GCC Evangelism Stories

I woke up early that morning, but instead of praying or spending time with the Lord, I wasted a couple of hours. Only then did I realize I wasn't honoring His Sabbath. I got ready for church, but my heart wasn't in it. I was simply going through the motions. I knew I was being a lukewarm Christian. I loved God, and I knew He was working in my life, but I wasn't seeking Him. Even my morning routine was different. I skipped my usual breakfast, woke my wife and youngest son, and hurried everyone along so I could continue  my  day. That word— my —would soon be corrected. We arrived in time for Sabbath School. Once again, I hadn't studied the lesson and found myself trying to catch up as we went. The memory verse was Isaiah 50:4: "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned." Yet I still wasn't awake. I heard ...

Once upon a time, nestled among the rolling foothills of the Tennessee Valley, there stood a small and humble church known as St. Elmo. Though it was not grand in size, its people were faithful, serving their community with kindness and devotion day after day. One bright morning, word arrived from a ministry called Streams of Light. These diligent workers had been traveling through the bustling streets of downtown Chattanooga, sharing copies of  The Great Controversy  with all who would receive them. As they placed books into eager hands, they also offered something even more precious—the opportunity to study God’s Word. Some people requested simple Bible studies delivered to their homes. Others hoped for a friendly visitor who would sit beside them and explore the Scriptures together. By the end of the day, the volunteers had gathered thirty-two requests from people longing to learn more about the Lord. But a problem soon appeared. The workers of Streams of Light looked upon ...

One of the greatest joys of evangelism is this: God places you in front of people you would have never planned to meet. I was sitting alone at a restaurant bar, eating a quiet meal, when a young woman named Hannah sat down next to me. Bars have a way of making people open up—walls come down, conversations start, and strangers become surprisingly honest. Hannah was no exception. We began with small talk, but it didn’t stay there long. Eventually, the conversation turned to what we did for a living. She shared that she was working as an exotic dancer to pay her way through school. Then she asked what I did. I knew this could get awkward. “I’m kind of like a pastor,” I said. “I work with churches to help people share Jesus with others.” Immediately, I saw it—the hesitation. The subtle pullback. The expectation of judgment. So I addressed it directly. “Don’t worry—I’m not here to judge you.” She paused… then leaned back in. What followed was honest, raw, and real. She told me she had grown...

 Three years ago, Endrian Banks began attending a Bible study over Zoom with Cyndi Keiser, Scott Annis, and other members of Buford Family Church. She was first invited by a Baptist friend volunteering at the Buford Community Center, who was connected to Jovanna Baines. Jovanna invited Kymberlee, and Kymberlee, in turn, invited Endrian—who continued attending faithfully and growing in her understanding. Although Kymberlee eventually stopped attending, Endrian remained deeply grateful, often thanking her for leading her to what she describes as the truth. Over a year ago, Endrian expressed her desire to be baptized. She hoped to share that moment with those she had been studying with, and in what many saw as perfect timing, that opportunity finally came. As it happened, everyone from the Zoom study was planning to attend the RYN Retreat last weekend, making it the ideal setting for her baptism. At the retreat, Endrian was baptized in the lake, with Scott Annis officiating as pastor....

Several years ago, while living in Conyers, Georgia, Karen Keaton—an Evangelism Trainer in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference—received a lead from Bible Research about a man who lived within driving distance of her area. Acting on that lead, Karen and a local church member made the trip, about an hour away, to visit Richard Salise. During that initial visit and in the months that followed, Karen continued to minister to Richard by providing Adventist literature, Bible studies, prayer support, and occasional financial assistance during times when he was in serious need. Richard would often reach out by text, asking for prayers or requesting additional Bible studies. Although Karen desired to visit more frequently, the distance made it difficult. Around that time, one of the elders from the Conyers Adventist church relocated closer to where Richard lived. Recognizing God’s providence, Karen later contacted Elder Bauers and asked him to follow up with Richard. He did—and the ongoing mini...

Teresa’s story begins in Mexico, where she faced the painful experience of divorce. Hoping for a better future for her children, she came to the United States a few years ago, determined to work and support their education. But instead of stability, Teresa’s life took another difficult turn. After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, she began to experience severe health complications. Her body reacted negatively—she lost weight rapidly, her nervous system was affected, and her physical strength declined. The most alarming moment came when doctors discovered that several of her fingers and toes were showing signs of  necrosis , a condition that causes tissue death. As her condition worsened, Teresa felt increasingly isolated. Though she was part of a Christian congregation in Savannah, the support she desperately needed never came. Hospitalized and in pain, she prayed through tears: “Lord God, do not take me by pieces.” It was during this dark season that  two sisters from the Adve...

