BY DIANE GRUESBECK LEBRUN

2004 has been designated the Year of Evangelism by the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. This special section recaps some of the outreach activities used by individuals and congregations in North America to reach their communities. Join us in celebrating the dedication and energy exhibited by these stories, and be cheered by knowing that they are just a handful of stories from the United States, Bermuda, and Canada that tell how people are passionate about sharing with others the message of a soon-coming King.—Editors.

How to Draw a Crowd at 5:15
During September and October 2003, 45 seminary students and six Andrews University faculty members held a comprehensive public evangelism outreach, "SonRise Over Baltimore," within the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. Running two meetings nightly, they discovered a significant strategy for city efforts: schedule meetings earlier! Amazingly, 90 percent of the 5:15 group were non-Seventh-day Adventists, compared to 30 percent of the 7:15 audience.

Russell Burrill, director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute (NADEI), attributes this to three factors: "Seniors who don't want to drive after dark, parents with small children, and, most significantly, the after-work crowd, who don't want to drive home to the suburbs and return to a meeting after dinner. It's easier for them to stay."

God in Shoes—Outreach to Appalachian Women
A group of 25 women held their first full-scale evangelistic series, "God in Shoes," in Rogersville, Tennessee, September 12-25, 2004. The focus of this women's ministry team from the Georgia-Cumberland Conference was women ministering to women, meeting the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of Appalachian women.

The venue was a nondenominational community center. Daytime workshops included women's health, nutrition, parenting, literacy, and preparation for employment. Evening meetings consisted of traditional Bible lessons. One unique element of this evangelism outreach is that every woman who attended was presented with a new pair of shoes.

"These women from Georgia-Cumberland Conference have caught a new vision, and God opened a way for them to share within our own conference," explained Mary Jo Dubs, project coordinator.

Church Commits 40 Percent
of Budget to Outreach
The Adventure, a relatively new congregation led by Roger Walter, in Greeley, Colorado, puts its money where its mouth is, committing 40 percent of its church budget for outreach.

Started in January 1999 by a group of 15, The Adventure has grown to a membership of 120, with an average attendance of 220. Roughly 30 percent of those who attend each week are not Seventh-day Adventists, but are seeking something to satisfy their spiritual hunger.

This church is not afraid of experimentation when it comes to outreach. Innovative approaches have included an entire evangelistic series condensed into a single weekend, and on another occasion one week.

Sharing Jesus Through Puppets
"His Hands Puppeteers," based in Candler, North Carolina, perform songs and skits at county fairs, retirement centers, hospitals, and summer camps. Each year 12 students from Mount Pisgah Academy join founders Louie and Nancy Parra in presenting bilingual programs that focus on Jesus and drug prevention. "It's a creative way for students to participate in sharing Jesus with others," Nancy Parra explains.

During the past 17 years the Parras have organized and run three puppet ministry teams, as well as assisted two other teams in starting ministries of their own. Their ministry has been awarded eight medals at puppet festivals, including People's Choice Award and Outstanding Puppetry Techniques.

How to Get the Most From Music Ministry
Artistree Ministry, Inc. (AMI) played a key role in the success of an evangelistic series in Little Rock, Arkansas, during June. Music was a high priority for this series, which was held in a public venue and cosponsored by five churches, representing three cultures.

"We prepared the worship teams, met with musicians and singers from the local congregations, and even selected the music," explains Leslie Hernández, president of AMI of Keene, Texas. Rudy Micelli was the featured soloist, as well as director of the worship team.

In addition to providing music artists and coordination for evangelistic events, AMI assists with worship and music resources and training for churches.

For more information, visit www.artistreeministry.org.

An Interview With Juan Prestol
Juan Prestol has spent more than 30 years involved in evangelism and is currently treasurer of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

What is the state of evangelism in the NAD?
Evangelism is alive in North America. More churches and pastors are now convinced that evangelism is more than a church activity; it's a way of life for the church.

What are your personal dreams for evangelism?
I'd like to see every church leader place evangelism as a priority and every member engaged in witnessing.

What is the most exciting evangelism outreach that you've heard of this year?
I'm thrilled about the Net 2004 satellite effort conducted by Walter Pearson, speaker/director of Breath of Life telecast, and the plans for the 7-Signs witnessing program soon to be unveiled.

Children's Radio Ministry Provides 36,000
Bible Studies Monthly
For more than 55 years Your Story Hour (YSH) has been "making boys and girls of today better men and women tomorrow" through its Bible and character-building stories aired on more than 3,000 radio stations around the globe. Although YSH was originally created for children, many adults also listen faithfully to Uncle Dan and Aunt Carole each week.

Your Story Hour offers much more than just a radio program. This nonprofit, interdenominational ministry provides 36,000 free Bible lessons each month—in Spanish (Cuba, Dominican Republic, and throughout the Latin world), in English (United States, Ghana, Belize, Granada), and in Russian.

For more information, go to: www.yourstoryhour.org.

An Interview With Gerald Kovalski
Gerald Kovalski is vice president for education in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

Have you seen schools becoming more involved in evangelism?
Yes, there is a noticeable difference in the involvement of our academies and colleges in evangelism activities. Administrators and teachers are encouraging students to become more involved in service and are providing a variety of outreach and mission opportunities. Many students have been conducting their own evangelistic series.

