Story by Juliana Savoy/ Photos by Jorge Pillco
Earlier in the year, members from across the New Jersey Conference started praying for their friends and reaching them by showing acts of love and compassion. Members then invited their friends to more than 200 small groups, where they studied about God’s compassion and faith. By April each of the small groups held a week of evangelism, led by lay evangelists.
Story by José H. Cortés
Story by Paulo Macena
Jorge Aguero, New Jersy Conference Personal Ministries director, recently wrote Acts of Compassion and Faith, a practical Bible study guide. It is specifically designed for small groups or family settings. Each chapter includes three sections: a specific Bible lesson, a discovery of Jesus’ teachings and a practical way to share His messages, love and compassion. The guides are available in English and Spanish.
Eight teams from the Columbia Union Conference placed first at the recent North American Division Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) in Chicago. Six teams placed second. To achieve first place, a team must score 90 percent of the top scoring team's score. Second place teams must earn 80 percent of the top scoring team's score.
See the results below:
Allegheny East Conference
Genesis (NJ) Jaguars: Second Place
Liberty (Md.) Light Bearers Gold: First Place
Editorial by José H. Cortés
No one—other than Jesus—has ever lived on this earth with a mission to save the entire world. No one has ever had an agenda as important as Christ. His mission was clear: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10, NIV).
When we support a cause, we usually have to “sacrifice” something, whether it be our time, money or resources. That wasn’t the case with Jesus. His sacrifice was not based on materialistic things, but on His blood.