As I waited anxiously for the meetings to start, I wondered if we had done enough preparation or visited enough homes or just simply encouraged enough the local congregation to come out in support of the meetings. I had a short list of names that we had been working on and prayed that the Spirit would bring these people to the meetings.

As the nights progressed and calls were made by Elder Jose Rojas, I tenderly approached each individual as they passed to the front and heard from their lips their sincere desire to be baptized. I was truly happy for these individuals as they were buried in water night after night, but every time a call was made I would turn and look for the one girl I had been praying for a long time. Let’s call her Mara.

You see, her story is a rather sad one, abused as a very young child she grew up confused and full of anger and guilt, she eventually left her single mom (the mother later remarried) and returned to her biological father’s house in a different state. Everyone thought that perhaps this would heal her wounded heart and finish high school and make a life of her own.

Unfortunately she was violated by her very own father, became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful child. You can imagine her state of mind, not to mention her mother’s desperate attempts at justice and concern for her daughter. My counseling sessions were long and emotional; her husband was supportive and decided to confront the situation as best they could.

Because of her age and state of mind, the state took control of the new born baby, and there was no consolation for Mara as the state pursued a legal recourse to take the baby permanently from her. This would of course take time. Meanwhile, Mara accepted to come back to Oregon and live with her mother while the courts decided her case. She was so afraid and embarrassed to step back into church, afraid of judging eyes and loose mouths. I reassured her of my total support and invited her to the Check Him Out meetings. She would not make a commitment, but agreed to think about it. I prayed she would.

It was Thursday night when Jose made a special call, for all those who were hurting and wanting forgiveness from Jesus. There was an overwhelming response from the youth that night, and as Jose kept making the appeal I would once again turn my head around and look for Mara. And there she was! Seated and not responding to the calls, quiet as a mouse, yet I could see in her eyes a faint response, an almost imperceptible gesture of wanting to respond yet not being able to, as if something pinned her down to her chair. It was the look in her eyes that told me she really wanted to stand.

Suddenly our eyes met and I would not let her look the other way. I focused my eyes on her like a laser beam and raising my left arm I invited her to come, she suddenly snapped from her trance to reality and her eyes grew cold and serious. She very clearly told me no with her mouth.  Jose kept making the appeals. She grew tense and started to look for a way out of the auditorium. Her mother was seated next to her and was crying and praying.

I prayed a different kind of prayer that night. I wondered what I would do if this girl was my daughter. Would I give in to feelings of shame and frustration? Would I deny my own daughter one more chance at salvation? I had to say no. Not in a million years! And as these thoughts passed my head I also had a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Once again our eyes met and I would not let her go, I was surrounded by young people who had stood up in response to the call, they were taller than me, so I had to weave my way around and stay focused on Mara. I raised my left arm and invited her to come, once again she said no, but this time it was not as strong as before, she had tears in her eyes and I could tell the Spirit moving inside her heart. I pleaded with her to come, she came and I hugged her. We both cried a bit, I could tell she was happy with her decision, and as I congratulated her for taking a stand for Jesus her mother came over bathed in tears of joy and we had a short sweet prayer of thankfulness. Mara had come back home. That Sabbath she was baptized.

As to her legal situation, it is still in court. We have asked the Lord to be the attorney and allow Mara to raise her baby. We believe He will.

I want to share a brief testimony of a young woman that I will call Janet. She shared her testimony with me when she was visiting  the church, during the crusade that we celebrated.

Janet moved from California to Oregon a few years ago, trying to start a new life away from  her abuser husband.  ”I have no luck in life, I had suffered so much; my life has been destroyed, I’m a wreck”, she said.  When she was 8 years old, her own father try to sexually abuse her. When she expressed to her mother that something improperly almost happened, she was surprised, astonished that her mom did not believe it.  She was afraid and went to different family home just to be away from her father.

At young age Janet encountered a handsome gentleman, hoping to fulfill her dream of being happy.  Her dream turned to a nightmare, her husband became her worst enemy, after she got pregnant with the first baby;  then she have the second, third and fourth children.  Her life in California had no meaning, she tried many things; partying all night, drinking, smoking just trying to be happy, but nothing worked. She decided after lengthy deliberations with a friend to go north, and went to Portland. She didn’t know anybody in Oregon, but she came anyway with her four children and belongings.  

Life in Oregon was very difficult, without a job, a home or friends.  Physically, emotionally and spiritually, life was not worth living She suffered from insomnia, depression, anxiety and loneliness. Many times she heard voices telling her to grabb a sharp knife to end her life by cutting her veins. But she thought a lot about her children and the suffering it may cause to them.  After many emotionally, mental and spiritual battles, she started reading the Bible. “The Bible brought peace to my heart, hope to my future and joy to my family.” She went for few months to a Sunday church with her children. Something happened doctrinally at that particular church, and she stopped going; but she kept reading her Bible and praying at home.

After seventh months, she found out about the Sabbath, and started keeping  it.  One church member invited her to go to the Seventh Day Adventist church. She asked what day the Seventh Day Adventist church kept. The person told her, that they keep the Sabbath. “That must be the true Church, because the Bible mentions the Sabbath to be kept holy”.  

The first time she decided to go to church, I went with another person to pick her up. We spent one and half hours looking for the address and never found it, (we didn’t have her phone #) Next day she called again with the exact address.  After that day she’s gone faithfully to the crusade with her children; at the end of the crusade she was baptized. Her life changed, she found peace, joy and hope in her Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ.  She’s an active leader in the church, a true testimony of the power of the Gospel to change lives.

She loves the promises in Romans 8:38-39) “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor dept, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”       

Catalina Perez (May 7, 1992-July 17, 2009)

Catalina Perez, 17, began her new life with Jesus at Washington Adventist Camp Meeting on June 20, 2009, where she testified through baptism she was ready to meet Jesus. Catalina is now waiting the resurrection morning when she will awake to eternal vigor and health as cancer claimed her life on Friday afternoon, July 17, 2009.

At age 11, Catalina and her family started Bible studies with colporteur, Gerald N. Retzer. About this same time, Catalina was diagnosed with cancer. Her family continued Bible studies off and on due to Catalina’s illness and frequent hospitalization. Of the entire Perez family, Catalina was the one who showed the most interest in Bible studies. One day she told Retzer, “The more we study the Bible, the more interesting heaven becomes.”

Catalina and her family began attending White Center Spanish Church in Seattle, Washington, in December 2007. She started Bible studies with Pastor Benjamin and Marcela Figueroa who talked with Catalina about giving her life to Jesus. “I would love to,” Catalina said.

Two more years went by and Catalina’s desire to get baptized grew stronger. Every time she was scheduled for baptism, Catalina ended up in the hospital the day before her baptismal appointment.

In June, Catalina told Pastor Figueroa, “It is now the time to give my life to Jesus.” Catalina had recently had a chest surgery and had been running high fevers but she called Retzer and Figueroa early that week and had told them it was time to get baptized.

Because of her recent chest surgery, there was some concern about Catalina being submerged under water for baptism. The pastor offered the option of joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church by Profession of Faith. “No, I want to give my life to Jesus,” Catalina said with determination, “I want to be baptized.”

At Washington Adventist Camp Meeting, White Center members surrounded Catalina and lifted her, wheelchair and all, into the baptismal tank. In the audience, the entire camp meeting Earliteen department, for ages 13-15, filled the front of the auditorium to show their support for Catalina. Throughout the week, these teenagers had prayed for Catalina’s health to allow her to be baptized during camp meeting.

After Catalina’s baptism, the audience in Rainier Auditorium gave this young woman a standing ovation welcoming her into the family of God.

Later, as Catalina prepared to go home, Pastor Figueroa asked her “How do you feel?” With confidence, Catalina replied, “I feel with God!”

Catalina is now at rest and waiting the resurrection morning when she will awake to eternal vigor and health. Catalina’s story is a witness and example to her peers and other people whose life she impacted.

My husband and I were reading in Luke 12:12….” do not be afraid when it is time to speak because the Holy Spirit will help you to know what to say” I sat down to write this and these are the thoughts put into my heart.

I have been blessed to have accepted the Lord Christ Jesus as my Savior and Master. He wrote my name in the palms of His hands. He took the beating for sin… that I deserved….He was blameless….I am grateful everyday for the gifts of salvation and forgiveness.

God lead me to the Nampa Seventh-day Adventist Church with a heart full of sorrow. Elmer kept praying for me even before he was my friend. The Friday night Bible study group of Shirley, Doug, Kelly, Judy, Elmer, Patty, Betty and Joanne were the life line that I held onto until slowly, slowly, God started working in and on my life. Many Sabbath mornings the pastor was speaking directly to me….telling me with God’s words to… hold on….have faith…..I am your God; I will always be with you.

I appreciate being surrounded with solid… loving…giving… wonderful people. I am blessed each time I am in this church or at one of the Bible studies. I am especially blessed by our community service work. 

We have a responsibility as Christians to be the physical expression of our invisible God. Someday I hope I won’t have to tell people I am a Christian….they will already know by the peace and confidence given to me by Christ…. working in my life.

I grew up in a good home, lots of love. When I was 19 I started to stray away from God. I moved to a different town and ended up getting involved with the wrong people. Gave up the job I had to sell dope with a couple former gang members. In the process I lost everything, my apartment, my job and almost my life. I over dosed twice and almost ended up going to prison for a very long time. I was involved in this type of lifestyle for awhile. On and off I would do drugs and sell dope. I was a heavy cigarrette smoker and an occasional drinker. Every other word was the “f” word, I never went to church and if I did I was most likely high.

I was fortunate enough to meet some better influences and slowly after a lot of bad expieriences (being robbed, jumped) I figured it was time to make a change for the better. I quit smoking and two weeks later I heard about a men’s retreat that was happening at the church I was attending. Someone from the church sponsored me so that I could attend. At the time I was involved in a lot of spiritual warfare, my walk was weak, I was still swearing and listening to demonic music. I finally decided to go and while there I couldn’t stop thinking about becoming saved. During one of the sermons they had an altar call and I felt like that was my time and I went up with about 10 other men. We said a prayer together and I gave my heart to the Lord.

On night 1 of our Jesus Matters! campaign, at precisely 7:00 p.m., a young man ran through the front doors of the conference center where we were holding our evangelistic seminar. Our seminar greeters and I met him just as we were about to begin. He was out of breath, but with a smile on his face, he said, “I made it on time! I am here for the seminar!” I smiled and said, “Welcome! I am Pastor Steve – glad you made it. Help yourself to some refreshments – you are right on time!”

At our evening break; we had a chance to visit briefly. The young man’s name is Lucas and he found out about the seminar because someone at the Shawn Boonstra reunion meeting the Saturday before had picked up a Jesus Matters! flyer and gave it to Lucas. He told me that the Holy Spirit had prompted him to attend this series – I agreed and was thankful for this divine appointment. He was living downtown at the time and attending culinary college. He wasn’t sure where the meetings were held and how to get there so he caught the TriMet Max train out to the east side, hopped on a bus to Clackamas Town Center, asked for some more directions and ran from the mall the two miles to the conference center. Lucas had been praying to dedicate his life to the Lord. This last year, he had been volunteering at the Portland Rescue Mission as a cook and sharing his testimony with others he served.

Lucas attended each night of the seminar, fully engaged in the table discussions and very interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus. Our seminar support staff was a great encouragement to Lucas as he enthusiastically studied the Word. The staff picked him up at the bus stop and dropped him off at the Max station or bus stop each night for his ride home. On night 5, he received a copy of the new Desire of Ages and proceeded to read most of it before the seminar ended.

Lucas said he felt very blessed by God through this study and especially by the people who he studied with night after night. During the meetings, he attended Sabbath School and church at Tabernacle Church a couple of times. He came out to the Agape Supper (foot-washing and communion) on Good Friday at Pleasant Valley Church. We had the privilege to serve one another and share communion together. Lucas was very touched by the service and the new friends he has made. Since the end of the meetings, Lucas has attended Pleasant Valley Church and has a desire to continue his studies in preparation for baptism. He wants to serve God with his newly attained skills and plans to continue to share Christ with others he meets.

April 2009 Eugene Spanish Church Evangelistic Campaign - Pastor Samuel Tahay

Two years ago our personal ministries director, Esteban, started a Bible study with Carlos, he is member of the Baptist Church, they studied the Bible for almost two years, but it was hard for Carlos to accept the keeping of the Sabbath.

One day Carlos introduced Albert, one of his friends, to Esteban. They started talking about the Bible and Albert got interested in studying with Esteban, he was very exited to learn new truths in the Bible. Albert was having problems sleeping, and his life was full of stress. They studied every week. Then Esteban invited Albert to our evangelistic meetings, Albert accepted the invitation and was early for the two weeks of our meetings, he didn’t miss one single day. I preached the series and every night I watched Albert’s eyes light up when I presented Bible truths. When I invited any one who wants to accept Jesus as their savior, Albert was the first to stand up and walk to the front. When I preached about baptism, he was one of the 9 people to come to the front. The last Sabbath, I baptized Albert as a new member of the Eugene Spanish church. That day he was very happy, he really looked like a new person in Jesus Christ. This week at our prayer meeting he gave his testimony. After his baptism, all his stress disappeared, now he’s sleeping peacefully, he is happy in Jesus.

God is still eager to answer prayers, and lead people to a greater knowledge of Him, if we will let Him use us as his tools. Two amazing stories from a recent public evangelistic series in Pasco (Wash.) Riverview Church provide a wonderful reminder of this truth.

Emma Lutz, a member of the church determined to join the lay visitation teams led by Jac Colon for the purpose of visiting those attending the meetings.  As a part of Desert Rain, an eight week-prayer intensive pre-meeting preparation program, Lutz prayed God would bring her Hispanic neighbor family to the meetings. She prayed, and even fasted, that God would work in their lives. A few days before the meetings began she invited them to come with her, and was crushed when they politely told her they were members of a Catholic Church, and were not interested.  But God was not finished working yet.

Unbeknownst to Emma, in another part of town a young Hispanic man, Angel Zepeda, who owns a construction company, came home one evening from work, turned on the television set and began to flip through the channels when he saw Jac Colon preaching on 3ABN. It caught his interest, and after watching the show he called the number listed and ordered the DVD of that sermon. The day that the DVD arrived in the mail, he also received a handbill advertising Revelation Now with Jac Colon – live in Pasco.  He immediately told his family they would be attending the meetings, to change any plans they had. True to his word they began attending on opening weekend. He was scheduled to spend the next two weeks working in Seattle,so he insisted they attend every one while he was gone.  However, the plans for Seattle changed and He and his wife, and their three young teens came nearly every night.

When Lutz attended the first visitation training class for the lay visitation teams, she eagerly requested any name that sounded Spanish, so that she could visit them. She took Angel Zepeda and his family. They had attended every night and she was eager to meet them. Imagine her surprise when she discovered Angel was the brother of her neighbor whose family she had been praying for during the last eight weeks. As a result of Emma’s faithful prayers and visitation and the mighty work of the Spirit of God, Angel, his wife Blanca and they three lovely teen age children; Abigail, Rebecca and Isaac were united with the Riverview Church Family on the last Sabbath of the meetings.

Richard Reynolds was a real mystery man.  He turned in his card nightly, but no one knew who he was, and none of the visitation teams had been able to find him. Finally, when there were only two meetings left, Teddy Shupe, pastor, was able to meet him, and quickly arranged an appointment with himself and Jac Colon. 

Imagine the surprise when, during that appointment, they found out that Renyolds recently retired from his position as a Christian Minister in Arizona after his wife had been stricken with cancer.  Renyolds has a Master of Divinity degree from Texas Christian University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Faith Evangelical Seminary, and had served the Lord as a chaplain and pastor for over 30 years.

Renyolds told them he was moved as he listened to the sermons each night, and realized that Saturday was the Sabbath.  Although his studies had clearly indicated Saturday was the Sabbath for the Jews, and thus the Sabbath observed by Jesus, he had been lulled into accepting Sunday as the Sabbath simply because it was the tradition of most Christian churches.

“There were not many silver linings to my wife’s illness,” he says. “But Revelation Now is one of them.  I am struck by the Grace and Love of God, who continually reveals himself to us in Holy Scriptures even after years of reading and studying His Word.” 

