An evangelistic meeting was conducted in Conchu, Trece Martirez City, Cavite thru the initiative and leadership of Göran Hansen. The meeting, which went nightly from April 26 to May 9, was timely since 2009 is the Year of Evangelism of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Philippines. This venture was done in partnership with AIIAS Church. The nightly preacher was Mr. Hansen himself. Behind him were his colleagues from his office and the church pastor of AIIAS, Pastor Eliezer Barrientos. Pastor Albert Gulfan, SSD president, also gave his own personal support to this crusade.
The officers and members of the local church gave their time-and themselves-in support to the team. One layman was hired to do the ground preparation and assist during the nightly meetings. The Lord blessed this evangelistic effort with 25 precious converts.May 9 the first 17 were baptized at the AIIAS Church, June 13 another five persons were baptized and July 4 a third baptism was conducted at the AIIAS Church where three more persons had decided to follow the Lord.
Among those who accepted the Lord was a 56-year old ex-security officer. He attended every night after receiving a printed invitation that was distributed by the youth of the church. He attended the first Sabbath service during the middle of the meeting and testified that he was like being pulled to the meetings. Many times, he was wondering why he was coming to the meetings. One evening, he felt a strong urge to come with his pair of eyeglasses and a pen (something he does not usually do). Then he heard that it was decision night and decision cards were being distributed. He smiled and realized that he needed his eyeglasses to read the decision card and his pen to sign it. He did signed the card that night!
One married couple and their three children willingly subjected themselves to be baptized. Every night there was a "quiz" time and small prizes were given. This family got many of those prizes because they were able to give correct answers to the questions. Because of their conversion, members of this family found joy and salvation in Jesus Christ. They are just so grateful they now have become members of the family of God.
There was also a lady, an energetic lay leader of another church, who came every night after chided by her youngest daughter why she would prefer to stay at home when a very interesting Bible study is going on. After the first few nights, she confronted her own church pastor and asked him to clarify the questions that have came from the new truths that she heard. She was discouraged and even threatened just to stop coming to the meetings. She continued to attend to the meetings, but decided to have her two children baptized ahead of her. Her concern is to bring the other members of her former church to Adventism. She is optimistic that many others will join her in baptism.
The new members were added to the existing small community of believers in the village. The young converts were asked to take active part in the church services for which they gladly accept. Watching those young girls sing and those young boys speak in front of the congregation is truly heart touching.
Likened to a pebble that is thrown into a pool of water, the meeting made ripple effects. Several people in the Conchu community attended another evangelistic meeting and several got baptized there. And the work continues in this area with the lay pastor Jamir dela Cerna who continues the bible studies with many other interests together with the new converts. His positive attitude has spread among the believers in the Conchu area as you often hear him say: "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good."
Thanks to everyone who helped, in one way or another, in making the Conchu Evangelistic Meeting a success. Praise the Lord!
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