Pennsylvania Conference

CDC/Unsplash

Editorial by Leona Bange

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men’” (Mark 1:17, NKJV).

Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to follow Him. For the next three years, He taught them about God, to pray and to share the gospel. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, these apostles shared the good news of Christ and “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6, NKJV). Those watching noted that their lives were transformed because they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

The manner in which the truth is presented often has much to do in determining whether it will be accepted or rejected.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 404.

Watch Pennsylvania Conference’s recent “Winsome Witnessing” training series at https://paconference.org/winsome-witnessing/ to help members witness more effectively.

 

Read articles from the March/April 2023 Visitor:

Story by Pennsylvania Conference Staff
 
The Pennsylvania Conference's CORE school of evangelism students recently traveled to Texas with Reach the World Next Door for their annual mission trip. They worked among the Chinese, Cambodian, Laotian, Afghan, and Hispanic refugee communities.
 
"Most of these people were refugees with huge needs and incredible stories. Some had just arrived a couple weeks prior to our arrival and had little food, clothing, or household things, like blankets or pillows. Some had no clue how to find English classes or be able to sign up for schooling. It was such a privilege to go to their homes and provide for their needs as much as we could," the CORE team writes in their newsletter.
 
The group provided children's programming, met families, repaired greenhouses where many refugees work. They worked with local churches and a new church plant in the center of the community. Students and staff taught health and mental health practices. Many shared their testimonies of how they met Jesus and distributed clothes and household items.
 
Alicia Quan/Unsplash

Editorial by Gary Gibbs

After entering church leadership years ago, I realized something vital was missing in my spiritual life. The spark just wasn’t there. As I prayerfully considered this, God directed me to a principle of spiritual vitality from Ellen White: “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted to others, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 47, author’s emphasis). In the busyness of administration, I had stopped personally sharing the gospel. The result was lukewarm faith.

I asked God to help me find others who were interested in studying the Bible. Within a week, He had led me to Al and Billie. We began studies that resulted in their baptisms—and to my faith reigniting. That’s when I discovered this dynamic reality—if each member reaches one person a year for Jesus, we will not only come alive spiritually, but we will double the number of people in our churches!

Joosung Kim, a member of the Impact Magabook Ministries team, displays his books alongside his new friend.

Story by Tamyra Horst

“Just like any other canvassing day, this day was no different, except for one thing,” shares Joosung Kim, a member of the Impact Magabook Ministries team who went door to door earlier this year. “Stairs! These were the most stairs I have climbed in my life in one day. ... So, you had to make the most of every single person you spoke to. At one door, I noticed a key that was still in the keyhole.”