After cultivating relationships on campus throughout the year, the Newcastle University Adventist church plant, in New South Wales, ran its first official evangelistic series on October 22–30. Run for university students, the initiative was originally planned for August but had to be postponed to October due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

“It was not an ideal timing according to uni students’ schedule, but even though they were busy with assignments and exam preparation, we still had a very good attendance,” said Na Shen, one of the local church plant leaders.

According to Shen, attendance varied from 40 on Wednesday night to 100 on Sabbath. “About 30 percent were not church members,” she added.

Held at Warners Bay Adventist Church, the series, presented by Dr. Kayle de Waal, Avondale University head of Seminary, was themed “Revelation of Hope.”

“Dr. Kayle’s messages were very relevant as they were unpacking the book of Revelation before the audience—something that many Bible students are curious about,” said Joseph Skaf, pastor of the Warners Bay and Newcastle University churches.

The program also featured a Q&A session in the final meeting. “That was one of the highlights because some of them had been having specific questions for a long time, and [their questions] all got answered during the Q&A,” said Shen.

Healthy plant-based meals were provided at the weekend meetings by Food Farmacy, a North New South Wales Conference Health Ministries cafe opening in Cardiff in December.

“The delicious and healthy meals really boosted our mingling and fellowship time after each meeting. We could see the unity, love, and the Holy Spirit leading throughout the evangelism,” said Shen.

At the end of the meetings, twelve attendees requested Bible studies, and six expressed their wish to be baptised.

This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record