Renyolds was thrilled to continue in His walk with the Lord by Following the Lamb of Revelation all the way. He too joined the Pasco church on the last Sabbath.  Both the church and Pastor Shupe are thrilled to have a “new pastor” in their midsts.

With the immanent conviction and sentencing of Wall Street investor Bernie Madoff-arguably the worst frauds in American financial history-we begin to wonder, ‘Is there any good left in the business world?’ It would seem that corporate greed and shady ethics are the rule, and sadly, corporate responsibility and honesty are the exception. However, a story emerging out of Modesto, California with ties to the Northwest appears to give us reason for hope, and cause for reflection.

The story begins in the fall of 2002, when Vancouver Seventh-day Adventist Church placed a substantial order for new pews with the highly regarded and established Overholtzer Pew Company, based in Modesto, CA. As Senior Pastor VJ Puccinelli for the Vancouver church recalls, “We were building the new Vancouver church, and the time came to place the order for pews, so we sent Overholtzer a deposit check for $9,500.”

Late in summer of 2003, the church received notice that Overholtzer had run afoul of the IRS, and their assets were
being liquidated by the IRS. “As we later learned,” VJ continues,” one of Overholzter’s employees had absconded with money, not paid taxes, and IRS sold off their assets to cover the back taxes. It was a devastating blow for the Vancouver church to lose nearly ten thousand dollars, but many other churches were even harder hit, losing deposits of thirty or forty thousand dollars.”

Pastor Puccinelli maintained a connection with the former Overholtzer salesman, John. As time went on, and John went to work for another pew manufacturer, Imperial Wood Works, however he let Pastor Puccinelli know that he hoped to refund their deposit. Pastor Puccinelli had his doubts.

Conventional wisdom proved to be wrong when a check for the full refund of Vancouver Church’s $9,500 deposit turned up in the mail. As it turns out, Overholtzer had been in business for decades, and was owned by a Baptist Brethren man who had retired many years back. When his congregation learned of the unfortunate fraud, and the financial losses suffered by so many churches with pending orders, they took it upon themselves to assume the debt owed to those churches. All in all, that Modesto Baptist Brethren congregation assumed approximately $500,000 of debt for which they had absolutely no responsibility.

Pastor Puccinelli explains, “That Modesto church took it upon themselves to accept an enormous Christian responsibility, to make sure that the church’s name and reputation was not sullied. I wonder how many other Christian churches would voluntarily take on such a debt?”

Pastor Puccinelli continued to maintain his friendship with John, and believed that John’s integrity and honesty turned out to be a credit to his Baptist Brethren faith. Several years later, in October 2008, the story continued to unfold as John moved with his family to Prineville, Oregon. John’s wife, Barb, was intrigued by a flyer for prophecy oriented meetings presented by evangelist Jac Colon who was speaking at the Prineville Adventist Church. She urged John to attend with her. Although they missed only one or two nights, they attended the bulk of the meetings, and were convinced that what they were hearing was true.

In January 2009, wanting to clarify what they had heard, they attended some of Jac Colon’s meetings held in Bend.
This confirmed their convictions, and they have begun to worship with the Prineville Adventist church each Sabbath, with joy in their hearts. John and Barb are sharing with family and friends about their new understanding of Scripture.

As John and his wife prepare to turn to the next chapter of their commitment and walk with Christ, it is worthwhile to appreciate the bigger picture of the Lord’s will and perfect plan. With the monumental example of the Baptist Brethren in mind, it is also worth taking a moment to consider how the character of Jesus Christ is a witness to those around us.

I was born into the Seventh-day Adventist religion. I’ve been going to church my whole life. In some ways I had it easier than people who don’t have that opportunity. In other ways it’s not so easy. Yes I did have some form of a connection to God all through the years. But it was never a strong, personal relationship with Him. I always felt like I was missing something important. As I became a teenager I became more and more skeptical about my religion. I was still trying to hold to my faith but it was becoming harder and harder. It became more like a chore and I didn’t feel God at all.

