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Small Steps, Big Miracles: Personal Evangelism Tips

Story by Cynthia Mendoza

Do you have a desire to be used by God for the building of His kingdom, but you’re not sure where to start? He is ready and willing to give you what you need. Here are a few simple ways, gleaned from Rubén Ramos, vice president of Multilingual Ministries for the Columbia Union Conference and other leaders to get started.

Pray. A lot.

Before doing anything else, start by praying intentionally. Ask God to impress on your heart who to pray for, and what to pray for. Ask for His guidance in determining how He wants to use you. And then be open to His leading. Don’t compare yourself to what anyone else may be doing. God uses every person in different ways.

For such a time as this

Miracle in a Bathtub

Five years ago, Victor Rivera was given a diagnosis of cancer and told he had six months to live. Prior to his death in 2020, his prayer to see his son grow to at least 8 years old was answered.

Story by Cynthia Mendoza

A little over five years ago Victor Rivera was given one of the most dreaded diagnoses; cancer. He was given no more than six months to live.Though at the time he did not belong to any denomination, Rivera asked God for a seemingly impossible blessing: that God would give him five more years, long enough to see his son grow to at least eight years of age. Against all medical odds, Rivera didn’t die after six months.

COMIENZA EL AÑO DE LA BIBLIA DE LA UNIÓN

La Unión de Columbia está celebrando el 2021 como el Año de la Biblia al promover un fuerte enfoque en la primacía de la Palabra de Dios, alentar una mayor lectura, estudio y memorización de la Biblia y brindar oportunidades para que los miembros de todas las edades contemplen y compartan cómo la Biblia impacta sus vidas de manera significativa.

Para ayudar a los miembros en esta jornada, la union ha publicado Palabras
de Vida, un libro devocional con testimonios de los miembros. “Estamos muy agradecidos por aquellos que sacrificaron su tiempo y energía para escribir desde su corazón”, agrega Weigley.

LA UNIÓN ELIGE NUEVO SECRETARIO EJECUTIVO

Historia de V. Michelle Bernard

El Comité Ejecutivo de la Unión de Columbia eligió a Rick Remmers como secretario ejecutivo de la unión. Remmers (fotografiado con su esposa, Shayne) comenzó su nuevo cargo en enero para cubrir la vacante dejada por Rob Vandeman, quien anunció planes para retirarse durante el 2021.

Remmers ha sido el presidente de la Conferencia de Chesapeake desde el 2011. Anteriormente se desempeñó como secretario ejecutivo de la misma conferencia.

‘Bible Gazers’

Image from Free Photos on Pixabay

Editorial by Dave Weigley

Being sheltered in place during the pandemic means I get to walk my dogs every morning and evening. At night, I have discovered anew the starry heavens, and, thanks to an app on my phone, I am able to view stars with constellation descriptions. One in particular has caught my eye—Polaris, the North Star—which appears to maintain its position, providing an excellent reference for direction.

In writing about the North Star, Harvard University Professor Bill George, author of the book True North, notes that our lives should be principle-centered, embracing stellar values that guide us. I like that!

TRUE NORTH STAR

January 29, 2021: No Need to Operate

Image from iStock

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:28–31, NKJV).

In my 35 years of ministry, these verses have carried me through many storms and blessings. This passage became even more relevant when I got into a terrible car accident.

January 28, 2021: Bearing Fruit

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23, NIV).

When I think about the fruit of the Spirit, I think about our pastor’s Week of Prayer. Each day he focused on one “Fruit of the Spirit” and brought a different fruit to represent that particular “fruit.” He told us how the fruit was good for our bodies, and then related it to our spiritual lives. At the end of each talk, we got to taste the yummy fruit.

When I think about the fruit of the Spirit, some fruits stick out more than others. They are all important, but love, patience, faithfulness and self-control are the ones that mean the most to me.

January 27, 2021: Thank You for Loving Me

Image from iStock

“Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Mark 1:11, NKJV).

When I was a child, praise had to be earned, and success seemed just out of reach. I was born with misshaped hips and legs, resulting in my needing to wear braces on my legs. This delayed my ability to walk, and completely canceled any ability to run or ride tricycles until the braces could be removed.

January 26, 2021: One Day Soon

Image from iStock

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4, NKJV).

You never expect it will happen to you. On May 23, 2016, at around 11 a.m., my (seemingly) perfectly healthy 13-year-old son collapsed at school from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Providentially, my husband and I, teachers at the small Adventist school, had recently been trained in CPR. But we never expected to use it beyond CPR class, let alone on our own son.