SCC

18 Baptized, Evangelism on the Ohio River

01/16/07

Evangelism on the Ohio River
 
     The Magazine Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in Louisville, Kentucky held an End of the World Prophecy Seminar at the Galt House Hotel, from October 2, 2006 to November 29, 2006. The Galt House is the only riverfront hotel in Louisville. It is located in the middle of down town. It is the largest facility for conventions in the city.
 
     One week before opening night, Elder Marvin Belcher, First Elder of the Magazine Street Seventh-day Adventist Church conducted a prayer session for the Seminar in the room where the meetings would take place. Many of the Church members attended and were inspired by his message entitled “Say it Loud.” Elder Belcher emphasized the Three Angels Message in the book of Revelation. He showed how the Bible Prophets proclaimed God’s word with a LOUD VOICE. He also expounded on how Jesus will come down from heaven, with a LOUD command, with the
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. He urged Church members to go forth with a LOUD voice compelling men, women, boys, and girls to search the Scriptures and be doers of the word, not hearers only. The prayer session sparked much excitement throughout the Church.
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     Elder Kennedy C. Luckett, Senior Pastor of the Magazine Street Seventh-day Adventist Church and Elder Belcher identified a neighborhood where the Church members would concentrate their efforts. Night after night members of the church distributed handbills door to door. Over 2,000 flyers were mailed to other areas in the city and a local radio station made public service announcements several times a day for two weeks before the Seminar started.
    
     After many weeks of planning and preparation, it was opening night! The Church members had done their work. The room was full and all were excited! Ralph Jefferson Ford, Bible Worker for the Magazine Street Seventh-day Adventist Church was ready for the task. He taught with great power and conviction on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. 
 
     Alvin Taylor celebrated his 55th birthday one week before the Seminar started. His wife Lonetta attended a Revelation Seminar and was baptized about a year ago. After about five weeks, Alvin stated, “I have learned more about the Bible since I started coming to the Prophecy Seminar than I have learned in Church all of my life. I want to be re-baptized so can publicly rededicate my life to Jesus.”
 
    The students were amazed after discovering who changed God’s Holy Sabbath. The next day many of the students celebrated the 7th day Sabbath for the first time. The Bible Instructor explained in detail how to keep the Sabbath and how to make the Sabbath Day a delight.
 
     Elder Belcher taught the class at the Church on the next Sabbath. He said, “I have a passion for evangelism and God has placed a burden on my heart to win souls for Jesus Christ.” Each Sabbath School Class brought various dishes for a healthy and delicious fellowship meal as part of the Sabbath celebration.
 
     A total of 18 souls were baptized. Pastor Luckett said, “Evangelism is always a ‘win-win’ proposition. The community wins because the gospel is taught. Those who attend win because they learn precious truth. Those who are baptized win, and the church win because we become stronger disciples for the very effort.”