The Vacation Bible school was one of the most Spirit-filled weeks our church has ever experienced. Over 60 children attended throughout the week, many from the community—kids we had never met before. Every child was greeted with joy and invited into an experience filled with exciting games, engaging lessons, worship, and clear illustrations of the gospel. One of the biggest outreach successes was our Backpack Giveaway. It didn’t just meet a tangible need—it became a bridge to introduce families to Jesus. Inspired by His example, our goal was simple: to serve. Even if nothing else happened, we wanted families to encounter the love of Christ through practical kindness. Many families came for the backpacks—but they stayed because they felt the warmth of our church. Throughout the week, we filled the backpacks one item at a time during the program. On the final day, we added a Valdosta Christian Academy (VCA) handbook with school information and registration instructions. This enthusiasm s...

In the quiet town of Brunswick, GA, Eleany Novoa began a journey that would change her life forever. It started with a simple invitation from her son-in-law to attend a small church led by Elder Jorge Funez. Although Eleany had been deeply religious her entire life and faithfully attended many churches, she always felt a deep inner emptiness—an unfilled void she couldn't explain. “I’ve always searched for peace,” Eleany shared. “Everywhere I was invited, I would go, hoping to find something that would calm my spirit.” But the peace she longed for always seemed just out of reach—until she joined a small study group for the Pentecost 2025 program at the local Adventist church. Something was different this time. The warmth of the small group, the power of God’s Word, and the sincere fellowship touched her heart. Soon, she began attending the Hispanic Bible seminar in Savannah. By the third night, Eleany was overwhelmed—not with emptiness, but with joy. “My heart is full of God,” she s...

Last year, in 2024, our hearts were warmed when a quiet, kind man named Hasan Abou Fakher began attending our Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brunswick, GA. A Syrian from the Arab Druze community, Hasan quickly became a familiar face—always arriving early for our Sabbath School class, sitting in quietly, and listening intently, though rarely sharing his thoughts. We didn’t know then what God was doing in his heart. This summer, during our Pentecost 2025 evangelism program, we invited Hasan to join us for a church camping trip. To our delight, he accepted. Surrounded by God’s creation, Hasan seemed especially joyful, as if nature itself was drawing him nearer to the Creator. Then, he surprised us all with a heartfelt request—he told us he wanted to give his life to Jesus and be baptized. Hasan shared that he had never felt closer to God than he did at that moment. On August 2, 2025, according to his wish, Hasan was baptized—for the forgiveness of his sins and the promise of ete...

  Four young adults, ages 13 to 31, from the South Bay Adventist Church recently returned from a life-changing mission trip to the Dominican Republic, accompanied by Pastor Jeremy Arnall and his wife, Tina. Partnering with the ShareHim ministry, the group participated in an evangelistic campaign that reached six local churches, delivering ten powerful presentations at each location. Their days were filled with sermon preparation, study, and preaching. As a result of their efforts, local pastors report 20 baptisms so far. The video report in this blog post is a powerful testimony to their life-changing mission.

Tina and I left on August 13 for a  SHARE HIM  Mission Trip with four young adults (ages 18–31) from South Bay! I heard from  SHARE HIM  that we are the first team from GCC to participate in this program. I wanted to say thank you so much for supporting the  SHARE HIM  program. South Bay hopes to send a team each year moving forward. We are currently in the Dominican Republic. We experienced rain last night due to Hurricane Erin, and although attendance was affected, we still received great reports. My own son, Jason, made an appeal last night, and seven non-SDA guests came forward. I was especially moved by a video I saw of the moment—he was clearly choked up during his appeal. His interpreter, a young law student, was deeply inspired by how God moved in the meeting. Our  SHARE HIM manager, who is from France, also had tears in his eyes as he happened to be present at that moment. Although we are the only team that came to Nagua,  SHARE HIM ...

Back in May, I started a Bible study after two people expressed a desire to be baptized. From our very first meeting, there were just four of us—including one listener—but soon, without any advertising, the group began to grow. We quickly reached five, then eight, then twelve, and last Thursday, we had 13 attendees! Four of them have already committed to baptism—praise God! Watching the Holy Spirit move so powerfully has been truly inspiring. The personal testimonies shared are deeply touching. Linda, one of the participants, drove all the way from Orlando last Thursday just to be part of this community. Lynn, who recently started attending church, shared, “I’ve been searching for the truth for so long. I feel so happy that I have finally found it.” Each person’s story reflects how God led them here, and even seasoned believers are rediscovering the richness of biblical truth. The enthusiasm is contagious. People are not only engaging deeply but also sharing their newfound understandin...

Recently, I had the privilege of witnessing a truly inspiring baptism at Blairsville SDA Church. Charles, an 85-year-old man with a sharp mind and a lifelong passion for spiritual truth, took this meaningful step in his faith journey. Charles has been a dedicated follower of Jesus since he was 17, initially through a Baptist church. Throughout his life, he was an eager Bible student, often exploring biblical truths such as the Sabbath and the state of the dead on his own. About two years ago, when he connected with our church and learned about our Sabbath observance, he began attending regularly. His spiritual curiosity and dedication deepened through participation in our Prophecy Seminar and Bible study groups. What touches me most is Charles's unwavering pursuit of truth. Despite his age and physical challenges, he felt the Holy Spirit urging him toward baptism once again. His desire to be baptized reflects a heart that remains eager to grow and serve, proving that it’s never too...

