Thousands of Seventh-day Adventists in Baja California, Mexico, recently gathered to celebrate the end of evangelism efforts that began earlier this year and resulted in 700 new believers joining the church.
The more than 4,800 leaders and active church members traveled from the Tijuana and Ensenada regions to the convention center in the State of Rosario to take part in a Sabbath worship program on May 28, 2022, where government, national, and international church leaders spoke and witnessed the work of the church and the baptism of 230 persons.
“It is such a pleasure to be among people who seek to do good,” said Salvador Flores, director of Religious Affairs for the State of Rosario. “The Seventh-day Adventist Church is recognized in the state as an important organism in the rebuilding of the social fabric because they seek a common good towards society and are also promoters of the culture of peace,” he said while accompanied by municipal representatives in the region.
The celebration came after a full week where 116 evangelists from several parts of Mexico and abroad worked hand in hand with local churches to take part in evangelistic campaigns and visitations to hundreds of persons who had been studying the Bible before their baptism, said Pastor Sedric Arena, evangelism director of the church’s Baja California Conference.
“During the entire month, homes and churches held a Bible series called Esperanza para Vivir (‘Hope to Live’), which drew in more and more new believers throughout Baja California,” said Arena.
Pastor Elie Henry, Inter-American Division president, praised the work of church leaders and members for their commitment and dedicated efforts in spreading the hope of salvation in their communities. “We have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Inter-American Division, and what better way to do that than rejoice with the new birth of new members in the family of God,” said Pastor Henry.
The event showcased reports of the ongoing community projects the church has been supporting and overseeing through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Adventist Educational System, Valle de la Trinidad Clinic, Mexico’s publishing house GEMA Editors, and Colpac food company.
One of the initiatives in the Baja California Conference has been assisting in integrating many people groups in the region, such as those from Haiti and members of the Deaf community and others with special needs or disabilities into Seventh-day Adventist congregations. The event provided sign language interpretations to those in attendance and following online.
At the start of the week, Yoer Pérez had filled out his baptismal commitment while his wife took part in helping in the evangelistic series that week in the La Presa Adventist Church in Tijuana, and Pérez’s son spent time praying for his dad.
The next day, Pérez told his employer that from that Saturday onword, he would not work during the Sabbath day because he had decided to take the day off to worship God. “Congratulations, that the decision you have made is the best one for your life,” was the surprising answer that he heard from his immediate supervisor. On May 28, Pérez was accompanied by his wife and son, Alexis, as he got baptized.
Just like Perez, more than 35 couples sealed their commitment with God after legalizing their marriage the week before. “There was an official marriage ceremony for couples as they took the decision to be married and join the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Arena said.
Hundreds more new believers have joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church across congregations and small groups throughout Mexico since the start of the year. Mexico’s five unions or major church regions have doubled their efforts to share the gospel further in their communities for months leading up to the church’s national evangelistic campaign, which is taking place this week and scheduled to end on Sabbath, June 25.
To learn more about the initiatives and activities of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Baja California, click HERE
This article was originally published on the Inter-American Division’s website