March 18, 2011 – Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela…Libna Stevens/IAD
In less then 24 hours, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in northwest Venezuela will climax its aggressive evangelism efforts with a large baptismal ceremony. The event, which will take place at the Palacio de los Eventos in Maracaibo tomorrow, will see the baptism of 1,200 new members.
The ceremony will be carried live through the Hope Church Channel, Esperanza TV and 3ABN Latino, and interconnect with the rest of the 20 church regions of the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory.
It’s all part of what the church in Inter-America has coined as the “Pentecost and More” initiative, designed to mobilize the thousands of church leaders and members to work together to share God’s truths in their communities, through Bible study groups, churches and large centers.
“For us it’s such a privilege and great opportunity to host this large IAD program where we can communicate with the rest of division territory and the world and share our faith, our hope, and be inspired to welcome thousands of new members into our church,” says Pastor Orlando Ramirez, executive secretary of the church in the Venezuela Antilles Union. More than 2,200 baptisms will take place throughout dozens of churches in the union, adds Ramirez.
Since the beginning of the year, the church has intensely promoted small group ministries and activities for young people, says Ramirez. One such activity saw church members and young people wash some 2,500 taxi cabs for free in exchange for taxi drivers to place a sticker promoting the “Pentecost and More” satellite program through Esperanza TV, according to Ramirez.
The live event has also been promoted through the 28 radio stations in the territory, and promotions through flyers and banners have been distributed throughout the region as well, church leaders said.
“To hold Inter-America’s Pentecost and More initiative in our territory brings a special meaning to our church in Venezuela since it was here in this country that on March 25, the first baptism took place 100 years ago and the first church with 17 members was organized a week later,” says Ramirez.
Already, pastors and laypeople have been holding evangelistic campaigns in 186 preaching centers, says Pastor Fernando Toala, personal ministries director for the church in the west Venezuela region.
“We need to finish preaching the message,” says Toala, who also oversees evangelism for Maracaibo. “‘We must have our entire region to get to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.” And in a region with a population of two million, 67 churches and congregations and some 5,000 members, the task is still ongoing, says Toala. Yet, he adds, doors are opening.
“This is the first time that a church has been allowed to hold such a large religious event here in the Palacio de los Eventos-the largest and most prestigious convention center in the country,” he says. Just last year the Miss Venezuela Pageant was held in the Palacio de los Eventos.
“Pentecost and More” evangelism efforts will continue until the end of the month with some 850 more baptisms to take place in the region, adds Toala.
The church in Venezuela has arranged for more than 50 downlink sites for the live broadcast. Hundreds more downlink sites are set in churches across Inter-America, where thousands of baptisms are expected to take place as well.
To view Inter-America’s Pentecost and More broadcast from Maracaibo, Venezuela at 9:30 a.m. Venezuela Time or 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, go to:
Hope Church Channel: http://hopetv.org
http://www.hopetv.org/watch-now/watch-live-online/hope-church-channel/
Esperanza TV: http://www.esperanzatv.org
3ABN Latino: http://www.3bnlatino.org
Inter-America’s church unionoffices can reach the live Pentecost and More programs with baptismal results at:
Atlantic Caribbean Union:+58-426-551-8276
Belize Union: +58-426-551-8276
Caribbean Union: +58-416-6903911
Jamaica Union: +58-416-6903911
French Antilles GuianaUnion: +58-416-973-9893
Haitian Union: +58-416-973-9893
Central Mexican Union: +58-416-491-0952
Dominican Republic:+58-416-503-2383
East Venezuela Union: +58-416-491-0952
Guatemala Union: +58-416-655-6294
Honduras Union: +58-416-655-6294
Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union:+58-416-655-6294
North Colombia Union: +58-416-504-2554
North Mexican Union: +58-416-504-2554
Puerto Rican Union: +58-414-504-2554
El Salvador Union: +58-416-956-0754
South Central AmericanUnion: +58-416-956-0754
South Colombia Union: +58-416-956-0754
South Mexican Union: +58-426-969-4936
Other calls: +58-426-551-8279