Then the final point of my turning from Him occurred. I was shattered by someone very close to me. In the aftermath, I needed somewhere to lay the blame for all of my pain. So I blamed God. I couldn’t believe He had allowed that to happen to me. I felt like God had betrayed me. So I turned away from Him. I wanted nothing to do with Him. Whenever anyone would talk about God, or religion I would close my heart. I refused to listen to anyone who wanted to help. And consequently my life took a destructive turn. I did a lot of things that I am not proud of. In turning from God I gave myself completely over to the world and unknowingly Satan’s influence. Even after the mistakes were made, they still haunted me. All of it took a huge toll on me. Most of my battles were internal though, so there was no one to help me through them. Over time it just built up. I started to feel more and more unsatisfied with my life. I felt like I needed meaning in my life.

When I went to Bible Conference in September, 2008, I’ll admit that my original intentions had been purely social. I knew that none of the spiritual things would touch my cold heart. Most of the week went exactly like that; until Friday night. The message that Pastor Ben gave to us, melted a small part of my heart. I can’t explain what it was. When he had an alter call, I felt compelled to go. Something very small was at work inside me. Later that evening our school got together for a vespers. As soon as I walked into the room, I could feel the energy in it. Though I did not know it at the time, the Holy Spirit was in that room with us. The things that happened that night were amazing. I saw people open up about their struggles with God, family, friends. I saw people crying who never cry. I’m a naturally emotional person, so I started crying too. It started because others were crying, but somewhere in the course of my tears I broke. So many things were overwhelming me. So many mistakes. So much past that wouldn’t go away. Too many emotions, too much drama. And nowhere to put it all. I was holding on to all of it so tight. I knew that I needed to let it all go.

At my breaking point I heard God whispering to me. He told me that I couldn’t handle this by myself. He said that if only I would let go He could carry my burdens. He asked me to give it all to Him. In that moment I knew He was right. So my crying turned into my way of letting it all go. There were a lot of tears to shed. I found I couldn’t stop until I had cried for every mistake, every bad choice, and every regret. When I finally did stop, He spoke to me again: whispering “It’s been too long my daughter, welcome home.” And then I was crying for different reasons. I was crying for joy. I had never in my life felt such a release from the world. Everything was going to be okay. I was forgiven for my past mistakes. That right then and there was true re-birth. That was my true baptism, a baptism by tears. I walked out of that room and left my old self inside. I knew that as long as I had God, I would never fall so far from his path again.

Today I am declaring to everyone that I am God’s child, and not the World’s. That I will live for Him, and I will go where He leads me. My strongest desire, and where I believe God is trying to use me as an example, is to help those who are struggling like I did. To tell them that they are not alone, that no matter what, God is there; and that He will catch us when we fall. He will bring us back to Him; and He’ll say “Welcome Home.”

Rachele McClain was baptizing Sabbath, December 27, 2008 and joined the Meadow Glade Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Vancouver, WA area

The service at White Center Spainish Adventist Church was in full swing when Fernando walked in the side door. He was looking for a church, for a chance to change, and had already visited several denominations.From the doorway, Fernando tried to catch the preacher, Ben Figueroa’s attention. He held up his hand to ask to interrupt for one moment. The whole service stopped, and everyone watched as Fernando asked, “Can I stay and worship with you guys?”

The members invited him inside the sanctuary. He sat near the front and listened intently as the pastor said: “You have found the door to Jesus Christ open this morning; won’t you respond?”

With tears running down his face, Fernando was the first to respond to the call. He had walked through many church front doors, but it wasn’t until he walked in the back door of a church that he found Jesus Christ.

Able answered the persistently ringing phone to hear a buddy’s invitation to a Saturday night party. The invitation was tempting…and easy. Or was it? Not long ago, another friend had given Able’s phone number to a Bible worker from the White Center Spainish Church, who called on a daily basis to just say hi. Able resented these phone calls and wondered if the phone calls would stop if he listened to what the Bible worker had to say.

Able soon began Bible studies with the Bible worker. After just two studies, Able was convicted and asked to be baptized.

Now, with the party invitation hanging, Able had a choice to make. His mind still raging with indecisiveness, the phone rang again. The Bible worker at church called to ask: “What’s holding you back?” Fearful of going back to old habits, Able ran to the church and asked the Bible worker to baptize him immediately. Able made his choice…for God.