I believe in doing proclamation meetings because our Lord has specially called us to preach the “Everlasting Gospel” of the “Three Angels’ Messages,” firmly centered and grounded in Jesus Christ. God sends these messages through His messengers with a “loud voice.” But how can that prophetic loud voice be fulfilled? The answer is that we, God’s Seventh-day Adventist people, are to be those messengers. Together, we are to be the fulfillment of that prophetic loud voice. But, unless more of us can patiently and perseveringly unite together to share why and how we “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12), the fulfillment of that prophetic loud voice will be severely muted.
Therefore, I believe in our need for Total Member Involvement (TMI). The two, preaching and TMI, must go together for our message to be heard. Thus, there is a great need for other works and events in concert with proclamation events, where all members can and should have some part to play. There are many types of things where we can invite guests to come and fellowship with us and see what God is doing through us… preparing the soil all along the way. Preparing, inviting, reaping, and disciplining! All along the way!
Beginning in November 2023, in Griffin, GA, we started a new thing, “Sabbath Opening Ceremonies.” These were relationship-building events where our people were encouraged to invite guests, and so far, we have held two at the Griffin Church. They also encourage, motivate, and disciple our members in better ways to keep the Sabbath holy. Things were moving slowly and steadily as I was waiting on the Lord, trying to figure out ways to motivate the members for more. Then God blessed us with three baptisms, and motivation picked up. After attending the Southern Union Rise convention, I was encouraged to hold a proclamation meeting for Pentecost 2025. All of a sudden, ideas began to come together. We had successfully held our first VBS in years and had guests in attendance.
Then, a new idea of a walking trail and an old one of a garden came to light. How quickly things moved to have the garden mapped out and the walking trail created and now used. To kick off our Pentecost 2025 season, we held a “Fall Family Fun Night” on October 31 for our first community-invited event and as an alternative to Halloween. We decorated the walking trail with hay bales and signs, solar lights, and painted rocks for the picking. There were blessing signs to read and record and a scripture game where they collected the hidden fragments of scripture in bags placed along the trail and put them together upon return. And we had an outdoor fire pit, a photo place, and campfire songs. It was a small gathering of about 26, five of whom were visitors invited by members. Kids and adults loved it.
(See pictures below). We were definitely in contrast to the big church across the highway with a full-blown fair. Our event was much more humble and Christ-centered. We also have a growing “Blueprint for Men” men’s ministry and a “Marksmen for Christ” ministry where men mentor boys.
We are just in the beginning stages, but soon, we will build a border fence for the community garden and purchase the supplies to begin planting. We hope to engage more with neighbors through the walking trail, the garden, and a “library box” from which to share our religious literature and books. We are planning to hold different events through the holidays and other times leading up to June 2025, when I will preach a new proclamation series called “Principles & Prophecies of Jesus. God has shown me thus far that more of our members are coming together in unity as we work towards this common goal for evangelism— sharing the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ with our community.
by Pastor Dean Read
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