It almost didn’t happen. A couple years ago, Washington Conference and Voice of Prophecy began discussing a regionwide evangelism partnership.
One of the prequalifying factors? A venue that could hold a specific capacity had to be solely booked for an entire month and have auxiliary rooms available. All 25 venues contacted in the Seattle area were already booked, too expensive or not interested.
“We began to pray even more,” says Tyler Long, Washington Conference evangelism coordinator. “Then one day I received a call from the Washington State Fairgrounds, who told me about a new venue called the Agriplex. They invited me to come and see it.”
When Long arrived in Puyallup, Wash., all he saw was an empty lot and a set of blueprints. Yet the plans and the fairground venue met every criteria. With reassurance of timely completion, Washington Conference signed the Agriplex's first contract. “Our church has the record for renting the most consecutive days in the fairground’s history," says Long.
While the builders did their job, a network of volunteers mobilized to join prayer teams, sign up for ministry training, offer Bible studies and prepare for supporting Revelation Speaks Peace seminar roles.
Just over 322,000 postcards offering Bible studies landed in South Sound mailboxes in September 2016. The newly trained Bible instructors picked up their returned postcards and knocked on 2,000 doors or sent follow-up letters to respond with the first of a series of Bible studies. Some people were eager to begin, others were hesitant, and still others changed their minds.
One lady — Jeannie Ramsdell — angrily said “no” four times by text message or in person before finally agreeing to Bible studies. (To see how this story started, look in the February 2017 Gleaner issue). Not only did she complete the Bible studies, she also found her diploma from the first time she participated in Discover Bible School 10 years earlier. Her Bible instructor, Carrie Stitt, drove her and three neighbors each night to the In Search of Meaning archaeology seminar and to Revelation Speaks Peace. Ramsdell and Stitt were baptized together on the final day of Revelation Speaks Peace.
Meanwhile, the pastoral and volunteer teams kept praying and planning. The venue — a modern barn-style building — was transformed into a carpeted seminar hall. (Attend camp meeting in person or via livestream to hear miracle stories.)
Opening night and the remaining five nights a week for the next month, 300 volunteers showed up to help with greeting and befriending 1,600 guests, running a Bible school (with 200 participants), leading a children’s program (for more than 100 kids on weekends), feeding volunteers, providing guest services, and translating presentations into multiple languages.
“It was fun working together as a team,” says Doug Bing, Washington Conference president. “Together we watched many of our new friends be baptized, and we anticipate more baptisms as our friends continue to study. We all hold special memories of partnering with God to reach our community.”
Click through 1,000 photos in the Revelation Speaks Peace gallery.
Five nights a week for a month, South Sound guests show up for Revelation Speaks Peace.
Jesse Churchill, North Hill Adventist Fellowship pastor, prepares to baptize Jeannie Ramsdell and Carrie Stitt.
Voice of Prophecy speaker/director, Shawn Boonstra, shows how Revelation ultimately offers a gift of peace.
Shawn Boonstra, Voice of Prophecy speaker/director, blends Bible teaching, personal stories and life application in presenting Revelation Speaks Peace.
These ladies became very close friends of faith through Revelation Speaks Peace: Brenda Hunter, Carrie Stitt, Muriel Hrbek, Jeannie Ramsdell and Ginger Manginelli. Each night, Stitt would drive three of these ladies plus a neighboring gentleman to Puyallup.
Revelation Speaks Peace finds a friendly, interested and engaged audience in Puyallup, Wash.
Tatiana Patrasco hands a free Bible to a Revelation Speaks Peace guest who had attended at least 10 evenings.
The Revelation Speaks Peace audience congratulates nearly 200 Discover Bible School graduates.
Brent Kimura, Tacoma Central associate pastor, and his Voice of Prophecy children's ministries team showcase how "God is Big" through Bible stories, animals, crafts, puppets, games, and prayer. Some children completed their own Kid's Zone Bible studies too.
The Voice of Prophecy translation team provides the message to guests in Russian, Korean, and Spanish. American Sign Language was also offered, and a few evenings of Samoan translation.
Each night, nearly 300 volunteers welcome and befriend Revelation Speaks Peace guests. The experience of working together for a common cause of God's kingdom united and energized the volunteers.
Twelve-year-old Ariana Jarnes "copy signs" what her mother and deaf interpreter, Nohelani Jarnes, shows her so she can communicate Bible prophecy messages and music to the deaf audience in attendance.