A few months ago, Karen Keaton, one of our LEADS evangelism trainers, participated in a training at Rock Springs. During her time there, a church member from the area was inspired to start a walking group in her neighborhood. As she began walking with her neighbors, she asked if they would be interested in Bible studies, and to her delight, they agreed. The following Tuesday morning, they gathered in the park, and 4 or 5 people joined them. This has now blossomed into a weekly Tuesday morning group Bible study. They are currently studying the books of Daniel and Revelation every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in a park in Lafayette, GA. Although there is no Adventist church in Lafayette, Mrs. Moore, who attends Rock Springs Church but lives in Lafayette, is now hosting Bible studies there. Just this morning, she shared a picture of the ladies helping to build a chicken coop—an activity they did right after their Bible study the day before. They now affectionately call themselves the "Daniel...

Debra, baptized in April in Blairsville church, initially met our excellent regional Bible worker, Cyndi Keiser. Cyndi led her to our Prophecy Seminar in 2023. Debra attended the Seminar and continued to study with Cyndi. She attended our church for almost two years until she decided to be baptized.  I am sharing this brief story because some say Public evangelism does not matter. Public evangelism and personal evangelism are meant to go hand in hand. Even if we don't see immediate results from Public evangelism, God makes it worthwhile. In 2023, we had only one baptism after the Prophecy Seminar. Still, in 2025, we had a second baptism due to that Seminar, combined with the hard work of personal evangelism done by Cyndi, who is a real blessing in our district.  Jesus would have died for only one person. All the work and effort are worthy for eternity.  Pastor Valentin Rusu

GCA and Calhoun churches have partnered together for a unique Evangelistic Series called “Why Adventist?"  The reason behind this series is that in our community - we have seen many families come through our schools that have never had the opportunity to really look into our beliefs and so we thought - why not a series in a classroom setting (where there kids attend) that is familiar to them and that doesn’t feel like Church, but is obviously about our Church.  The goal was to connect with these families while we connect them to our beliefs. Our first weekend we had over 50 in attendance. Many of them are not church members! We’ve been holding steady during the week at around 35 in attendance! We even have baptisms planned on our last evening which is this Sabbath!!!  One of our leaders mentioned the fact that we are having meetings in our school, focusing on those who have connected with our school, and in excitement said “this is why we have Christian educatio...

As we reflect on the past two weeks, our hearts overflow with gratitude for the amazing blessings God has showered upon us in fulfilling the mission that Jesus entrusted to our community. The period leading up to Pentecost 2025 has been transformative, energizing, and filled with divine inspiration. From March 15 to March 30, the North Gwinnett and Central Lawrenceville SDA Churches joined forces to host powerful evangelistic campaigns, a labor of love led by the passionate Pastor Rainier Camejo of the Nebraska Conference and other dedicated leaders. These events have not only ignited spiritual growth within our congregations but have also opened the doors for new believers to step forward in faith. We are overjoyed to announce that, through these campaigns, we have welcomed 15 new souls into the Kingdom of God! Each baptism represents a profound commitment—an affirmation of faith—and we have celebrated these precious moments together as a family. The joy and hope reflected on the face...

 

This was a busy week for the hundreds of Seventh-day Adventists around Chattanooga. Thousands of copies of the Great Controversy book were distributed in the neighborhoods of this beautiful city. This was a great way to meet new people, pray with the individuals seeking hope, and offer hope to those discouraged. Check out these impressive facts: - 47,000 books distributed  in 4 days; - 350 + new Bible study interests acquired; - 150 + missionaries participated  It was a powerful collaboration between the ASI, Streams of Light, local churches and schools, and, of course, the Georgia-Cumberland Conference.

In a world where obstacles often overwhelm hope, the story of Tuyambaze Irumva exemplifies the profound impact of compassion and faith. Dr. Jean Nibigira, an evangelism coordinator at the  Atlanta Abahiriwe Seventh-Day Adventist Company , recounts how a simple act of kindness turned into a transformative spiritual journey for Irumva, a new believer who was baptized on March 15. Dr. Nibigira first crossed paths with Tuyambaze while assisting East African refugees settling in the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Faced with the trials of acclimating to a new environment, Irumva and his brother were anxious about an important job interview scheduled over an hour from their home—without transportation. Recognizing their plight, Dr. Nibigira extended a helping hand by inviting them to stay at his home and arranged for a colleague to provide them with transportation. During their stay, Dr. Nibigira took the opportunity to bond with Irumva and his brother through ...