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Baptisms in Portland, Maine
By Dionisio Olivo

It was a beautiful Saturday evening in July. The sun was almost setting as the members of the Portland Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Portland, Maine, met by the banks of the Presumscot River to witness a baptism. After a short series of evangelistic meetings that brought spiritual restoration to the growing congregation and visitors, five people decided to get baptized.

Pastor Josué Peña planned to have the baptisms at the English-speaking church in Portland, but because of previous engagements, the baptistery was not available. So, the pastor, along with the elders of the Spanish church, decided to have the baptisms by the river at sunset.

The baptism service was very solemn. Many expressed excitement about the event. As we sang songs, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset on that special Sabbath evening, testifying about the power of the gospel and how the preaching of the Seventh-day Adventist message still continues to reach hearts in Portland, Maine.

The occasion presented an opportunity to reflect on the beginning of our church and the importance of some of the events that happened during our time in Portland. It was in this city that Ellen G. White (Harmon) was born, a fragile young person who converted to the Adventist message at age 13 during the second series of conferences that William Miller carried out precisely in this city.

God chose this young girl to be the messenger to guide His people, to send messages through her to fortify and to build His church. It was in the city of Portland, Maine, that Ellen G. White received her first vision and, by means of this vision, God brought consolation, valor, and security to His new church. Such consolation and valor have kept us through the years and will continue to be with us as long as we keep trusting in Him and are guided by the messages that He has given us through His servant.

God continues to work in the business of saving people in the city of Portland, Maine. The members of the Portland Spanish church and Pastor Josue Peña understand exactly the assignment that God has put in their hands—to reach out to the Hispanic community in the Portland area and to serve as an inspiration to the rest of the Adventist members. They understand that they must continue to share the message of the soon coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Since this is the story about what is happening with our Adventists in the city of Portland, Maine, and since we are in the month of October, I believe that it is the right occasion to reflect on our existence as God’s special chosen people, and as the last prophetic church founded by God. October 22 represents a very important date for us. It was on this day in 1844 that God initiated His final judgment with the investigative judgment. It is a distinguishing truth for us as God’s people and, since we are living in the last days of this world’s history, it is necessary to make a commitment of consecration and dedication, proclaiming to the world that the end is near when Christ will fulfill the promise of His second coming. We must be prepared. May His commandment found in Revelation 10:11(NLT) be fulfilled in us, “Then I was told, ‘You must go back and prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.’” We must tell everyone that Christ very soon will fulfill the promise of His Second Advent and that we must prepare ourselves.

Dionisio Olivo is the Atlantic Union Conference Hispanic and Portuguese Ministries vice president and the Family Ministries and Sabbath School director.