The day before her baptism, Julia Bai’s friends tried to change her mind, telling her the Seventh-day Adventist Church was a cult. However, Bai went ahead with her baptism. "I know I made the right decision. The Lord wants me to come to this Sabbath-keeping church," she told her pastor.

The nine-day series with guest evangelist Tsui was the first public evangelistic event in 12 years—and only the third in the Los Altos Chinese Church’s history. "The church had tried it two previous times, and the results weren’t very encouraging," says John Ang, pastor for the past seven years. "The congregation thought there would be some other way to reach out." For example, the San Yu After-School Care program keeps the church in touch with the community.

When the church members agreed to give evangelistic meetings another try, they got behind the effort 100 percent. They distrubuted five thousand flyers and advertisements in two main Bay Area Chinese newspapers.

More than 50 guests from the San Francisco and Bay Area Chinese churches joined Adventist members for the three-screen, multi-media presentations. At the series end, three were ready for baptism and several others requested Bible studies. There are around 30 new faces in the congregation each Sabbath.

New members, new Bible study interests and regular visitors aren’t the only dramatic outcomes. "Our own church members were revived, and their eyes are open to this kind of outreach," says Ang. Another one is planned for the East Bay Area next year. "And the four Bay Area Chinese churches came together for support, too," he adds.

With renewed enthusiasm, the congregation has organized outreach activities that appeal to the community, including social programs, cultural celebrations and health seminars.

By Dee Reed