SNZ campaign reflection

Craig Gillis

Two years of planning, praying and preparing for a major evangelistic effort in Christchurch, New Zealand saw its "first fruits" on Wednesday evening the February 25, 2009.

It was the highlight of a month-long program when 25 people were baptised as a profession in their new found love of Christ and their commitment to God's body of believers, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Nine others were accepted into membership of the church through a profession of faith.

The month began with Pastor Leo Schreven leading out in a bridge-building public program that was essentially a motivational seminar teaching people how to get the most out of life financially, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. At the conclusion of this seminar, all 2122 people who attended were invited to come back the following weekend to further consider the spiritual dimension of life, and in particular, the most trusted and reliable source humanity has - the Bible.

"The Turning Point", the Bible Prophecy series, commenced that next weekend. Each of the 1052 attendees (581 of whom were new interests) were given a Bible, and every night Pastor Schreven would go through over 50 passages of Scripture to study topics like, "Christ reveals the Antichrist Kingdom" and "The love of Christ in Revelation's hellfire".

The people were absorbed and informed, with more new interests attending each evening! One interest commented, "The Sabbath, it it is just so obvious. I don't know how I missed it all these years." Co-currently, a team of devoted personnel led out in a special program for the children, and were thus able to introduce these little ones to Jesus as their personal Saviour.

Throughout the whole effort, great care was taken in ensuring that each attendee was registered and tracked in their attendance. This allowed for precise and timely follow-up to those individuals that missed any of the meetings. As the meetings neared the end it was announced that a new church, "Garden City Fellowship" would be commencing in the same venue the next Sabbath, and over 100 of the new interests indicated that they desired to be a part of this new church plant.

With such a large effort, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South New Zealand took the opportunity of having all of the pastors together to run a two-week Field School of Evangelism in the mornings for pastors and church members. The speakers included Pastor Schreven, Pastor Gary Gibbs, Pastor Loren Pratt, Mr David Gibbons and Dr Graeme Bradford. Attendees came from Tahiti, Cook Islands, North New Zealand, New South Wales and Western Australia.It was a time of encouragement, equipping and challenge.

So what comes next? Lots and lots of hard work. The 25 baptisms and nine professions of faith were just the start. Another baptism is being planned for another 13 individuals who are ready and there are over 100 other interests to continue to follow-up.

Three other major evangelistic efforts are planned this year for South New Zealand in Invercargill, Oamaru and Nelson. South New Zealand is answering the challenge of Christ, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Please pray that the Lord of the harvest will send more workers to bring in that harvest that awaits.

Craig Gillis is the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South New Zealand.