What a tremendous experience it has been to be part of nearly 15 evangelistic series conducted by conference office departmental directors and executive committee members. The series have now all concluded with well over 30 decisions for baptisms. Praise God! It was my privilege to conduct meetings at the Umoja church in Raleigh. This is a relatively new congregation. Many of the members are recent immigrants from Kenya. What a delight to be with them and share the wonderful news of Christ's soon return. The Lord blessed with twelve baptisms on the final Sabbath including the daughter of the pastor being baptized.

I wish you could all hear the reports from the various sites. As one executive committee member put it, "Of all the blessings received I believe I received the greatest from having participated in sharing my faith." As we are in this year of evangelism I encourage you to experience the blessing that comes when you witness for your faith. To see someone's eyes light up as they grasp the love of Jesus and realize He is soon coming back is the greatest thrill that God can allow us to have. If you would like to participate in a ShareHim evangelistic meeting don't hesitate to contact me.

In fact, as I write this I am at the ShareHim festival at Atlantic Union College. Last night was the opening meeting with over 300 in attendance. Bob Folkenberg, Jr gave a stirring message followed by some wonderful testimonies. One of the featured testimonies was given by Bobby Carpenter who has just finished a ShareHim meeting in Monroe, North Carolina. He shared the dramatic story of how God has led in his life. From being a teenage alcoholic to being convicted of a serious crime to finding Jesus in a prison cell. Now he is preaching the gospel and has just concluded his first series of meetings. What a beautiful story of God's wonderful grace!

This Sabbath Pastor Mark Finley will be the ShareHim festival speaker. It is a dynamic weekend that our ShareHim staff has put together.

Let me also mention the upcoming campmeeting at Lake Junaluska. The Lord, I believe, has blessed in bringing together the most dynamic line-up of speakers we have ever had. Mark Finley will be our weekend speaker. Elder Michael Hasel, of Southern Adventist University, will be the nightly speaker. Our other main auditorium speakers are Ty Gibson and Dennis Ross. Both dynamic presenters of God's Word. We also will be blessed with seminars from speakers including Ed Reid and Russell Burrill among others. I hope you are planning to be with us for this spirit filled week.

One final note. As we are painfully aware the nations economy is struggling through a severe recession. North and South Carolina are both in the top five for unemployment in the nation. Let's remember our brothers and sisters in prayer who have lost jobs. This is a very difficult time and we need to support one another all we can. And certainly we must ever remember that our God has promised to meet all our needs.

As the Sabbath hours begin this evening I pray that you will all have a wonderful Sabbath day's blessing. May God bless.

Your friend,
Jim