The Glendale Church (in northwest Phoenix) experienced the power of the Holy Spirit firsthand as the church’s Revelation Offers Hope meetings resulted in 61 new members being baptized.

For five weeks in February and March, a nightly average of more than 200 people attended four nights a week. Ron Halvorsen, a retired evangelist from Florida, spoke nightly, presenting the grace and love of Christ as the central focus of truth — from the seventh-day Sabbath to the end-time prophecies. His animated, energetic sermons, combined with the working of the Holy Spirit, proved that Revelation, indeed, offers hope.

"He’s a very energetic guy," Glendale Pastor Gary Venden said of Halvorsen. "He’s a dynamic speaker, and he preaches in a powerful way. The seminar was a really positive experience for our church."

Halvorsen’s rapid, creative delivery challenged Glendale Associate Pastor Ray Navarro, who simultaneously translated every one of Halvorsen’s 22 nightly meetings and three Saturday morning advanced classes to the Spanish-speaking members of the audience. It was not an easy task.

"He’s very dynamic and very expressive. It was difficult; very difficult," Navarro said of interpreting the Brooklyn-born evangelist. "The first week was extremely difficult. Ron Halvorsen is a very fast speaker, and my brain was on fire. But about two-and-a-half to three weeks into it, I got used to it, so I think I was a bit more effective."

He must have been, because an average of 25 Spanish-speaking people came night after night.

Halvorsen came to speak in Glendale only after plans for an evangelistic series in Tacoma, Wash., fell through. Arizona Conference President Duane McKey quickly jumped in and scooped up Halvorsen’s services for the Phoenix area. The change in locations, however, severely limited the time the Glendale members had to prepare for the event.

"We had very little advanced notice, but we pulled it off," Venden said, citing the proactive willingness of the church members as key to the success.

"The main method of preparation we developed," Venden said, "was what we called 'Team 111.' Over 70 church members each adopted a one-quarter square mile area as a prayer walking territory, which was then included in the mass mailing. They targeted 100 homes around their residence for special prayer focus to which they personally mailed a brochure and hand-delivered a door-hanger brochure. They set a goal of personally inviting 10 people and bringing at least one on opening night."

All told, the Glendale Church mailed 83,000 brochures, and its members either hand-delivered or personally mailed another 10,000 brochures and distributed 10,000 door hangers. According to Halvorsen, Glendale has the "Guinness World Record" for the number of door hangers distributed.

But the members’ efforts didn’t end there. More than 70 church members worked on a nightly basis to staff the meetings, performing various tasks, from greeting visitors and signing up newcomers to serving as ushers, providing child care and fixing meals. The worship band set an energetic, contemporary tone with nightly praise music. Guest singer Charles Haugabrooks flew in from Florida to perform on two separate weekends.

Venden was pleased with the congregation’s participation. "We had good membership support all the way through," he said.

And their efforts did not go unrewarded. More than 300 non-members attended the meetings, including a steady group of 100. More than 200 Bibles were given away.

Several of those baptized were a direct result of the Soup and Salvation ministry which began last November. More than 8,000 Bible study cards were mailed out, and local members, supported by two Souls West Bible workers gave Bible studies to those who responded.

Of the 61 baptized, Glendale’s net gain was 57. Thirty-three were brand new interests to the Glendale Church, with the remaining 28 being current interests or children of members (four of whom were from other area churches). One family of eight was part of the big baptism on March 20 — mother Margarita Martinez, daughter Viviana Salcedo, sons Marc, David, and Moises Salcedo, Moises’ wife, Arlene, and two children, Lilia and Moises, Jr.

Ron Halvorsen’s simultaneous work with the Glendale Spanish Company resulted about 40 additional baptisms, bringing the net results to about 100. Both Venden and Navarro were pleased with the results of Revelation Offers Hope.

"I think it was excellent," Navarro said. "I’m very happy with the preparation of the meetings themselves and the results. I think this helps our members to realize that with good, solid prayer and hard work, and with God’s blessing and His help, evangelism is still effective today and can still win people to Jesus Christ — no doubt about it."

"I think the meetings were wonderful," he added, "but this is only the beginning."

Venden agreed. "We have an infusion of new life," he said. "I thought we had a church that was poised to move forward in a big way, and this gives us a jump start. I think the church people got the reinforcement about their beliefs, an excitement about new people, and a vision of what God can do whey we pray."