I am an Adventist evangelist by trade. My trusty projector and PowerPoint slides were my tools, along with an array of colorful booklets to distribute. I did my work in well-lit halls or church sanctuaries, always conveniently located and climate-controlled. But in Isaiah 43:19, God says, “Behold, I will do a new thing,” and truly, He is doing something here that I have never experienced before.
Two weeks ago, at the request of the local leaders, I held a one-week seminar from a rustic stage at the Kotale village rugby field. A loudspeaker and some fluorescent lights were all the modern technology we used, and God Himself provided the climate as people listened under the stars.
As I had prepared for this event, my biggest concern was that in my presentations, I might do things in a way that would be impossible for local people to reproduce. I wanted to preach in a way that they could do themselves. At the same time, I had doubts. Would anyone come if they were not attracted by my fancy pictures on a bright screen? Would the church members be disappointed if I did not print a huge banner or give them all official name tags or matching shirts? I wondered if just speaking from the Bible would be enough to hold people’s attention. I had refined my evangelistic sermons for years, and now I felt like I was cutting them to the bone. As I labored over these simple sermons, I told the Lord, “I don’t know how to do this!”
The local church was preparing, too. Around the village, elders held branch Sabbath schools (at 4:30 a.m.!) in different homes every Sabbath morning and led Friday night vespers and Wednesday night worships in various non-Adventist homes. The deaconesses continued their ministry, visiting and caring for the sick and elderly. Every member was encouraged to have conversations with friends and family that could create an opening to invite them to the program.
On opening night, as I looked out over the scattered groups sitting on the field, I knew we had done what we could. God would have to take over now.
One week later, after the last program, there was no question in my mind that God had done a new thing here. All my fears had been baseless. The Bible was enough. No one seemed to miss the projector and screen. The crowd had grown every night until, on the last night, we counted several hundred people listening to the simple message. Many asked for personal Bible studies. Some asked to be baptized. People told us about lives transformed and dreams God had given villagers during the week.
It seems the local church’s prayers and faithful, loving work, together with the power of God’s Word, created the conditions where the Holy Spirit could move—and He did! Please pray for the church as they follow up on the interest that has been created.
New things are coming, and I want to see what God has in store!
