The year 2009 has been designated the Year of Evangelism by the North American Division. There are compelling reasons based on recent happenings on our planet to suggest that there is no better time than now to engage in soul-winning activities. The fierce urgency of now demands that a “Hope Lifeline” be cast in 2009.

But the “hope” of which I speak is not merely due to the national mood as reflected in a front page headline article in USA Today on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. This article states in part, “Americans have soaring hopes for the incoming Obama administration and an even higher opinion of the Democrat they just elected president …” Certainly, as a Christian faith community, we are called upon to join all peoples of America in praying for our new president-elect Barak H. Obama, and family, as he takes the oath of office this month. (See Statement from Atlantic Union President: www.atlantic-union.org/news_message.html).

Indeed people everywhere, regardless of race, class, creed, or culture, are searching for hope. And I’m here to remind you as Seventh-day Adventist Christians, that “we have this hope that burns within our hearts, hope in the coming of the Lord.” This is an ultimate, lasting hope for which we all yearn. This is the hope as found in Scripture that we offer as a lifeline to our friends, communities, and the world.

During this Year of Evangelism, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Atlantic Union hopes to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ as never before. Our pastors, teachers, leaders, and members are poised to give major emphasis to evangelism this year.

From April 9-11, 2009, there will be a union-wide ShareHim Rally at the College Church in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. As at the Seeds Conference, held last year in Connecticut, our lay members will be trained at the ShareHim Rally in how to conduct evangelistic meetings in their homes, churches, and communities with the support of their pastors serving as coaches. Later, on August 2-5, 2009, the first-ever Atlantic Union Pastors and Teachers Convention will be held in Providence, Rhode Island, with the goal of uniting the labors of pastors and teachers, churches and schools in a focused, strategic effort to prepare our youth for Christian service and the hope of eternal life.

In Scripture, the story is told of a man whose friends tried desperately to get him healed by Jesus. Since there was no other way to get him into the packed house, they broke up the roof of the house and let him down by ropes into the presence of Jesus. Praise God! The man was healed! (Mark 2:1-12).

We are called to do the same today and throughout this new year—to bring others into the presence of Christ’s healing grace. It’s God’s way of populating heaven with people from planet Earth. This is the hope that burns within every Christian’s heart. It’s the greatest hope lifeline of all!

Donald G. King is president of the Atlantic Union Conference and chairman of the Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees.