Two laymen from the North Caribbean Conference (NCC) participated in a one-week evangelistic campaign in Mexico prior to the start of the Inter-American Division’s annual Adventist Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) Convention in Cancun, Mexico, on August 11, 2018. They joined nearly 300 Adventist professionals who networked, displayed their passion for the mission of the church in their respective countries and expressed commitment to reach more with the gospel in the marketplace.
Before each ASI Convention, participants usually engage in evangelistic campaigns for one week – during which they are housed by members of the community. This year, twenty (20) campaigns were held by international evangelists under the theme, Lord Transform Me. These meetings were held from July 27th to August 4th. Over sixty (60) persons were baptized and more baptisms are expected in the coming weeks.
The NCC lay evangelists were Orville Thompson, from Virgin Gorda, and David Williams, from Tortola. Orville Thompson ministered in Corales, Cancun, Mexico. A brother from the church was fatally shot one day before the start of the campaign. The church readied itself for evangelism and set up on the side of the road, open-air style. The first two nights were rough because the spot occupied by the church was the football field for young boys of the community who preferred to play during the campaign. Evangelist Thompson decided to employ sports-evangelism tactics and bought two footballs, which he presented to the boys. Thompson, who had been a national football player, was good in the air and kept the attention of the boys as he expertly headed the ball. After that encounter, the boys looked forward to being part of the campaign every night until it ended. After the one week reaping campaign 2 persons from the surrounding community were baptized.
David Williams ministered in Region 95, Cancun, Mexico. When a devout Catholic family brought their baby to the campaign, after the doctors and priest gave up all hope of recovery, Evangelist Williams sought God’s intervention. As an avid prayer warrior, Williams laid hands on the child, led the church in prayer for the parents’ faith to be rekindled and the parents’ now await God’s prognosis. Two persons from that community were baptized after the one-week reaping campaign.
Evangelist Eugene Benjamin, Evangelism and Project Coordinator for ASI, expressed thanks to the NCC for allowing the laymen to participate in the campaigns, “We commend the NCC for preparing soldiers for cross-cultural evangelism.”