What is your burden for students in the area of evangelism?
In the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, students were educated and trained for a life focused on service to their church and to humanity; that was the purpose of their education. As Christians we need to refocus on a mission of service.

Youth Share Through Internet Television
"Our goal is to reach the youth," explains Pastor David Merino. "And who better to reach youth than other youth."

Teenagers at the Spanish Delancey church in New York City have been actively involved in outreach since March. Utilizing technology, the youth provide Bible studies for other youth via live television aired over the Internet. The Greater New York Conference provided the series of studies, "Pillars of Faith."

The format includes a presenter/host, who invites three other youth to participate in a discussion. Other participants include a pianist and a radio operator. Youth are in charge of cameras, video, and audio equipment.

Reaching Roman Catholics During Holy Week
Holy Week is the best season of the year to evangelize Roman Catholics, says Carlos Martin. "Catholics feel that they have to participate in a religious event during Holy Week and are even willing to do the unthinkable: attend a Protestant service." Acting on this conviction, Pastor Martin, professor of religion at Southern Adventist University, has been intentionally preaching during the week preceding Easter Sunday for more than 30 years.

"Evangelism initiated on the weekend of Palm Sunday should aim to capitalize on the interest awakened during the week. Experience has shown that attendance increases every night, peaking on Good Friday. Consequently, Friday should be the day to make the most powerful evangelistic appeal."

How to Help Nonmembers
Be Comfortable at Church
Language: Much of the language we use isn't visitor-friendly (e.g., Dork-us, GeeSee, quarterly, Investment). Speak in a language that they will understand.

Food: Food provides a reason for people to linger so they don't have to rush out. Provide meals or snacks to facilitate lingering and informal discussion.

Offering: Our phrase each week is "If you're visiting with us today, please let the offering pass you by; this is for our regular attendees to support the work of the church."

Preaching: It must be relevant. No matter what you do before and after the service, if the sermon hits people where they are, they'll come back.

A Concert Series Yields a New Church
Under the direction of Morning Song Music's Friendship Evangelism Team, professional tickets were printed for a series of Christian concerts at the plush Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center near Hays, Kansas. Laypeople then called upon their neighbors and friends, offering free tickets to the first concert, which featured Steve Darmody. Following this well-attended event, church members made their rounds again, with more free tickets to the next concert. By the end of the series the members had not only gathered a database of names for future mailings, but had also developed long-term friendships with people in their community.

Since people enjoyed the concert series, they were more open to attending an evangelistic series sponsored by the same individuals. As a result of that concert series and the evangelistic meetings that followed, 44 new members were baptized and a new church was planted.

To learn more, visit the web site: www.msconcerts.com.

Feeding Physical and Spiritual Needs
If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, perhaps it could be a way into his spiritual heart, as well. For more than eight years, registered nurse Karen Houghton has been doing health and cooking classes at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Fallbrook, California.

However, her classes are much more than cooking classes. Karen's burden for the prevention of disease and illness has resulted in health lectures on diet and lifestyle changes. Most of the 85-120 people who attend these classes are not Seventh-day Adventists.

"We are currently studying the Bible with five people from one cooking class, and one of those individuals is an associate pastor from an evangelical church nearby," Karen says. From her class in March, she had eight more people sign up for Bible studies.

Youth Participate in Domestic Mission Trips
"Expect to be pushed out of your comfort zone!" challenges Nick Zork, director of "We Care," a mission outreach organization sponsored by the Center for Youth Evangelism, at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

"We Care" coordinates weeklong domestic mission trips for Adventist youth 13 years of age and older within cities across North America. This affordable mission trip option, costing $295 per person, plus transportation, provides a variety of community services and outreach options, including feeding the homeless, unloading boxes, painting and repairing low-income housing, and doing street ministry.

For more information, visit www.adventistyouth.org/wecare/.

Small Church Catches the Spirit of Outreach
A sleepy little church in Claremont, New Hampshire, caught the spirit of outreach and increased its membership by 25 percent this year. Early in 2004, during a 40-day period of fasting and prayer, the congregation asked God what He wanted from His church.

Inspired, they invited evangelist Rick Kuntz to conduct an evangelistic series. In preparation Pastor Melville Andrade and church members committed their spiritual gifts and time. They posted flyers in supermarkets, did mailings, and personally invited friends and acquaintances to the meetings.

Between 35-40 nonmembers attended nightly, equaling the church's membership of 36. Eleven people were baptized at the conclusion of the meetings, with more baptisms scheduled later this year.

A Dream That Changed a Life
Oregon Conference evangelist Steve Cook held a series of meetings in Astoria, Oregon, last spring. Before the meetings began, a Lutheran family visited the Adventist church at the invitation of one of its members. Soon after, the man dreamed that he was standing in the front of a church giving his testimony with joyful enthusiasm. Upon returning to the Lutheran church, he knew that wasn't the church in the dream. However, when he returned to the Seventh-day Adventist church on the opening night of the series, he was convinced that was the church.

Although he was immediately convicted about the Sabbath, he didn't share this conviction, or his dream, with his wife until the Sabbath was presented during the meetings. When her husband told her about the dream, the couple rejoiced together that God had prepared the way for them.

_________________________
Diane Gruesbeck LeBrun is a freelance writer from Berrien Springs, Michigan. Her E-mail address is dguebeck@hotmail.com.

For more outreach stories see the November 2004 issue of the Adventist Review.