I picked up a 30-year-old photograph that shows a group of people in a classroom setting. Among the people is a young man who, at the time, had recently become an Adventist. This young man was anxious to witness for Jesus, and his church had emphasized the need for everyone to win souls for Jesus. After all, the Word of God says, “He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30) and “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The young man, along with much more mature or older Seventh-day Adventists, had enlisted in a lay Bible instructor’s class taught by the local church’s Bible worker. The young man was very shy but found the class very valuable in preparing him to share God’s Word. Subsequently, he witnessed to many people, including his family members, some of whom were baptized and are looking forward to seeing their blessed Lord soon. Some of these new members have also become soul winners and are continuing to help others get ready for heaven. Others who were baptized are serving in various capacities in their respective churches.

The Atlantic Union Conference Festival of the Laity SEEDS Conference will take place March 28-30 in Stamford, Connecticut. It is being coordinated by the North American Evangelism Institute (NADEI). The conference will offer a powerful opportunity to help prepare you to be a soul winner, church planter, and a church nurturer. If you want to be effective or become more effective in the great enterprise of partnering with Jesus to save people, this is your opportunity. There will be 15 tracks and 65 seminars, given in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. The presenters are very experienced soul winners and will enrich your lives and equip you for your heaven-inspired role for Jesus.

The Atlantic Union Conference Festival of the Laity SEEDS Conference will be a historic meeting as this will be the first time our lay people have been united union-wide to train in the art of soul winning. This will be a time to meet local church soul winners and leaders, and enable you to network and perhaps learn strategies that are making a difference in individual congregations.

The personal ministries leaders and administrators of all the conferences in the Atlantic Union support this important initiative for Jesus and look forward to seeing you in March at the festival.
The young man in that picture was me. It gives me much joy as I reflect on that lay Bible instruction that helped me to be a soul winner. As a pastor, I have baptized many whom I look forward to seeing on that great day of the Lord when the trumpet shall sound and we who are alive will be changed and join those who will be raised from the dusty grave to be with our loving Jesus.

I encourage you to be a soul winner and experience the joy of seeing a person saved in God’s kingdom. Come to the Festival of the Laity in March 2008.

Trevor Forbes is the Personal Ministries director and the associate treasurer in the Atlantic Union Conference.