie, New South Wales, congregation are showing the way.
A public evangelistic campaign entitled “The God Factor” was conducted by 10- to 15-year-olds in the new church building over four consecutive Saturday evenings in May and June.
“This outreach series was a project of our very committed and visionary junior and teen Sabbath Schools, although the whole church community gladly supported it,” says Pastor Justin Lawman, who leads the congregation.
Four thousand youth-oriented postcards were distributed and the events were widely publicized in the local newspaper. Months beforehand the junior and teen Sabbath Schools organized a prayer list, and then personally invited their friends from nearby schools.
“The target age group was the 10- to 15-year-olds,” says junior Sabbath School leader Trish Campbell, “but parents were also welcomed with open arms.” And they came. The average attendance over the four nights was 135, 40 of whom were not church members.
According to George Smith, principal of Port Macquarie Adventist School (PMAS), “About 70 percent of our students come from non-Adventist homes. Quite a few came to ‘The God Factor,’ and some brought their parents too.”
Pastor Lawman adds, “There were people there who had never set foot in our church before.”
At the conclusion of the meetings, Jacob, an 11-year-old who attends the Adventist school but not the church, commented, “One of the things I learned was how to get to heaven. And I came really close to God. I’ve never really been close to God before, and it felt really cool.”
Two young people preached each week for seven to 10 minutes each. Topics included, “God R U really there?” (Prophecy), “Why do bad things happen to good people?”, “What do I have to do to get to heaven?” (Salvation), and “A future without fear” (Second Coming).
The children chose the topics and were involved in all aspects of the planning. “The subjects were not only relevant to children,” says Pastor Lawman, “but adults as well.”
Each program began with a praise and worship service conducted by the young people and accompanied by a 12-member junior and teen band.
Other regular features, all conducted by young people, included a quiz (with prizes), a bracket of “Whacky but true” facts, and a short dramatized sketch related to the night’s topic.
At the close of each meeting, everyone was invited to the school hall for two hours of recreational activities and food.
Three days after “The God Factor” concluded, students in the Years 5 and 6 classrooms at PMAS were invited to write down their thoughts on the program. Ten-year-old Peta wrote, “I learned to know God better,” while Zac, 11, said, “I don’t need to worry, because God is always by my side.”
All the children who helped lead the program now have a new focus in life as expressed so well by 11-year-old Lara. “You feel good inside with the feeling that you are sharing God’s love with others.”
“It doesn’t matter if you are scared about doing it,” according to Anita,11,. “God helped me through and I didn’t freak!” And Lachlan, 14, adds, “We all appreciated Pastor Lawman’s help too.”
Reviewing the series, Campbell says, “From responses on returned quiz cards it’s gratifying to know that many lives have been touched–especially those we’ve been praying for–and many decisions made for Christ.”
Pastor Lawman adds, “We now have a number of interested people to follow up.”
Copyright й 2004 by Adventist News Network
