A lay Bible workers training seminar was a feature of Camp Meeting 2004, sponsored by the black ministries department, held July 25 through Aug. 2 in Loma Linda.
Teaching the 18-hour course, Jesse Bevel, Jr., fired the 30 registrants with enthusiasm to “win one each year for Christ.” Bevel, who is personal ministries director for the Northeastern Conference in New York, said many win more than one; some, 45 or 50.
This is the second lay Bible workers seminar held in the Southeastern California Conference. Sixty-five completed the course at the conference office in March 2003.
“My ministry is to all people. They all need the power of the Gospel,” claimed Bevel. “We give foundational information, building brick by brick. We build the relationship. God gives the perception.”
Bevel’s concept of a pastor is one who enables people to work for others. He advocates that lay Bible workers teach each person they bring to Christ how to share his or her faith.
Quetta Johnson of the Maranatha Church in San Diego helped out as a volunteer lay Bible worker with Allen Sovory’s evangelistic team in the Palm Springs area during August and September. “This is something I am called to do,” she says. She goes door to door in the neighborhood, praying with people and asking if they would like Bible studies. She finds many who are receptive. From her contacts, she has had as many as nine people attend one evening’s meeting.
Lay Bible worker Dorothy Reese, in Rialto, is already working for the Lord. She gives Bible studies to a mother and her nine children.
“I believe our conferences will explode when lay members take up this type of evangelism,” Bevel concluded.
Other highlights of the camp meeting were Jesse Wilson, pastor of the Kansas Avenue church, presenting the camp meeting sermon on July 24, and retired Rear Adm. Barry Black, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, speaking to an audience of 5,000 on July 31. Two Southeastern California pastors were ordained/commissioned on the last Sabbath: Michael T. Mupfawa, associate pastor at Valley Fellowship, and Eric Penick, associate pastor at Valley Fellowship.
