The year of evangelism is producing exciting results across the Carolinas. Let me highlight just a few. In Clinton, SC the church averages about 17 people per week in Sabbath services. In September Elder Glen Garver, pastor of the Florence, SC church along with the pastor, Elder Alex Romanov, and the church began evangelistic meetings. On opening night 41 visitors were in attendance. By closing weekend 17 of those were still attending faithfully. This past Sabbath 6 of those united with the church through baptism with more continuing to study. What a wonderful addition to this small church family.

This past Sabbath it was my privilege to be in the Durham Spanish Church. The week before they had just concluded an evangelistic series with 25 new additions to the church through baptism and profession of faith. What a joy it was to meet these new members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church family.

Elder Roy Robinson, pastor of the Raleigh North and Henderson, NC churches is conducting a revelation seminar with over 60 visitors in attendance. Elder David Dobias just started evangelistic meetings in the Durham church this past Friday evening. I could go on and on sharing how God is bringing people to understand the Gospel and the good news of Christ's soon coming. There are numerous meetings and outreach activities that are taking place across the Carolinas. I would ask that you lift these efforts up in your prayers that God's Holy Spirit will enter in to these communities and a great harvest of souls can be realized.

A few weeks ago a young adult retreat took place at the Black Mountain YMCA retreat center in Black Mountain, NC. This was the first joint young adult retreat co-sponsored by the Carolina Conference and the South Atlantic Conference. There were over 100 young adults in attendance. It was a real pleasure on Sabbath afternoon to join with South Atlantic Conference president, Elder VJ Mendinghall and do a town hall meeting with these young adults. I can tell you these young people have a real passion for Jesus and for seeing the work of God's church move forward. It was an inspiring time to dialogue with these folks and talk about the future of the church and what God desires for His people.

There have been two new churches that have been formed in the last month. The Columbia Mid-Town company has been formed into a church and the Rockingham English group has been formed into a company. Both of these church plants are led by laypeople. They are both focused on taking the Three Angels Message to their respective communities. In Columbia they have a desire to minister to the community of downtown Columbia as well as college students. In Rockingham a number of years ago the SDA church there was closed. Following that closure a Spanish church was planted and has grown rapidly the last few years. A couple years ago some laypeople from the Spanish church took on as a ministry the mission to plant an English speaking church once again in Rockingham. Through diligent efforts and prayers this group has grown until they have now reached company status. How thankful we are that these visionary folks from our Spanish church family have restarted an English work in this part of North Carolina. We lift up both of these ministries in our prayers.

A week ago this past Sabbath I was with the Raleigh Clayton group. Again, a lay led ministry and church plant in Clayton, NC. Nearly 70 people were in attendance for the Sabbath worship service. They are reaching out to their community through personal Bible studies and felt needs programs. It is exciting to see all these new church plants that are taking place across the Conference. There are many, many more I could tell you about. All of them are being led by wonderful lay leaders and they are making an impact across the Carolinas.

A couple of weeks ago it was my privilege to attend the grand opening of the Greensboro Korean Community Center. This ministry is providing information, training as well as teaching English to recent immigrants into the Greensboro area. In attendance and participating in this grand opening were the mayor of Greensboro, the local congressman to the US House of Representatives, as well as area members of the city council. The grand opening was reported on the local Fox news channel that evening. We applaud our local Korean church for undertaking this important outreach ministry.

God is blessing the endeavors of His people in remarkable ways. Even though the Carolinas are being greatly impacted by unemployment and the current economic crisis His work continues to move forward. I would ask your prayers for our church members that they would be blessed with jobs. The unemployment is high within the church as well as the population at large. Certainly this has impacted the tithe of the Conference in a negative way. I would seek your prayers that God would bless our members and also that He would help us each remain faithful in our tithes and offerings. The times we live in are too crucial to reduce our efforts. It is only as we each remain faithful to Him that He will bless and His work can soon be finished. May God bless you as you remain close to Him.

Your friend,
Jim