Connection 1st Qtr 2018 2018 1st Quarter Connection | Page 12

Louisville First Conducts Successful Evangelistic Series September 8 through October 7, David Hartman, the conference minis- terial and evangelism director, conducted a series of evangelistic meetings at the Louisville First Church, assisted by Pastor Stewart Lozensky. Eighty guests attended at least one night with 30 tracking through the entire five-week prophecy series. At the conclusion of the meetings, 11 people took their stand for Christ and were baptized. Below are some of the amazing stories: Last February Tiffany Gordan, a young lady from Louisville, received a vivid dream of Christ’s second coming. Jesus spoke to her and said, “Tiffany, I’m coming soon, and you need to clean up your life and get ready to meet Me.” That next week she began to discard items that she knew were displeasing to God, such as alcohol, tobacco, and worldly music/television. She also began attending various Christian churches in her search for God, as well as reading her Bible. One day as she browsed through the Ten Commandments, the Sab- bath seemed to jump out at her. Unaware of any Sabbath-keeping churches, she googled the Sabbath and came across the website for the Louisville First Seventh-day Adventist Church. She began attending regularly and invited her mother, Sonya, to the meetings. Both Tiffany and Sonya were baptized. Jon and Rosemary Beams, along with Jon’s mother, Lee, had been avid students of God’s Word and became convicted of the Sabbath. They searched for a church that followed the plain teachings of the Bible, but were disap- pointed and worshiped alone at home. Jon received a handbill at his work- place. This in itself is a miracle because there were no mail-outs to businesses, but rather only to residences. They attended every night of the meetings. One evening the pastors visited with the Beams and Jon shared how his family felt unaccepted in other churches because of their Sabbath convictions. Pastor Stewart reached out with a big hug and exclaimed, “Welcome home.” Jon, Rosemary, and Lee were all baptized together at the end of the series. Roy and Maria Ramirez own a car detailing business in Louisville. Maria grew up Adventist, but was not an active member of any church and Roy grew up in a devout Catholic home. They had been searching for truth and had a Bible study group that met in their home. April Ibarra, a Bible worker from the Louisville First Church, befriended Roy and Maria and invited them to the Louisville First Church. At the conclusion of the meetings, they were both baptized together. The amazing thing about this prophecy series is that God was already at work, long before the meetings began, stirring the hearts of the people. Acts of the Apostles, p. 109 declares, “There are many who are reading the Scriptures who cannot understand their true import. All over the world men and women 12 Connection Pastor David Hartman (left bottom), K.C. Onyiri, Laeticia DesForges, Anique Fayette, Hans Fayette, Roy and Maria Ramirez (left top), Jon and Rosemary Beams, Lee Shocky, Tiffany Gordon, and Pastor Stewart Lozensky are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.” The Louisville First Church took active steps to prepare for this series. 1. Pastor Stewart Lozensky emphasized a culture of evangelism during the two years prior. 2. They sponsored two Bible workers during the previous nine months. 3. They conducted a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace seminar during the summer months. 4. They invited magabook students to work in the area with a mail out of Bible study interest cards. 5. The church held a 40 Days of prayer prior to the prophecy meetings with members interceding for their church and community. In 2017, the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference realized a 30 percent in- crease over 2016 in total baptisms. The 2018 New Year promises to be a fruitful year as well with over 75 approved budgets for bridging events and reaping meetings. What will you do to touch your friend, neighbor, or work associate for Christ this year? All heaven waits for our participation. BY DAVID HARTMAN Ministerial Director Kentucky-Tennessee Conference 13