Courtney Herod
Rebecca Carpenter
Rebecca Carpenter
The record attendance of the fourth annual Evangelism IMPACT on February 7-10, 2019, forced the Carolina Conference Evangelism Department to change to a bigger venue this year in Myrtle Beach, S.C. They also had to upgrade their translation technology to accommodate the increase in Hispanic attendees. While some may look at these modifications as an annoyance, the Conference saw it as an answer to prayer. They knew these changes came from a hunger for training lay members to reach the world for Christ.
The three general session speakers — Ivan Williams, D.Min., director of the Ministerial Department at the North American Division; Roger Hernandez, director of the Ministerial Department and Evangelism at the Southern Union; and Richie Halvorsen, senior pastor at Bowman Hills Church in Cleveland, Tenn. — were powerful presenters who motivated even the most introverted to get out of their comfort zones. In between each of these general sessions, the breakout seminars continued to fuel the passion and excitement that was growing throughout the weekend.
On Sabbath morning, Jennifer Maggio, founder of Single Mom’s Ministries, shared her incredible testimony of navigating life as a sexual abuse victim, being a single mom, and ministering to those who are currently in those situations.
Roger Hernandez, who spoke Sabbath evening, received a strong feeling he should make a call at the end of the night for anyone who was accepting Jesus for the first time. He fought this feeling because this was not an event for the unconverted, but rather for Adventist Christians who wanted to spread the Gospel. But, he decided to make the call, not knowing that one of the attendees had seen a man in the lobby and invited him to come up for the meeting. When Hernandez made the call, that man jumped up and came forward. This event could have ended the weekend and everyone would have left Myrtle Beach on a spiritual high; however, the attendees left with even fuller hearts after Richie Halvorsen closed the event with Sunday morning’s general session.
If you have never attended a Carolina Conference’s Evangelism IMPACT, watch for the calendar, and plan to attend the 2020 Evangelism IMPACT in Myrtle Beach. Be inspired, be reinvigorated, and make an IMPACT!
Carolina | April 2019
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