Flint, Michigan, United States, was a hub for comprehensive evangelism during a week-long mission trip in late October. About 40 missionaries distributed nearly 30,000 copies of Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, connected 624 individuals to Bible study, and invited all to health seminars hosted in Flint.
Through divine appointments, seasons of prayer, moments of personal spiritual growth for the missionaries themselves, and much teamwork, this initiative impacted all connected to this effort.
Revitalizing Churches Through Mission
The Flint: Every Door! mission trip greatly expanded mission efforts for the area churches, particularly First Flint Seventh-day Adventist Church, the host of the mission. Local church pastor Malcolm Douglas shared the effect the initiative had on his congregation.
“It was a great blessing to have Streams of Light out here,” Douglas said. “This mission really helped to revitalize the area churches. Our church was excited. We had some of our members who had been praying for over two years that we would reach every door in Flint. So, this was a direct answer to prayer.”
For First Flint church, the mission may have ended, but the members’ role is just getting started, and they are not losing any momentum. “We have followed up with over a hundred of those Bible-study contacts now,” Douglas said. “Our members are really, really excited about it.”
An Unprecedented Opportunity in Flint
Todd Ervin, pastor of the South Flint Seventh-day Adventist Church and one of the participating churches in the mission trip, reported that this initiative brought an unprecedented opportunity for outreach. “We ended up getting over 200 Bible-study requests just for our territory,” he said. “We’re overwhelmed with the chance to connect with so many souls who are hungry for a relationship with the Lord.”
Ervin and his congregation are now focused on following up with these interests and sharing God’s message. “In my almost 40 years of being a Seventh-day Adventist in Flint, I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “It’s just awesome.”
How It All Came Together
The inspiration for this mission began with the recognition of an unmet need. As Raymond Waller, a key organizer, shared, “My wife and I live near Flint, and many of our cities have not been clearly reached with the message.” A city with 80,000 residents, Flint became a focus for sharing hope through literature and health resources.
The logistics of the event required immense faith and collaboration. Despite the financial hurdles — estimated at up to US$60,000 to fund the mission — God’s providence paved the way. Churches such as First Flint, Grand Blanc, Holly, and South Flint stepped forward to contribute a space for volunteers to stay and funds to help with food and transportation costs for volunteers. Streams of Light International guided the distribution efforts and helped facilitate the creation of a unique health magazine resource focused on addiction recovery. Dave Fiedler, guest speaker during the mission trip, enriched the spiritual blessing for volunteers as he addressed topics such as urban evangelism and the importance of distributing the book The Great Controversy.
“Everywhere we turned, the answer was, ‘Go forward,’” Waller recalled, highlighting the collaborative effort between churches, conferences, and volunteers. “This unity enabled the event to happen in a short timeframe. People will be in glory because of these efforts.”
About 40 missionaries distributed nearly 30,000 copies of Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy.
Photo: Streams of Light International
During the week-long initiative, volunteers connected 624 individuals to Bible study.
Photo: Streams of Light International
The outreach initiative included seminars and information on optimal health.
Photo: Streams of Light International
Reviving a Missionary Spirit
For Daniel Ferraz, pastor of the Holly and Grand Blanc Seventh-day Adventist churches, the Flint mission trip brought new energy and focus to his congregations. “My members were very quick to support Flint: Every Door! — financially, with prayer, and by taking time off to go door to door,” Ferraz said. “I saw a new excitement at the prospect of reaching Flint for Jesus. Our prayer was, ‘Lord, give us Flint.’ The Holy Spirit was truly moving upon us.”
The mission had a profound impact on his members, many of whom expressed a desire to continue similar work in their own areas. One member remarked that taking a day off from the outreach felt like something important was missing. “This is the work we should be doing all the time,” another member said, echoing the sentiment of many.
Ferraz reflected on the powerful interactions with Flint residents, who responded to prayer with openness and emotion. “When we prayed, people always gave us their hands to hold, even teenagers in the streets. Many were in tears after prayer,” he shared. “The Holy Spirit gave us the right words to say, and I felt like I was in God’s army, boldly proclaiming His love with the protection of mighty angels.”
For Ferraz, the personal interactions at the doors represented “true missionary work of the highest order,” leaving a lasting impression on his church and himself. “It was such a blessing to go out, fulfilling God’s commission,” he said.
The Urgency of Reaching the Cities
For Johnny Henderson, vice president of Operations for Streams of Light International, the Flint mission trip was a stark reminder of the urgent need to reach urban areas with the gospel. The conditions in Flint underscored the importance of bringing hope and light to cities often plagued by neglect and despair.
“When you go to Flint, Michigan, it’s apparent that the city desperately needs Jesus,” Henderson said. “Entire blocks of apartments and school districts were boarded up and left desolate. From the mass loss of jobs to the water crises and the tremendous amount of crime, the evidence of suffering is everywhere.”
Henderson’s experience in Flint deepened his conviction that cities are a mission field ripe for harvest. “Despite the conditions, we found that the people of Flint were hungry for Jesus,” he said. “I’ve never experienced such an amount of interest before. It was absolutely amazing to see God lead in such a mighty way.”
His reflections echo the broader mission of Streams of Light International to reach urban centers with the three angels’ messages. “It’s amazing what can happen when we simply put self to the side and allow God to use us in a limitless way through the power of the Holy Spirit,” Henderson added.
Unmet Opportunity
While it can now be said that Flint has been widely reached, there are countless cities in North America where the majority of residents have never received a personal invitation to read truth-filled literature, study the Bible, or experience true fellowship, organizers said. God’s people have a mighty mission — one that can only be fulfilled through the power of the Holy Spirit, they added.
Streams of Light International continues its mission to see the book The Great Controversy shared with every home in North America, ministry leaders emphasized. “Whether through volunteering, prayer, or financial support, you can play a role in this end-time work,” they said.
The original version of this story was posted by the Lake Union Herald. Streams of Light International is a nonprofit supporting ministry and is not operated by the corporate Seventh-day Adventist Church.
