More than 600 Seventh-day Adventists rejoiced during hundreds of baptisms as they celebrated the end of evangelism efforts in the Inter-American Division’s (IAD) French-island territory during a livestreamed program held in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, on June 29, 2024.

Hosted from La Persévérance Adventist School’s auditorium, the event highlighted the month-long comprehensive efforts to spread the gospel, a special worship service and more than 30 baptisms onsite during the live event as part of IAD’s “All the Family in Mission” banner initiative.

Regional Evangelism Impact

“All the Family in Mission” initiative seeks to involve every church member in personal and public evangelism outreach mission initiatives in preparation of Jesus’s soon coming.

“For 15 days, Guadeloupe has been on fire for the Lord,” said Esaie Auguste. “The name of Jesus has been lifted and we thank the IAD for the vision they shared with us.” One hundred sixty-two persons were baptized in Guadeloupe thanks to the intense joint efforts with local pastors and guest preachers, Auguste said.

Evangelism efforts impacted Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana from June 16-29, 2024, thanks to 10 guest speakers from the seminary at Andrews University, four from the Allegheny East Conference and the Southeastern Conference of the North American Division, and one guest preacher from Mexico.

Eddy-Michel Carpin, president of the French Antilles Guiana Union, praised the work of church leaders and members for teaming up to share the gospel.  “We are a small group of islands, but the initiative has generated a new dedication and commitment to the mission of sharing the gospel,” said Carpin.

More than 300 baptisms took place during the span of the two weeks of evangelistic campaigns, a historic number, church leaders reported.

The live event highlighted the work of active church members and leaders in the French Antilles Guiana Union territory but also throughout parts of Mexico, Colombia, Haiti, and the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Building Relationships

During his spiritual message on Sabbath morning, Elie Henry, president of the Inter-American Division, addressed those soon to be baptized, seasoned members and new believers to become a “fountain of life” as they guard and grow their relationship with God, disciple their family members and commit to sharing the gospel wherever they go.

“When we talk about ‘All the Family in Mission’ we are talking about fathers and mothers doing everything they can for their children, for instilling the mission that God has given us,” said Henry.

“Continue building relationships with your children and other children around you. Love them, take time to forgive, and use every day to show them your love and God’s love. Do it today. You cannot leave it for tomorrow.” The future is assured, he added.

Henry challenged church members to speak and live the mission of sharing the gospel, awaiting Jesus’s soon return. “We must move forward in faith,” he said.

Answering the Call for Baptism

Moving forward is what Casimir Andes has been doing every day for eight months, thanks to two church members who began visiting his home to pray with him and study the bible.  He had been battling with depression and involved in unhealthy distractions, he said but has seen his life-changing since learning about God’s love. “They are my brothers and have watched over me and visit me every week,” said Andes. When the evangelistic meetings approached, Andes was invited and attended the church gathering for the first time. During the evangelistic meetings one night, he felt the call to give his heart to God. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and life has been rough, but Jesus has brought me life, and I’m excited to get baptized,” he said.

Andes, who was among more than 30 who were baptized during the live program, said he has been working to support his three children who live back in Dominica, his home country. He prays God can guide his new life and grow in the faith as he attends church in Guadeloupe.

Seventy-six-year-old Mondette Fortuné Salmé had attended Adventist Church when she was very young, but she was never baptized and stopped going to church. When she saw a video report of a couple who had died tragically during the 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti, she was moved and shocked that it made her want to change. She began reading and studying the bible and began to keep the Sabbath.

In April of 2023, she started attending an Adventist Church near her home. When she began attending the recent evangelistic campaigns, she filled out a prayer card and got a call from a pastor. When the pastor found out she had not been baptized, she said she felt like she did not need to. “I have been observing the Sabbath and have felt like a member already for more than 10 years,” said Fortuné.  “I feel so happy to have gotten baptized today. Jesus is my Savior and my all.”

Returning to Church

Gabrielle Gravinay, 19, grew up in the Adventist Church but at six years left and returned at 17 years old. Studying in France kept her busy, and when she returned home to Guadeloupe for the summer at her Boisvin Adventist Church in Guadeloupe, she was drawn by the evangelistic meetings and was moved to get baptized before she returned to continue her studies. She wants to make sure she continues to study the Bible and keep a devotional prayer life. It takes courage to be faithful, she said. “I am learning to leave everything in God’s hand, not be afraid, and let God decide the course of my life,” said Gravinay.

It took a heart attack in 2020 for Fred Romain, 46, to return to church. He had been baptized at 13 years of age but had been on his own path living the kind of life that kept him busy in the world of vices. “When I found myself affected by the heart attack, I asked God to heal me and promised to return to church,” he said. He has been attending Dothemare Adventist Church in Guadeloupe. When the evangelistic meetings began, he felt convicted to get baptized. “I have felt so much at peace now and have left my old life behind and filled my life with experiencing God more, through His Word and praying and I feel like God is my friend, always there.”

Romain was moved by the messages of David Springer, one of 10 speakers from Andrews University Seminary who was assigned to preach at La Persévérance Adventist School Auditorium.

Impact in Guadeloupe

Originally from Trinidad, Springer, who held evangelistic efforts in Zambia last year and other parts of the world, said “people around the world are dealing with the same issues, it doesn’t matter the context or how difficult it may seem to reach the postmodern mindset.” Springer said that many people are struggling with mental health or trauma, and sometimes, they are not able to accept the gospel right away. Springer credits his own experience and his background in social work to help remove shame barriers and connect with people during his messages. Springer was touched by the dozens of believers who made the decision to get baptized and who continue to grow in faith during the two weeks in Guadeloupe.

Encouraging each member to grow in faith is one of the key elements that is driving the “All the Family in Mission” initiative across the IAD territory, said Balvin Braham, vice president of the IAD, during the live event. “We want each member to grow in Christ and disciple others in preparation of the Second Coming,” said Braham. It’s about ensuring that each member serves in the community and shares the gospel, he added. “We want every family to be active in mission, to be actively engaged in the harvest of souls for the kingdom,” said Braham.

The 108 baptisms reached at the end of evangelism efforts in Guadeloupe have totaled 164 so far this surpassing the 140 reached during 2023, said Auguste. “This initiative here has ignited evangelism here in Guadeloupe and has shown us how relevant public evangelism still is here, how we can work more closely together as a ministerial team and that we need to continue reaching out more actively in the community,” said Auguste. Sometimes it may take over a year of bible study before a person decides for baptism, he said, but closer joint efforts locally can yield greater results, he added. “It’s important that we connect with people and find out more about their needs and use opportunities for mission.”

Auguste said in the coming weeks he will be meeting with his team of leaders and pastors to evaluate the evangelism efforts and adjust strategic plans for the rest of the year. He said pastors are looking forward to ministering to about 50 persons who are interested in studying the bible and readying for baptism in the coming months.

IAD visiting union leaders grouped in the second edition of “All the Family in Mission” celebration event reported that more than 55,000 baptisms have taken place in Mexico, Haiti, the northern region of Colombia and the Dutch Caribbean Islands as of June 2024.

Local church leaders were reminded of the important steps in organizing evangelistic efforts, including preparing the field, planning, growing the seed, cultivating, and conserving new believers.

The celebration featured music, drama performances, and highlighted impact activities aligned with the “All the Family in Mission” initiative making a difference in Guadeloupe and the rest of the French Antilles Guiana Union.

Inter-America’s next “All the Famly in Mission” territory-wide event is planned to be held on September 28, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica.

Fatie Volet contributed information to this report.

To view the online event, click HERE

To access a photo gallery of the event, click HERE

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division website.