Inter-America: Thousands of evangelism campaigns held in build-up to Vision One Million

February 29, 2012 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD

Thousands of evangelistic campaigns took place earlier this month throughout Seventh-day Adventist churches and gathering centers across Inter-America as part of unified efforts to reach communities with the message of the gospel. The two-week-long effort was part of an action plan which involved thousands of church leaders and members of small groups in the testifying phase of Inter-America’s year-long spiritual revival and reformation initiative.

According to Pastor Melchor Ferreyra, personal ministries director for the church in Inter-America and coordinator of the intense evangelistic series, more than 97,300 evangelistic campaigns took place, a number which closely represents the more than 100,000 small groups organized throughout the 21 church territories in the Inter-American Division (IAD).

The unique evangelistic campaigns brought top administrators and leaders from the IAD headquarters to travel to designated countries for a week of evening and Sabbath meetings in churches, auditoriums, and community centers. Church leaders and evangelists from each union travelled to their sister union to join the efforts already began by small group leaders, laypersons and church members.

Pastor Ferreyra spoke to hundreds of people gathered at the Puebla Central Adventist Church in Mexico where more than 150 visitors interested in knowing more of the gospel gathered every night.

During the day, Pastor Ferreyra met with small group leaders to encourage and motivate for further growth in the two districts with only 2,000 Seventh-day Adventists in a population of approximately 3 million.

“Our small group leaders were so on fire in Puebla that 22 small group leaders were chosen as pioneers to work towards establishing 22 new churches,” said Pastor Ferreyra. He added that lay preachers and bible instructors were also teamed up for the task.

In Guatemala, more than 1,400 campaigns were held with nearly 21,000 people attending. Church leaders reported that some 1,149 new members joined the church the two weeks it was held throughout the Central American country.

In El Salvador, more than 800 evangelistic campaigns were being held reported Pastor Hector Sanchez, ministerial association secretary for the church in Inter-America. Pastor Sanchez held the week’s series in the Cojutepeque Central Adventist Church, a small city close to San Salvador, the capital city. He spoke to dozens of church members and some 80 visitors each night.

On the island of Barbados, a number of evangelistic series took place as well. Belkis Archbold, health ministries director for the church in Inter-America, spoke at the Black Rock Adventist Church in Barbados where more than 150 people attended each evening from Feb. 11-18. The series was focused on health topics.

“The Adventist Church there [Barbados] prepared a wonderful series centered on health while other evangelistic series took place in churches across the island,” said Archbold. In addition, health screenings took place every evening for anyone wanting to check their blood pressure, cholesterol level, glucose level, body mass index, and more. “It was the kind of community outreach which drew members and visitors alike to listen to the health message so helpful for our daily living.”

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, at the Quisqueya Adventist Church, Pastor Leon Wellington, vice president of the church in Inter-America spoke on Jesus being the solution to all problems to more than 40 visitors every night.

Although the number of baptisms are still not completely accounted for, Pastor Ferreyra said it’s not about the numbers but getting new members involved in the church and small groups, inviting friends and neighbors, and becoming active disciples in the fulfilling of the mission of the church.

The unified evangelistic activities are part of the church’s Vision One Million, an initiative designed to be part of the testifying phase or That the World May Know revival program focused on making active disciples and witnesses of the gospel message. Already, the first two phases, Constant In Prayer and Heeding the Word, emphasized a prayerful life and daily study of the Bible. The comprehensive initiative follows the appeal of the Adventist world church to facilitate spiritual revival and reformation, and discipleship and evangelism around the globe.According to Pastor Ferreyra, the coordinated efforts have already made a difference.

“This year is like no other,” he said. “Because under the context of revival and reformation we have dedicated time for prayer, focus on the Bible and now with testifying. There cannot be effective preaching without revival and the step-by-step process is seeing results.”

That revival and reformation initiative which has taken place during a 12-month period has been key in creating an environment where church members can have a daily life of prayer, study of the Bible and testify of the good news of the gospel, organizers said. It is that comprehensive initiative which has escalated to a Vision One Million where thousands of visitors are expected to be part of a special program via satellite on Saturday, March 31, live from Guatemala City, Guatemala.

For more information on Inter-America’s Spiritual Revival and Reformation and Vision One Million initiative and live program, visit www.interamerica.org or the following links:

Resources:

Revival and Reformation webpage: http://praying4revival.org
In Spanish: http://estamosorando.org
French: http://praying4revival.org
Vision One Million: http://visiononemillion.org