What Was The Evangelism Goal Set For Camp Meeting 2007?
You’re right, it was $150,000. That was a “big faith goal” providing us with 150% of what we raised last year.
On the last night of Camp Meeting we had received $97,000. Praise the Lord!
However, last week, God had one more surprise. Faithful members, listening to the voice of God, brought the evangelism total to over $150,000.
We did reach the goal!
There Are Goals Still To Reach!
Our most important goal is to let everyone see the beautiful picture of God that we, as a Church, have been given. Your evangelism dollars will be planting lots of seeds this year.
Pray for the harvest.
Evangelistic Budgets approved For 2007
• Abbotsford
• Aldergrove
• Ashcroft
• Campbell River
• Cawston/Keremeos
• Comox Valley
• Cornerstone
• Creston
• Kamloops
• Native New Start
• New Life
• Oakridge
• Oliver
• Orchard City
• Parksville
• Penticton
• Prince George
• Rest Haven
• Richmond
• Rutland
• Surrey
• Filipino
• Three Angels Co
• Vancouver Hispanic
• Vanderhoof
• Westminster
What Matters Most!
We have been asked to plant the seed. The Spirit brings conviction.
When you see the baptismal and profession of faith growth in BC, you can understand that we have only just begun.
2005
Baptisms - 247
Profession of Faith - 34
Total 281
2006
Baptisms - 191
Profession of Faith - 32
Total 223
2007
Pray for the harvest!
“What matters isn’t those who planted or watered, but God who made the plants grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:7
The BC Conference has begun a process of helping local churches seek Sikhs. Mary Pillai, from our Ministerial Department, organized the first 2007 Seeking Sikhs Committee, held in Surrey, the most concentrated location for Sikhs in Canada.
The goal of the meeting was to develop resources to help our members grow friendship with their Sikh neighbors.
The Seeking Sikhs Committee has two Sikh Adventist families. Also, some members are from Punjab, India, and have worked in the Sikh culture for many years.
Why a Seeking Sikhs Committee in BC?
• Sikhs are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in many of our BC communities
• Many are devout spiritual people and are willing to learn more about their Creator God
• The Gospel Commission includes the 23 million Sikhs
• God has sent close to 200,000 Sikhs to be our neighbors
What I’ve learned already at the Seeking Sikhs Committee.
• Industrious people. It would be difficult to find a Sikh begging anywhere in the world
• Family-oriented. When you touch a life, you touch a family that extends all the way to the Punjab, where 90% of the Sikhs still live
• Sikhs need spiritual non-Sikh friends to help their families face the tremendous changes in adapting to Canadian culture
Sikh Religion
• Origin in the 1500’s in Punjab, Northern India
• Grew out of a culture that was surrounded by Hindus and Muslims
• Sikh means disciple. Guru means teacher.
• The holy book is called the Guru Granth Sahib - teaching of their first teacher and the writing of 9 special Gurus
• Unlike the Hindus, they believe in one God
• Feel that God gave them their teachings
• They identify five special evils: ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust
• They feel that a dedication to daily devotions attains salvation and a personal union with God
Adventist Message Provides Common Ground
• Major emphasis is the Creator God
• Health Message –Vegetarian, no smoking or drinking
• Emphasis on developing an inward personal knowledge of God
• Disciplined approach to having devotions at least twice each day
• Very generous people. A major emphasis on giving free food and charitable donations to better the community. They will actively join with us in programs that defend fellow human beings and help those in need
• Friday through Sunday, 48 continuous hours are spent reading the writings and singing the songs written by the Gurus
• We are welcome to attend their temple services. Participants show respect to God by entering shoeless and wearing the provided head covering Sikhs worship on Sunday morning around 11:00. They join in singing, prayer and a wonderful vegetarian meal
• They will not feel offended if we invite them to worship with us
• Sikhs don’t aggressively attempt to make people Sikhs but are interested in mutual understanding
Main Reason To Seek Sikhs
• Balwant Mann, recently shared the following, “When I became an Adventist, I learned I have a Saviour. I now know where I came from and most important, I know where I am going.”
Do you have a Sikh neighbour?
• Talk about our Creator
• Make a friend for God
• Seeking Sikhs will change your life as well as their’s.
