When Gary Myers heard his wife's car in the driveway mid-day on Saturdays, he immediately switched the channel from the Hope Channel to a sports station. Myers, a retired police detective, didn't want his wife, Greta, to know he was "going soft" on religion.
This is just one story about God at work in the lives of 21,155 members in Washington Conference. "When we talk about 810 baptisms and professions of faith in 2009, we're talking about 810 stories of how God is leading in people's lives," says Bruce Koch, Washington Conference Ministerial director.
Evangelism in Action
Washington Conference is in the third year of a mission-focused strategy to "stop" and seek Jesus, "yield" and pray for the Holy Spirit, and "go" and take Jesus to the world.
At least five churches started 2010 with evangelistic series including Tacoma Central Church with Ty Gibson from Light Bears Ministry; Olympia Transformation Life Center with pastoral couple Rick and Peggy Casebier team preaching; Olympia Spanish, a new church plant, hosting their first series; Auburn Academy Church with the pastoral team presenting "Journey of Faith" as a follow-up to the church's Journey to Bethlehem holiday outreach; and Auburn City Church with Dan and Gloria Bentzinger, conference evangelists.
Besides public evangelism programs, churches and schools are involved in discipleship, campus outreach, church planting and creative ministries.
"School principals are exploring campus witnessing plans to get students involved in ministry through GLOW tract distribution, giving Bible studies and presenting evangelistic series," says Lon Gruesbeck, Washington Conference vice president for education.
In cooperation with the North Pacific Union Conference, Washington Conference also hosted two Momentum Festivals where church leaders and members learned about Team Jethro (small groups) and Team Andrew (Bible studies).
"Washington Conference is continuing to grow," says John Freedman, Washington Conference president. "We're developing a mindset of lifestyle evangelism."
Dan Bentzinger, Washington Conference evangelist, shares "amazing discoveries" about Bible prophecy and Jesus Christ with an audience in a high school auditorium in Auburn, Wash. More than 100 guests are attending these meetings. (Heidi Martella)
Dan Bentzinger, Washington Conference evangelist, is presenting five evangelism meetings in western Washington in support of the conference goal to "Go take Jesus to the world." (Heidi Martella)
Washington Conference pastors meet throughout the year to discuss evangelism plans. (Heidi Martella)
As Dan Bentzinger, Washington Conference evangelists, presents lectures of Bible prophecy, he also makes a point to weave in practical lessons and applications to encourage spiritual growth. (Heidi Martella)
Ramon Canals, North Pacific Union Conference Hispanic Ministries director, provides guidelines for an effective small group ministry at Team Jethro training during the Tacoma Momentum Festival, in Tacoma, Wash. (Heidi Martella)
Greta Myers, from Bellingham, Wash., discovers small group resources at the Tacoma Momentum Festival for Team Jethro ministry. (Heidi Martella)
During the Tacoma Momentum Festival in Tacoma, Wash., Michael Demma, pastor, interviews Gary Myers, a retired police detective, about how God took away his anger and transformed his heart. Myers was baptized in October 2009. (Jonathan Baumgartner)
