Welcome to NORTH WEST COMMUNICATION: 2008 Fall Article - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
OF THE NORTHWEST CONVOCATION

FALL 2008
NORTHWEST CONVOCATION
“Power for a Finished Work”

at Auburn, Washington
September 10th - 14th, 2008

General Information | Adult Meetings | Kids’ Meetings

Outreach Opportunities!

INTRODUCING...

Ray DeCarlo

Our guest speaker this year will be Ray DeCarlo. Ray is a 1989 graduate and former Bible teacher of Hartland College. He is currently the director and international speaker for Present Truth Ministries located in Smithsburg, Maryland. Ray conducts evangelistic crusades, revival meetings, Bible seminars, and other missionary work around the world.

For the last three years we have held the Northwest Convocation in Auburn, Washington, and we have timed the event to coincide with the Western Washington State Fair in Puyallup. This fair is a very big event, spanning two weeks and three weekends. The Fair boasts 1.2 million visitors passing through its gates. With that many people in one place, it affords a relatively easy opportunity for outreach, to arrest the attention to what is happening in the world today according to the Bible.

The Remnant Church in Renton, WA has been trying to rent a booth inside the fair for a number of years without success, although they are able to have a booth every year in the much smaller Spring Fair. In retrospect, it seems that not having a booth inside has actually been a blessing, because we have been able to hand out more literature to people leaving the Fair than if we were inside waiting for people to stop by a booth. We have handed out a variety of literature, with the main item being a card that offers a free book (America in Prophecy) and free Bible study guides. Sometimes we hand out magazines with the card tucked inside. We have found this to be most effective in getting the attention of the people and receiving a response to the offers. We have averaged sharing approximately 8,000 cards each year. One year we handed out 12,000 cards. That year, we received more than 100 requests for the book and study guides.

Brother John Korponay, the Bible worker in the Seattle area, along with others from the Remnant Church, follow up the inquiries. When the books are delivered, some people are surprised and impressed that the material is personally delivered, which means that it must be important. A little canvas is given on the highlights of the book so that reading interest is peaked. Their eyebrows are often raised by the chapter entitled “America in Prophecy.” Then an invitation is extended for Bible studies. Every year there are Bible studies that come as a result of these contacts. If personal studies are not requested, then we send the studies through the mail via the Remnant Church Correspondence School. We have had folks coming to church from these contacts.

On the other side of this outreach experience are the stories of those who participate in the literature distribution. It really gives the workers an insight into the thoughts and attitudes of the public. We even meet some who tell us that they are Adventists as they are coming out from the fair on Friday night. Last year, we had a vanload of young participants one evening, and on the way back everyone had at least one experience to share about someone asking them of their beliefs, or trying to dissuade them from their faith. Of course this provides an opportunity to answer for the hope that we have. Another time, as one of our brothers was handing out cards, a boy of about 10 years old passed by and asked if he could help with the distribution. He was promptly given a stack of cards with which he happily started sharing. A group of young people were exiting as another worker was handing out literature. As they looked at the card entitled, “Is Time Running Out?” they formed a circle around him and gave him an opportunity to tell them about being prepared for the judgment to come, pointing out the signs of the times. As they were leaving, it was evident that they were thinking about what they had heard.

We are looking forward to this year’s convocation. We pray that the Lord will grant us another opportunity to arouse the attention of the people to the Third Angel’s Message in this part of His vineyard. How can you help with this important outreach? You can certainly pray for the workers and for those who receive the literature. And perhaps God will lead you to be one of those who receive a special blessing on the front lines.

Hope to see you there!