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| Photo: A Bible worker visits an attendee. |
It was interesting to note, that more people came to the meetings through personal contacts than by the mailed flyers or even the newspaper advertisement. One man kept driving by the lit up motel sign which had posted, “Bible Prophecy and Health Seamenar” (yes that was their spelling) and was convicted to stop and stay for the last meeting. He was so impressed he asked to go to the next series in the town of Chickssa which were about to begin.
We had 37 Bibles that were given away (folk had to come at least 6 nights to receive and keep their Bible). There is now one couple that is preparing for Baptism. Several Native Americans said they came and kept coming because they really enjoyed hearing and seeing the young people. After a personal visit, at least one Native American woman is planning to attend the Chickasha Evangelistic Series (providing she gets a ride). Two teenage girls came faithfully and joined us on our last Sabbath at Chickasha SDA Church. Two members of the Chickasha church ( that were baptized just 7 months ago) gave testimony as to their being greatly blessed with better understandings of the Advent truths from the Bible. The motel as well as restaurant staff became quite interested in our proceedings. The proprietor’s wife and daughter came and were especially impressed by the health talks. The motel receptionist has requested personal Bible Studies and this interest was given over to the local Pastor.
In the Children’s Program, there was much enthusiasm. Many of the children that attended, invited their friends to come until we packed the small room with 20 children (3-11 years old). During the course of the series, they memorized the 10 commandments and recited them the last night in the Adult Meeting Hall for the adults.
We studied the 12 tribes of Isreal and the Mosaic Sanctuary (focusing on the plan of salvation symbolism). The large mural placed on the front wall of the room illustrated well the orderliness of the 12 tribes encamped around the sanctuary. They were also able to built small replicas of the sanctuary as a craft each evening.
When they left the last evening, we asked for their addresses so we could write to them and stay in contact. They asked us to come back next year when they would bring their “school” with them. They left proudly with their very own large posters of the 10 commandments, new Bibles (that they were already studying and showing us where we were teaching from in Exodus etc..) and their models of the sanctuary.
We are in process of ordering Children’s Bible Studies that correspond to the Bible Story Sets that some of the families received (by coming each evening). This way as we write to them each month, we can send a Bible Study that they can use their Bible Story Sets to answer with. The total costs are not quite all in, but should come between $6.000 and $7,000. Praise the Lord!
The Pastor of the Chickasaw church has invited us to return for the upcoming baptism and we promised to come and provide another choral special music for that joyous occasion. Our experience was truly a venture of faith. From the miraculous opening of several doors that enabled us to be able to go to Anadarko to the last night when we were able to see some of the results from our time there.
The effect on our own students has been one of growth in their witnessing abilities and of their own faith. They saw experientially that each time we came upon difficult situations and turned to God in prayer, that Romans 8:28 did indeed come to pass.
We are indeed grateful to Bob Burnette whose vision and support carried us through out the process. To the Oklahoma Conference and Pastor Gilbert Green who were patient with our “learning curve”. Pastor Green spent time with our student evangelist and was invaluable as an encouragement to the whole evangelistic team. To ASI Youth Initiative for providing the final funding needed. To the Administration and staff of Oklahoma Academy that gives so sacrificially of their time and energy in training young people for service. Most of all, to the King of Kings, that sent His Holy Spirit to direct and enable and annoint the time spent in Anadarko!!! Truly, with God all things are possible.
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By Rob Gonyea
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