“From opening night we knew something special was happening,” recalls Darry Campbell, pastor of the Galax (Va.) church. “We had more guests show up for the first night than anyone at the church could remember.”
During a Prophesies of Hope seminar, with guest speaker Pastor Travis Walker, nine new members were brought into the church. Five additional guests expressed interest in joining and agreed to continue studying in a follow-up series, Thunder in the Holy Land.
A revival began in Galax, an area long thought spiritually dead and a lost cause for evangelism, in the fall of last year. A mass mailing for Bible studies went out, which resulted in almost 90 responses and numerous Bible studies. The numbers came as a shock to members and created a contagious desire to look for opportunities to share the gospel.
Gearing up for the Prophecy of Hope seminar, advertisements were run in the local newspaper and handbills were passed out to the community. Campbell included his number on the handouts and received nearly 30 phones calls from people who wanted to know more about the upcoming meetings. “Altogether we had 50 non-Adventists attend at least one meeting, six baptisms and three professions of faith,” said Campbell. “Others have begun attending church services and a follow-up series has begun, which has averaged an attendance of 15 each Wednesday night.” Through these two evangelism initiatives, the church has also experienced a revival as nearly every church member has been involved in some avenue of ministry.
“Several of the new members have already begun sharing with friends and family,” shared Campbell.” One lady reported to me that her husband is studying Amazing Facts and she is also sharing Amazing Facts studies with one of her husband’s coworkers. Another is studying with three of her coworkers. One of the ladies who attended, but was not baptized and is not attending, has requested CDs of the entire series and I will be delivering those and following up with her. We are praising God for all the work He is doing in this area!”
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